Page 34 of Seducer

The best part of the evening was that I felt comfortable around him. As if we’d known each other our whole lives. It was so strange I couldn’t keep track of time and didn’t care.

Sleep seemed the furthest thing from my mind, his wealth of knowledge about everything from music to movies surprising me. He wasn’t the closed-off asshole everyone thought he was. Plus, after we’d agreed to keeping our names off the table, talking to him had become more fun and he hadn’t tried to pry any private information from me.

I felt more and more at ease around the man.

I also experienced extreme desire, which wasn’t like me.

I’d prided myself in being the most focused human on the planet, determined to win a pipe dream contest and move up in the world. I deserved it after all my struggles and hard work. I’d shut down my time for men, resulting in over-usage of my extensive vibrator collection. But no pain, no gain.

At least that’s what I’d heard.

All my resolve was threatening to crumble around the man and it didn’t make any sense.

“Why are you helping me?” I asked the question as directly as I could.

“Why? Do I need a reason?”

“Yes, you do.”

He grinned as if thoroughly amused. “Okay. I could tell you’d had a rough night. My buddies were a little over the top and with Jerry and the car, you needed a break. Is that so horrible of me?”

“As long as you don’t expect anything in return. Most men would.”

“You’ll learn I’m not most men.”

“Fine. I’ll need to take your word for it,” I finally said. He appeared almost hurt. “I’m sorry. I don’t trust many people.”

“And you shouldn’t. There are some real creepers out there.”

At least he made me smile. “Yes.”

“Just relax. I’m sorry about your car.”

“Me too. What do you do for fun?” I asked, trying to break the tension I’d created.

“Fun. What’s fun? I work. I eat dinner. I sleep. I work out.” He chuckled as if realizing his life was boring as hell. “You?”

“I work. I work another job. I try and sleep. I soak in a tub with wine. And occasionally I do read a fabulous book.”

“Let me guess,” he breathed, the sound becoming more like a growl. “A romance novel.”

“Ha. You make that sound like a bad thing. I’ll have you know I do from time to time. But I prefer thrillers, dark and gritty ones when you have no clue if the heroine is going to survive.”

“But the hero saves the day?”

“Not always.” I sucked on my straw, ensuring I savored the last few sips of the fabulous malted milkshake. The sound was obnoxious even for me.

Zach sat back, his entire face lighting up exactly as it did when I snorted, which I’d done far too often. He thought the noisy laugh I’d had since I was a child was adorable.

“You do love your ice cream.”

“So do you. Two?” I pointed toward the empty parfait glasses. When he shifted in his seat, I was reminded just how tight the booths were in the diner’s effort to fit as many customers inside as possible.

His knee brushed against mine and I was instantly frozen, biting my lower lip to keep from making a single sound.

The jolt of current was widespread, thrumming through every muscle and cell in my body. I was instantly lightheaded, a fog appearing in front of my eyes and a single bead of perspiration trickling down the back of my neck. Why? Because of a man. Yes, a very sexy man with dimples and a killer smile, but he was still just a guy.

Hot bachelor…

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