Page 37 of RAKEish

“And women actually say yes to this approach?” Lux asked in what she knew he heard as a prudish tone, but she couldn’t help it. Never in her life had she engaged in what could quite possibly be nothing more than a one-night stand.

“I’m a rake, Lux. Women expect me to skip societal formalities.” Scott gave her a smirk. “It’s part of the fun.”

“You’re making my hypothetical professor seem more and more appealing by the minute,” Lux said, mostly meaning it.

Through her peripheral vision, she noticed Frankie leave without her photographer. Had she found them too mind-numbing to spend another moment observing?

“People with too much in common often end up bored,” Scott said, drawing her attention back to him. “In my experience, sex is the glue of a good relationship.”

“People who have nothing in common can quickly become disenchanted with each other,” she countered. “Shared interests are the real glue in a good relationship. I can’t imagine marrying someone who’s my complete opposite.”

“Interesting,” Scott said as he leaned in. “I’d never marry a woman who was just like myself.” His husky whisper sent hot liquid down her spine.

Their words hung between them like an old-fashioned Western standoff. Common Interests versus Opposites Attract. She was probably the most unlike-him person he’d ever shared an intimate conversation with. Did that make her—in his eyes—his perfect mate?

The server whisked by, depositing her chocolate martini with an uppity flair, and a glance at Lux that felt very much like a complete sentence. One that said, “You’re absolutely not his perfect mate.”

“This looks fabulous,” Lux said, ignoring the server, banishing her silly thoughts, and instead placing all her focus on the sight of her new drink.

Scott nodded to the server. “We’ll signal when we’re ready to order dinner.”

Lux picked up the drink and wrapped her lips around the martini’s chocolatey edge, the cool glass contrasting with the warmth still lingering along her spine. As the rich, smooth chocolate cascaded down her throat, she let out a contented sigh, the sound mingling with the click of ice. “Delicious,” she purred.

“Always stick to drinks you know when flirting in a bar,” Scott said, falling back into his coaching mode, but not before Lux caught the briefest flicker of desire in his eyes. “Save the experimenting for home or with friends.” His gaze lingered just a second too long on her lips before he hastily reached for a napkin, dabbing at a non-existent spill by his glass.

The corners of her mouth twitched upward. “Or with dating coaches who will smoothly come to your rescue.”

He cleared his throat, visibly steeling himself. “Ready for another of tonight’s lessons?”

“Give it to me,” Lux said, before savoring another sip of her martini.

A flicker of dismay crossed his features before he swallowed hard. “Doc, piece of advice,” he began, his tone grave. “Never say ‘give it to me’ to a man unless you’re in the market for…a different kind of proposition.” His gaze darted away, as if to ensure no one was listening in, and then back.

Heat filled her cheeks. What was it about this guy that made her blurt innuendoes? “You’ve got to admit, it’s not as bad as the time I inadvertently invited you to go down on me.”

He groaned. “You’re killing me, Doc.”

It was her turn to swallow hard. Don’t play with fire was a saying for a reason. Those who did invariably got burned. She had no desire to be singed by a rake. “How about those lessons you promised me?”

He nodded, as if agreeing their conversation needed a new path. “First, stay away from the crowd. It’s simpler for a man to make a move if you’re alone or with just one friend.”

She took another sip of her drink. “Why only one?”

“Men usually meet a friend at a bar for drinks, not a crowd,” he explained.

“What if a guy approaches that I’m not interested in?” Lux asked.

“Be clear but kind. Rudeness can turn off other potential suitors who might be watching.”

“That’s a no brainer.” Lux watched Frankie’s photographer leave.

“You’d be surprised,” Scott countered, his tone suggesting a wealth of experience. “Many women miss this and lose out on other opportunities.”

“I usually go out in groups. It feels safer,” Lux admitted, her mind drifting. What was Frankie’s end game with those photographs? Would they be used in the next issue of the magazine? And more importantly, who’d hurt Frankie that she’d given Lux such a stern warning not to fall for a rake? Was that mystery person the reason behind Frankie’s prickliness?

“If you’re in a crowd, try standing a bit apart from them. This allows a guy to approach without the intimidation of a group’s worth of eyes on him.”

“That makes sense,” she said, setting aside her psychoanalysis of Frankie. “What else?”

---