Page 30 of Seductive Heat

I'm speechless and stare at her. After a second, I pick up the menu I was handed and start looking for something to eat. There's nothing but vegetables and salads on this menu. Sure, some of the combinations seem interesting, and the meat replacements look appetizing in the pictures, but I realize I'm already tired and ready to go back home.

I pick a veggie burger and ask for some wine. I'm going to need it to survive this date.

"I looked you up on the internet," Helen says.

I don't know what to say to her about that. I should have probably done the same research with the correct name now, but my mind has been so busy with thoughts of my goddess that I just couldn't bother.

"Find anything interesting?"

"You and your partners are worth a lot of money right now."

"And this is important, why?"

I'm bristling at every comment she makes and don't know how to proceed.

"A woman likes to know she'll be taken care of after she's married."

"But you've got your own business. And there'll be a prenup, anyway." I state.

"Men have been known to be generous in their prenups. I'm not too worried."

You should be, you gold-digging hussy. When they bring the wine, I practically inhale my first glass. I spend the rest of the meal dodging questions about my financial situation and my assets. This woman is a barracuda. The server offers us some dessert, but she shoos him away like an annoying fly. Truth is, I won't be able to eat dessert under these circumstances. I just want to go home.

I pay the bill and give her one more lie.

"Let's get going, Helen. I forgot I have some errands to run this afternoon. I'll drop you off at home."

I don't know what she was expecting, but her whole demeanor changes like she's wounded by my decision. This time, I don't even bother opening the car door for her. I just jump in and hope the drive back to her house can be shorter somehow. During the drive, she huffs and puffs some more, but I'm no longer paying attention.

This date was a disaster of epic proportions, and I just want to get back to my goddess and do damage control. I know I hurt her when I told her I was going to pursue Helen, and I hope she will forgive me.

I leave Helen in her driveway and take off to find the woman I love. I make a couple of stops to get her flowers and a present and drive to her house. When I get there, I'm relieved that her car is in the driveway. Sometimes she doesn't use it, though.

My stomach is in knots when I knock on the door and it gets worse when I see who answers it.

"Hello,” I say. “Marguerite, right?"

"What are you doing here? Aren't you supposed to be sowing your oats somewhere else?"

I wince. "Is Helene here? I'd like to see her."

"Why should I let you in? You hurt my sister."

"I'm here to beg her forgiveness and see if she'll take me back."

"Good luck with that." She says as she steps back and lets me into the house. "She just went into the shower. Give her twenty or thirty minutes."

"You're not going to tell her I'm here?"

"I like things to happen organically. I'll see you later."

She turns around and disappears behind one of the doors in the hallway. I had hoped to make her like me, but with this, she'll probably throw my mistake in my face during any future family gatherings. And, yes, there will be family gatherings because I want Helene in my life and I will not give her up for any reason.

After twenty minutes, I hear the water shut down in the bathroom. I go to the door and knock softly.

"I'll be right there. Geez, Mags, have a little more patience."

"It's not your sister."

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