Page 18 of Dirty Intentions

“My parents are on a cruise. But they’ll probably call later.”

“We could, uh, do dinner later if you want?” Shit. Where had that thought come from? I didn’t do holidays, family, or dinner dates.

She looked pleasantly surprised and then confused. “Uh, I thought you were performing tonight.”

“Not until eight. We could eat beforehand. Or not. It doesn’t matter.” I disliked being put on the spot and that she was privy to my plans.

“Sure, dinner before would be nice. Is your performance up for people to watch?”

“Yes, for members. That does not include you.” I added the last part in case she got any ideas.

I could feel her eyes on me as I kept mine averted.

“Why not?”

“Because I said so.”

A smile curved her lips. “Funny. I haven’t heard such a lame excuse since I was a child and my Dad couldn’t come up with a good reason to forbid something. Do you have an issue with me watching you perform?”

I spared a glance and shouldn’t have. The twinkle in her eyes was disarming. “Don’t cross me on this, Daniella. You’re not sneaking down there tonight.”

“Give me a good reason, and maybe I won’t.”

“Tell me what it is you want from going down on that floor to watch.”

I witnessed the color stain her cheeks while her gaze reluctantly met mine. “I don’t know. Maybe just to feel something similar to the other night when you touched me.”

Although she wasn’t trying to seduce me, I could feel an instant pull toward her. “You’re rebounding.”

She blew out a frustrated breath. “Can I be brutally honest with you?”

“Of course.”

“I’m not. Not rebounding, that is. And the fact that I’m more upset about being duped over the money than about losing my fiancé is disconcerting.”

Her candor was disarming. “I’m gonna ask the obvious. Did you love him?”

“I hate to admit I might not have. I think I loved the idea of him. We both worked long hours, we liked the same restaurants, we ran in the same circles. It was safe and easy. But the bottom line is that when I went searching for proof about the money and cheating, I hoped I would find it.”

“You wanted a way out?”

“Yeah, and how fucked up is it that I didn’t simply say so? But it was in my gut. It’s like I knew I wasn’t destined for him.”

“Not for me to judge.”

“You ever been in love?”

“Nope.” It was the truth. I’d been in lust a time or two, but love I didn’t have time for.

“Not even when you were younger?”

I shook my head. “I never wanted the commitment.”

“Anyone ever fall in love with you?”

My face flinched, and I knew she saw it. “She was young and didn’t know what love was.”

“Wish I could use that excuse with Eric. How about just being old and stupid?”

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