Page 35 of Crazy Imperfect Hearts

“I enjoyed it with you. With the last few guys I’ve been with. Just not with—”

“That asshole, David.”

I nod.

“So you enjoy it. Good. We can work with that.”

I cock my head, unsure of where this is going and why he’s here. “We canwork with that?”

He shoves an entire cinnamon donut into his mouth, chews, swallows, then takes a drink of his coffee. He leans forward, elbows on the table, fingers steepled underneath his chin. He looks all businesslike. In fact, it’s now that I realize it’s Sunday morning, yet he’s dressed in gray linen pants. At least he’s traded his usual button-down dress shirt for a short-sleeved Polo. “I have a proposition for you.”

My appetite now lost—something most unusual for me—I stand and pull my robe tightly around my body. “A proposition?”

“One that will benefit us both.”

I narrow my eyes. “Why don’t I believe that?”

Joey darts across the kitchen floor, eyeing Lucas carefully as he sniffs his empty food bowl.

I walk over, open a cabinet, and peel back the film of his favorite salmon cat food. As I spoon it onto a dish, Joey glares at Lucas as if he might steal it from him, then turns and digs in.

“I’m gonna get that cat to like me if it’s the last thing I do,” Lucas says.

Hands on my hips, I stare at Lucas, wondering exactly what kind of proposition he has that would be mutually beneficial. His words echo in my head.So you enjoy it. We can work with that.My jaw hits the floor.

“You have some gall,” I snap.

He holds up his hands and looks from wall to wall. “What? I haven’t even said anything yet.”

I stride over and tower over him where he sits at my table. “You want tofixme, don’t you? Make me your pet project. And all the while you’ll be getting your rocks off instead of spilling into your hand considering nobody in this town is crazy enough to sleep with you.”

The surprise on his face tells me I’m spot on. A hand rakes through his perfect hair, rendering it not so perfect. His mouth opens, closes, then opens again. “Um… how in the hell did you know?” He stands, getting leverage over me. “Regan, you don’t need fixing, and you wouldn’t be my pet project. It would be a journey into exploring your sexuality.”

“Ha!” I bend over and snort laughter. “Are you serious? Do you think I was born yesterday?”

“You’re not wrong in that I’d be getting something out of it too. Before you, I had a long dry spell. Lissa was the last woman I was with. And with her engagement and all the reporters spreading my business on the news, I’ll be hard pressed to findany woman in the tri-state area to take a chance on me. So I like sex. I’m a red-blooded guy, of course I do. We can make this work, Regan. I’m nobody to you. Who cares what happens in the bedroom? Lots of fucking, no strings. No complications. But maybe, just maybe, we can get you to the point of letting go. Think of how that could help you in the future. Do you really want to spend the rest of your life sticking pieces of plastic in your pussy?”

His proposition is so outrageously idiotic, I contemplate slapping him across the face. If not for myself, for all womankind. But then why, in the back of my head, is there something telling me to consider it?

“Listen,” he says, taking a seat again and sifting through the pastries for his next selection. “I’m going to be out of town for two weeks. I’m headed to Napa for a wine convention and then I’ll be touring and meeting with some CMOs at wineries along the west coast. Think about it. That’s all I’m asking.”

I’m honestly stunned into silence as I watch him nonchalantly eat a bear claw after everything he just said. Does he have no shame?

Joey, now finished with his own meal, watches Lucas from around the corner, only his head sticking out as he appraises our uninvited guest. I should take my cues from him. Animals are smart. They sense things. Things humans can’t.

Lucas wipes his mouth with a napkin, throws his trash away, and approaches me. He leans close, his hot breath flowing over my neck causing goosebumps to erupt over my entire body, and whispers into my ear, “I’m not him. And I swear, I’m going to make you come. I’m going to make you come with my fingers. My tongue. My cock. I’m going to make you come so hard and in so many different ways, you’ll forget all about that motherfucker. I’m going to make you come so spectacularly, your toys will be jealous. I’m going to make you come so often,you won’t be able to think about anything else. Work. Food. Friends. They’ll all be secondary. Your every thought will be of what’s going to happen next. You’ll be an addict to orgasms, Ray. And your life will change forever.”

He picks up his coffee, walks to the front door, and leaves.

Wetness pools between my legs.Ho-lee shit.

I race off to my bedroom and consider his proposition.

I consider it three times.

Chapter Thirteen

Regan

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