Page 30 of His Curvy Temptation

“Yeah,” she says. “Sorry…you don’t have to get deep into this if you don’t want to. I know we barely know each other.”

We barely know each other, but I want to know you much, much more,I think to myself.

And because I want to know Andy much more, I’m willing to give more, tell her the things I hardly speak to my own brothers about.

“It’s okay,” I reply. “It’s not my favorite thing to talk about. But Icantalk about it now, thanks to the therapy. Yeah, I’m still in therapy. For maintenance, that’s what my therapist calls it.”

“Like when you get a hair trim,” she says with a smile. “Maintaining your hair health. Maintaining your mental health.”

I smile back at her. If only therapy were as pain-free as getting a hair trim. Then maybe I wouldn’t dread it all week like I do.

“It’s more akin to a dentist appointment, maybe,” I say. “A necessary evil in life. I know I need it, and that if I don't do it, bad stuff could happen. But damn if I can’t wait for it to be over.”

She groans.

“Ihatethe dentist,” she says. “No matter how much I floss, I always have a cavity. Always.”

“You’re too sweet,” I reply. “It’s unavoidable.”

She laughs.

“Nowthatwas the cheesiest thing I’ve ever heard a man say about me!” she says, her eyes dancing in the candlelight. “And I can’t believe it came out of the mouth of a man like you. You say you’re this angry vengeful guy. But you’re also…”

“Also what?” I ask.

“Adorable,” she finishes.

I frown.

“Don’t think I’ve ever been called adorable before,” I say. “You make me sound like a fluffy dog.”

She giggles again and I can’t help it, I laugh too.

We move on to other topics, totally at ease. The waiter brings my card back with the receipt and I barely glance at it, hardly notice the night growing later and later as the candles around us slowly extinguish themselves one by one.

When she leans forward and absentmindedly strokes the back of my hand with her fingertips, my heart feels like it stops for a moment, then returns with a quickened, uneven beating. And even though I know the purpose of tonight is to be a gentleman, to show Andy a nice evening, I can’t help it. My mind thinks of sex, of how amazing her cleavage looks in that deep purple dress, about how that dress would look better on the floor of my bedroom…

“We should get out of here,” Andy says, glancing around. “I’m pretty sure we’re the last people left in the entire restaurant, and that nice waiter probably wants to go home soon.”

11

Andy

I don’t ever sleepwith a man on the first date, but there’s a first time for everything. I’m so drawn to Elijah; I can’t explain it. He’s nothing like any other man I’ve been with before, in every possible way.

And it’s a good thing.

A very good thing. Because I like the way Elijah put his hand around my waist and guides me to outside. The way he opens the car door from me and guides me inside, the way he holds the steering wheel with one hand while his other hand rests possessively on my thigh.

When he asks if I want him to take me home, I can tell what he wants. And I want it too. So I shake my head.

“My place?” he asks. “For another drink?”

Even though we both know it’s not just for another drink.

I nod.

I like the way Elijah can be strong and soft all in the same moment, at the same time. Tough but vulnerable. The way he opens up with me, is honest about his struggles and about the fact that he’s been to therapy.

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