Page 44 of Love In The Spotlight

He refused to be embarrassed over a normal bodily reaction to a hot woman he was making out with.

“Fair point,” he said. “Then explain more of what is going on in your head.”

“We don’t have enough time for me to explain everything in my head. I’m not sure anyone wants to know that.”

She was smiling again. More relaxed too.

“Then do we need some ground rules?”

“At the very least,” she said. “I’ll start. This is between us. No one is going to know, least of all my brothers.”

“I’m fine with that,” he said. “Maybe we’ll know after a few dates it wasn’t more than some heat.”

She frowned and he held back his grin over that. Just because he started this conversation didn’t mean he was going to show all his cards.

Never put yourself in a position for someone to walk all over you.

He’d learned that the hard way. He opened himself up with his parents like children do and all it did was cause hurt feelings and low self-confidence. He never let that be shown though.

“Could be,” she said. “Second rule, work and whatever we have is separate. I’m not saying our conversations aren’t going to mix when we are together, but one isn’t going to dictate or cause issues with the other.”

“Agreed,” he said. “My number one rule. Penelope. You met her and I hadn’t planned on that.”

“I know,” she said. “Which is why I tried to leave, but then pancakes were offered.”

He laughed. “Janelle is like that. You are only someone I work with to her if you see her again. I’m sure you will. There might be times we meet at my house, but Penelope is off limits. I don’t need anyone in her life until I know someone might stay.”

“That just makes you a great father, Jamie,” she said. “Nothing more than that. If you said anything other, you might not be as sexy in my eyes.”

He laughed. “Don’t lie. I’m sexy and I know it.”

“Now you’re quoting songs?”

He winked. “Just stating a fact. Don’t think I haven’t seen you eying me every time we are together.”

“You mean like the way you look me up and down starting with my shoes?” She pointed a toe and wiggled it a little. “Would you like me to stand up and do a little twirl for you so you can see it all?”

“Please do,” he said. He wasn’t sure if she was joking, but he was going to call her on it.

She did though, pushed her hands down her sides as if she was putting herself on display, then turned slowly and let him look at her ass.

“No panty lines,” she said. “You’re not the only one that knows how to pull a person along.”

His jaw dropped. “You did that on purpose?”

“Maybe,” she said.

“I’ll take that as a yes,” he said. “What’s the next step? A date?”

“We can do that,” she said. She picked her phone up and pushed the buttons. “I’m in town all next week. Since I’ll be working with Nelson and you on this, I’ll be in town more than normal. I’ve got Abby starting and have to get things going with her too. How about lunch one day next week?”

“Monday,” he said. Might as well put it out there since Tuesday was New Year’s Eve and Wednesday was the holiday. He had no plans either day.

“Aren’t you traveling on Sunday?” she asked.

“Just to Philly. I’ll be home Sunday night relatively early. You’ll probably be working later or longer than me.”

“Most likely,” she said. “Let me know Monday morning for sure and pick a place.”

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