Page 41 of Luck of the Draw

I licked my bottom lip before I realized what I was doing, and his gaze instantly dropped to my mouth. “I want you to kiss me too. Like…so much.”

He released a low growl and shifted on the step. “Not helping.”

I laughed, amazed that this man could make me feel this array of emotions. “Sorry.”

His brow lifted playfully. “What did I say about apologies? Besides, I suspect you’re not really sorry at all. I hope you’re not.” Then he turned serious. “I think there could be more between us than just sex, Cinderella, but we need to lay our fears out on the table and address them. A relationship only works when two people are totally honest with each other.”

“I think you know a couple of my hang-ups,” I said. “Our age difference. It’s a big deal, Dylan. You’re going to want a family, and I can’t have any more kids.”

“That’s not an issue,” he said with a sad smile.

I was about to tell him that he was young enough to change his mind, but he was already shaking his head.

“I can’t have kids. My first wife and I wanted to have a big family. After trying for a few years, we went in for testing. We found out that I’m the problem. So no children running around with half of my DNA. She left me the next week.”

My heart lurched. “And then you joined the Marines.” I paused, hurting for him. In one moment, he’d lost his hopes for the future and his wife. “Dylan. I’m so sorry.”

“I’m over it,” he said, then half-shrugged. “Well, mostly. Being in the Marines was good for me. Until it wasn’t.” He waved to his knee. “But it wouldn’t have worked with Marisa anyway. She cut and run at the first sign of a problem. She didn’t even stick around to discuss our options.”

I opened my mouth to apologize again, because crap, I’d done the same thing. But he gave me a look like he knew exactly what I was thinking, and I bit my lip.

“The thing is, Dee, I can’t have kids, but I still like kids.” He sucked in a breath and pushed it out, running his hands through his hair. “I’m not explaining this right. What I’m saying is I don’t care that you have kids, Deeandra. If we give this a try and we work out, then I see your kids as a bonus.”

I shook my head. “It’s not that easy, Dylan. In two years I’ll be forty. You’ll be thirty-two”—I gestured to him—“looking like that.”

He grinned and cocked his head. “I could always stop going to the gym.”

“Don’t you dare!” I protested, then hastily added, “Unless youwantto stop.” Before I could stop myself, I touched his bicep, and an electrical current raced down my arm, zipping all the way to my core.

“What else?” he asked, his voice husky. “What else are you afraid of?”

“Isn’t that enough?” I asked in dismay.

“Deeandra,” he said, reaching over and covering my hand with his. “I don’t know what’s going to happen. All I know is that I really, really like you, and I think you like me too.”

“I do,” I admitted.

“And yeah, you’re going to turn forty sooner than I will, but I don’t care about that. Let’s give this a chance and see how it goes.” He gave me a hopeful look. “Can we do that?”

“The age thing is still going to be an issue,” I said, mostly because it felt like I had to. My mother had always tsk-tsked loudly at this and that starlet, for dating a man who was born when she was already of childbearing age. And sure, that wasn’t true of me and Dylan, but Mom would still—

Why the hell was I letting my mom play any part in this decision?

“And I still have kids,” I finished weakly.

“And we’ve established that I like kids,” he said. “I like them a lot. What else?”

“I haven’t dated in a long, long time,” I said. “I’m not sure I remember how to do this.”

He laughed, and the rich sound warmed my insides. I liked that he laughed so easily. I liked that he actually wanted to talk about my concerns.

“What about you?” I asked. “Do you have any fears or concerns?”

He grinned. “I’m worried I won’t be able to keep up with your libido.”

I gasped, my eyes bulging, and he burst into laughter.

“Are you saying I should find someone else to take care of my needs?” I asked in a smug tone.

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