Page 34 of And Then Came You

Sam reexamines his photo and I catch his bravado falter momentarily. “You don’t think I can pull it off?”

Way to play the sad Sam card. He knows I’ll cave. “I never said that. You look gorgeous. But you always look gorgeous.”

His gaze darts between the phone and my face, a small smile crossing his lips. “You really think so? Even now?”

What a bastard, cornering me into admitting I don’t hate the shaved head and beard as much as I planned. “Sam, everyone thinks so.”

“I asked if you really thought so.”

His direct questions, combined with his potent stare, are turning my insides to molten lava. I want to escape, but I know it’s not an option. He won’t let me retreat. “I’ve always thought you were gorgeous.”

Finally, Sam’s jaw softens. “I’m not your type though. You prefer the businessman, remember?”

Make no mistake, Sam is digging. Whether it’s a morbid curiosity or a stroke to his ego—I can’t be certain. But my parents didn’t raise a liar, and I’m not about to start now. “You didn’t let me finish, Mr. Twenty Questions. Although I always ended up dating the businessman, I’ve grown to prefer the bad boy.”

This man’s stare—holy crap, but I’m on fire over here. “Perhaps then, Lexi, you should try dating one.”

“I’m too geeky for the bad boys, remember?”

“Not at all. They likely think they’re notyourtype since you’re always dating bespectacled professors.”

“Bespectacled? Here I thought I was the wordsmith.” Yes, I’m digressing from the path. I have to, before my body melts into a sexually starved puddle.

“I’m serious. The bad boy types are often the nicest guys.”

“Are you suggesting I pursue tatted up bikers?”

“Maybe not bikers—” Sam interjects.

“But ink is okay?”

“Well, obviously.”

I should change the subject, not keep pushing. Too bad I don’t heed advice, even my own. “Good to know. I’m not sure how I feel about piercings, though, and most bad boy types have several.”

His reaction is priceless, the calm facade cracking at my unexpected admission. “What’s wrong with piercings?”

I offer a small shrug, focusing my gaze on the pool. “Nothing. They’re cool.”

“But you don’t know how you feel about them?”

“Certain ones would be no big deal, but others—”

“Like what?”

I wave my hand at him, grabbing up my book. “Forget it.”

“Not a chance in hell. Which ones do you have a problem with, Lexi?”

“Why do you care?” My gaze shifts back to him, meeting those green jewels head-on.

“I’m curious. You brought it up.”

“Tongue rings, lip rings and... what do they call them? Dydoe?”

A muscle jumps in Sam’s jaw as he turns his gaze away. “Right.”

I know Sam has these piercings, along with several others. Well, I’ve seen two of them. The third one? That’s the stuff of legends.

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