Page 8 of Unlawful Seduction

He appeared just as big and broody as he had the day before. Dressed in jeans and a sweater, at least the look made him appear friendlier. A pair of dark sunglasses hid his eyes and I noticed he’d yet to take them off.

The hostess approached him and I couldn’t tell if he’d said a word. He did point to a table on the other side of the room from where we were sitting. I spent a few seconds gawking at him since he didn’t have a clue I was looking.

Broad shoulders. Thick, dark hair tousled from the light breeze. A square jaw that appeared lightly covered with stubble. The dark brown leather jacket suited him. Instead of looking scruffy, it made him somehow appear like a movie star hiding out in a small town.

That would explain his lack of communication skills. Maybe his voice was recognizable.

“What are you looking at?” Marjorie asked from beside me.

“Just a guy I ran into at the hardware store yesterday.”

Jenny leaned back in her seat, so she had a better view. “Not bad. Where do you know him from?”

“That’s just it. I don’t know him. I literally ran into him yesterday.” I had to crane my neck to get a clearer picture of him. Only when he took off his jacket did he bother looking around.

I’d be damned if it didn’t seem as if he’d found my eyes staring at him. I ducked down slightly, which caused Marjorie to smack my arm.

“I can see you have the hots for him,” she told me, laughing after she did.

“I do not. I don’t know the guy.”

“You don’t need to know a man to…knowhim if you get what I mean.” Jenny was pleased with herself.

“Very funny. If I’m too busy to have brunch according to the two of you, then I’m way too busy to consider dating some guy who doesn’t speak and has no manners. And who might not be treating his dog like he should.”

“Opinionated much?” Marjorie snorted.

Jenny sighed as if falling in love. “He does give off those alpha he-man vibes that we all love.”

“Nah, I think he gives off serial killer vibes if you ask me.”

Now I was the one to smack Marjorie in the arm. “You’ve been reading too many romance books.”

“I think you mean not enough. I’ve seen the guy around.”

I hated to admit that I was interested. After my last experiences with going through with several chaotic and horrible blind dates, I was doing my best to swear off men. Besides, who needed a hot body when you had a furry one sleeping by your side?

Only I’d yet to rescue the menagerie I wanted. I hadn’t thought it fair to an animal to bring him or her to a new home and not have time to spend with them.

“Sweetie, you can’t blame the man you had a date with as being the entire problem with your lack of commitment.” Marjorie wrinkled her nose. She was trying her best to keep my mood from falling into the typical deep abyss of shadows and anger.

“It was one date. Just one!” I held up my index finger to make a further point.

“Exactly,” both women said together. I’d confessed one too many sins since returning. Although I wouldn’t call one horrible date my problem.

No, that was all about fear of the unknown.

And death.

Marjorie bumped my arm with hers. “Not trying to ride you, but what happened was almost three years ago. You need to live a little.”

“Work is my life.” And it was.

She growled. “That’s what I’m talking about. Hot sex isn’t a commitment.”

Maybe not, but I wasn’t ready to even consider caring enough about anyone to plan on spending time together.

“You have me curious,” Jenny said as she leaned across the table toward Marjorie, almost knocking over her Bloody Mary. “What do you know about the hunk?”

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