Page 26 of Love You Truly

Rufus comes bounding outside and gives Dash one throwaway bark before going to investigate a bush.

“That’s Rufus. Thinks he’s a lapdog.”

“Don’t change the subject. Our date,” he insists.

“Fine. When do you want to go?”

“Tonight.”

His quick response makes me laugh again. Twice in under a minute? That doesn’t happen unless I’m watching stand-up comedy and even then, it’s rare. What is it with this guy? How does he keep getting past my defenses?

“Not tonight,” I tell him, unsure whether he was serious anyway.

“Why not?”

“It’s already tonight. If we were going out tonight, we’d have needed to plan it before right now.”

Now it’s his turn to laugh. “Oh, really? Is that a universal rule of dinner dates, or do you just make this shit up on the spot? What kind of advanced planning is required?”

“I’m fairly certain it’s a rule. There should be some planning. Or at least a shower.” I indicate my workout attire, and he looks me over with wolfish glee.

“Shower. Noted.” He grins. “Blow dryer too?”

“Stop,” I demand, even though I don’t really want him to stop. The way he makes my body hum with desire is not something I’m quick to part with, but I don’t want him to sense how much he affects me. I realize I do need some planning before I go anywhere with him so I can lock these urges down tight beforehand.

Sneaking a look at his still-smug grin, I puzzle over how this man—or any man—could stir this reaction from me. I should have the upper hand in this conversation. I should be able to tell him exactly when and where he can put his swagger and leave him feeling extremely grateful when I do agree to a date in the distant future.

Instead, I find myself wanting to jump in his car and take him up on his offer.

Dangerous territory. I need to stay in control because any interaction I have with Dash needs to be about business. Eyes on the prize.

The other prize.

“Fine. Tonight. But give me an hour.” I tilt my head and take him in, liking what I see. “Girl’s gotta make herself pretty if she’s going out to dinner.”

He shakes his head. “Honey, you don’t need to do a thing where that’s concerned.” My heart flutters at his endearment even though I know it doesn’t mean anything. “When we’re talking pretty, you don’t just rewrite the rules, you are the rules.”

My stomach bottoms out and I feel a hot blush flood my face. I will not survive dinner with this man if he keeps saying things like that, and the idea should unnerve me. Instead, it lights me up.

As he slowly turns away, his eyes stay locked on me, lingering, flaming the surface of my skin. It’s the sexiest damn thing I’ve ever experienced in my life. An orgasm wrapped in satin and sealed with a hot kiss.

I turn back toward my house because my heart has just rammed into my throat and my blood’s turned to lava.

Flirting with Dashiell Corbett is the most dangerous game I’ve ever played. I should stop right now. Or I should sashay into my house to get ready for dinner.

CHAPTER 11

Mallory

“Why’d you ask me out?”

I’m not expecting the question, which has the effect of making me choke as I’m taking my first sip of wine. I manage to recover and swallow, rather than spitting it all over Dash’s snug black Henley.

I suppose I knew the topic might come up, but I didn’t think Dash would be so direct. I certainly didn’t think it would be the first subject he’d want to discuss after the server filled each of our glasses with cabernet sauvignon.

“Um. Just…no reason. It was just an idea. A passing idea.” Let him think I was going down my list of men in Napa Valley and happened to pause at his. For all of a millisecond. And now I barely remember what possessed me at all.

I don’t intend to tell him the real reason now.

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