Page 14 of Choosing the right Man

“Something I left at my mom’s place.”

I swallow the lump in my throat. “We’re going to your mother’s place?”

“You don’t have a problem with that, do you?”

“Yes,” I tell him.

“Why?”

I gaze at the side of his face. “What are we really doing here, Mr. Alexander?” I ask in a firm voice. I think this moment calls for complete transparency.

“We’re spending the day together, Chloe. Yes, we’re going to get supplies, but we both feel this attraction between us. Maybe it’s a fluke, maybe it isn’t. We won’t know if we don’t spend time together.” I think on these words for several moments. If he’s going to be honest, then so will I.

“I’m not having an affair with you.”

He chuckles. “You’ve been very clear about that, but your gaze burns into me when you don’t think I’m looking, and the attraction between us is hot enough to set this vehicle on fire. You might not like feeling it, but you certainly do. If it’s something that will pass, then isn’t it better for us to spend a day together and get bored?”

My heart thunders with the truth of his words. He isn’t wrong... dammit. I take a moment before answering, then decide I might as well be as honest as he’s being.

“You have a point. Sometimes, the most alluring things are those that we can’t have.”

He briefly turns my way and gives me a big smile that seems far too much like the cat eating the canary for my liking. “Exactly.”

I question his flippant attitude, but he might have a point. I feel rejected by Paul right now, so I love the attention I’m getting from Mason, even if I don’t want to love it. I assure myself it means nothing. As a matter of fact, I’m pretty sure any man who found me attractive right now would give me these same feelings. I feel better already. This attraction will soon pass.

We continue driving, sharing small talk that means nothing. I wait for the tension to ease in my body, but it doesn’t happen.The longer I’m in this man’s presence, the more attractive he seems to grow.

I know exactly what type of man Mason is. He’s the “love ’em and leave ’em” man. He’s so used to getting anyone he wants that the challenge of someone not accepting his offer right away put him on the hunt. The question is more about me. What kind of woman am I? What kind of woman do I want to be? Do I want him to chase me? More importantly, do I want him to catch me? I’m terrified to think about the answer to this question.

“Why are you with Paul?” he asks as we near the coast.

I’m only shocked for a moment that he knows Paul’s name. A man this powerful most likely knows everything about me, including the grades I got in elementary school. I’m sure he’s done a full background check on me, one the CIA would be proud of. I let out a sigh. I’m vulnerable right now and need to be careful of what I say. I have to remember what he’s after, and more importantly, remember my values, who I’ve always been, and who I want to continue to be.

“I love him,” I say. I even manage not to cringe as I utter these words I’ve been saying for ten years. Do I still love Paul? There was a time I did. Mason turns and stares at me long enough to make me squirm. “Watch the road!”

He turns back without missing a beat, his driving flawless. “I don’t think you do love him,” he counters. This irritates me.

“You don’t know me,” I huff. I hate feeling like a petulant child. What is this man reducing me to?

“I know you more than you could possibly imagine.”

“A background check and a couple of interactions doesn’t make you know me. I’ve been with Paul for ten years.Heknows me.”

Mason’s silent for a few moments. I take the time to steady my breathing. There’s nothing I can do about my acceleratedheartbeat. This man makes me feel more emotion in less than two hours than Paul has made me feel in years. It’s insane.

“It doesn’t take much time to know someone, Chloe. I can see the beat of your pulse in the side of your neck, the way your eyes dilate when you look at me. I can hear the hitch in your breath, and see the flush of your skin. A woman doesn’t react to a man the way you react to me if she’s in love with another. That tells me all I need to know.”

His words aremakingmy skin heat,makingmy breath hitch, andmakingmy pulse skyrocket. I don’t like it... yet, at the same time, I love it. He’s smooth. I need to remember this. I can’t win a war of words with him. He’s had countless women. I’ve had Paul. There’s no comparison... he knows how to play this game, and I know nothing.

“I’m not going to say you aren’t attractive. I’ll even admit things aren’t perfect with Paul, but I know myself well, and I’d never be able to live with the decision if I chose to have an affair. Sure, you affect me. You know you do, know your magnetism, but I don’t do casual sex. It would be meaningless. Sure, it might feel good for a while, but then it would be over, and I’d have to live with the consequences of my actions. I’m not willing to do that,” I say in a relatively calm voice. I’m quite proud of myself.

He nods as he processes my words. “Leave him,” he calmly says.

I gape at him. “I’m not leaving him for a two-minute affair,” I reply.

“You’ve been having terrible sex if you think it will only last two minutes. I’ll make your body sing in ways you’ve never felt before. I’ll bring you to the heavens, and not let you come back down again until you beg me to do so. It will be incredible. It will happen, Chloe. I’m not normally a patient man, but for you, I’ll wait,” he says as if he’s doing me a favor.

“Don’t wait for me or you’ll be using your hand for quite some time,” I quickly reply.

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