Page 17 of Say Yes

He gave a sigh of long-suffering affront. “I’ve been a perfect gentleman, despite your provocation.” Then he glanced down at their layered bodies. “Though I’ll admit playing with you has entered my mind several times.”

Good, she thought. Let’s play, and you can quit trying to confuse me with things I can’t accept. She thought it, but she hoped her silent encouragement wasn’t too obvious.

He sat up, then pulled her up, too. She swallowed her disappointment as he moved to her side, trying to concentrate on what he had to say.

“It’s all settled. I can get most of my stuff moved in over this weekend, if that’s okay with you. Actually I was really relieved when you asked. I was only kidding about you having to beg me. This will work out perfect. It’s been a real pain letting people through the house with me living there. I’m not a slob or anything, but I hated having to worry about every little thing I left out of place. And people have no respect for your privacy. They snoop through drawers and cabinets as if they already own the place. This way, with me living here, I’ll still be close enough to supervise things, which is why I moved into the model home in the first place, but my privacy will be protected.” He raised a brow in her direction. “That is, as long as you don’t suffer a penchant for prying.”

Her back stiffened. “I do not pry.”

“You said you asked Karen personal questions about me.”

“I didn’t have to ask,” she sputtered indignantly. “She gloated on and on about what a phenomenal stud you are. She practically shoved the information down my throat. I tried not to listen—”

“But she was insistent? How annoying for you.” His smug grin set her teeth on edge and set her head to pounding. Now that he no longer touched her, she was beginning to see the situation with just a tad more clarity. Still, there was too much she couldn’t remember.

“I have no recollection of asking you to move in. In fact, I never once considered such a thing.” Not seriously, anyway.

“Well, why not? We’ve always gotten along well. Are you telling me you made promises while you were drunk that you’ve no intention of keeping?”

That was the rub. She wanted to grab this opportunity and take complete advantage of it and him. He was the most compelling man she’d ever met, with a strength and gentleness that formed a potent mix. This could prove to be a page right out of her fantasies. She thought of Gavin’s skilled hands, his confidence and capability, and her stomach leaped in encouragement. Say yes, say yes, her body screamed.

But she’d made a vow to herself after her breakup with Ted. Never again would she leave herself open and vulnerable to humiliation. A woman should only have to suffer one such incident in her lifetime, and she’d had her quota. She would have to stay in control of any situation, especially those involving men. Right now, with Gavin, she certainly wasn’t feeling any sense of real control; she was mired three feet under in deep, dark confusion. He seemed to want her, yet he kept pulling away. Not far away, especially given that he wanted to move in, but just enough to make her want him more, when she already wanted him plenty! It wasn’t fair. It wasn’t the behavior she was used to from men. Not that she’d been a highly sought after female, but the men she had known had made their intentions plain. Gavin was evidently willing to keep her guessing. But why?

When she remained quiet, Gavin prompted her with a slight nudge to her shoulder. “Well?”

Feeling trapped, she asked with a degree of obvious caution, “Did I make very many promises last night?”

His look was suggestive. “A few.”

Her teeth sank into her bottom lip, and she saw his gaze drop to follow the action, the intensity of that gaze palpable. She immediately hid her teeth behind her lips, but not before their thoughts collided. They were each remembering last night, and the fact he thought she was sexy.

She had to give herself a few minutes to collect her composure, without his disturbing influence, before she made any decisions. Gavin had the power to hurt her much more than Ted ever could have. Ted had been a solution, but Gavin was a desire, a need, a dark craving. To have him, for whatever reason, and then lose him, could be devastating. “Why don’t you meet me in the kitchen after I shower and change and we can…discuss all this.”

“Hell of an idea.” He was already on his feet, moving with an air of triumph. “I’ll throw together some breakfast.”

Her nervousness was enough to choke a cow, and her stomach rebelled at the mere thought of food. “I don’t think…”

“Don’t worry. I promise to go light.” He was halfway out of the room before he added, “I’m an excellent cook, Sara, and I don’t mind pitching in. I’ve even been accused of being fun on occasion, so you shouldn’t have any complaints at all.”

Gorgeous and an excellent cook? But what was all that nonsense about him being fun?

Sara heaved a sigh. She had no idea what was going on. One thing was certain, he had her interest. It was almost too good to be true, though she wanted it to be.

God, how she wanted it to be.

It was terribly risky, especially since she knew deep down that if she accepted Gavin, on whatever silly terms he spoke of, she might end up totally devastated.

Then again, since she was no longer looking for husband material, knowing exactly how futile that endeavor would be, Gavin might very well be the perfect roommate. She couldn’t expect a man like him to commit himself to one woman. Commitment was no longer a requirement. Right? She nodded her head at her own question, but still wasn’t convinced. As long as she had her fair share of his time…

Ground rules, that’s what they needed. He should be hers exclusively for at least a while. She could glut herself on his masculine charms, then move on to newer game. Men did it all the time.

The thought of newer game actually sickened her. Lately all men had seemed a big turnoff, at least romantically. But not Gavin. Maybe that was because he was such a good friend, too.

She saved the uninteresting, disturbing thoughts of greener pastures for later and concentrated on the glutting part while she prepared for her shower. Now that was enough to get a woman wide-eyed and bushy-tailed in the morning. Everyone deserved a little fantasy time, and it looked like this might be hers.

Maybe this would all work out after all.

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