Page 39 of Wild Ride

Good girl. She squeezed her thighs together as parts of her unused to clenching liked that phrase. Liked how it sounded on this man’s lips.

“I-I’m not a good girl. One-night stand led to pregnancy, remember?”

He was still holding her hand. The warmth of his skin fizzed through her veins, making her blood bubble like Champagne.

“So you had your spotlight in the bad girl camp, but these days … you’re a very good girl.”

Gah! Slippery warmth pooled between her legs for the first time in forever. She could feel her cheeks heating, her body flushing with sexual awareness. Did she have some sort of praise kink? Though given how long since she’d had decent sex, who knew what she liked?

This wasn’t the time for sexual self-discovery. She had groveling to do.

“I have no right to judge you, Dex. You’re young, fit, and hot. You have a lot of money and are incredibly good at your job. So you’ve made a couple of mistakes that landed you in hot water, but on the whole, you’re just enjoying life and all it has to offer. And why not?”

“You think I’m hot?”

Of course that was what he focused on. “Like you have to ask. You know you are.”

“But you think I am.”

Interesting. “Does my opinion suddenly matter?”

“Well, you did say sex was overrated.”

She pointed. “Spoken behind closed doors! And I can think that and still think you’re objectively attractive. But looks aren’t everything.”

“No …” But he sounded unsure, like he didn’t have a Plan B. “But it’s how things get started, isn’t it?”

Things? “It can be, but there are other ways to connect. Looks and money only get you so far.”

He made a funny sound in his throat. “What other ways?” His voice sounded weird, like she’d hit a nerve.

“Conversation, understanding, attentive listening. For example, I think you’re more than a guy who gets around or a guy who’s good at hockey. I think that maybe you’re also good at making people feel better, or rescuing damsels from mansplaining coffee dates.”

He smiled. “Thought you didn’t need rescuing.”

“I didn’t but it was still nice of you to step in. Everyone appreciates being supported.”

They were both quiet for a moment, absorbing that admission. When next he spoke, he seemed to have found his normal tone.

“So what were you doing with that guy anyway?”

“Just making my way through the apps. Looking for that ultimate foot masseur.” She added a cheery wave, then felt silly and lowered her hand.

“He was too old for you.”

“That’s what I matched with. No one my age is interested.”

He considered that. “What about the other end of the spectrum?”

“The age spectrum?”

“Right. Someone younger.”

Did he mean …? No, just a general statement about age-appropriate dating.

“Guys my age typically want someone younger than them,” she said. “Older guys are usually looking for stability but maybe not with a ready-made family. People like to put their own stamp on things, start afresh.”

“Damn kid getting in the way of your sex life.”

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