Page 12 of First Comes Love… Then Denial

Chapter Five

CANDICE

“Hostage and the creeper.” My words were soft and coated with with amusement. “I’d be the first one killed in a horror movie, huh?”

“The possibility of that happening would definitely be high,” Zane laughed. “But luckily for you, this isn’t a horror movie.”

“And, what movie genre would this be?”

He leaned back just enough to where he could look down at me. I couldn’t help but stare up at him. I nervously bit my bottom lip and rocked back and forth on my heels.

“Can be whatever genre you’d like, Candice. Tonight is about you so say the word and I’ll make it happen.” Zane swept strands of my hair out of my face and smiled.

His words had me filled with nerves. Giddy little school girl nerves. I felt like I wasCinderellaor maybePretty Woman. Either way, Zane had me feeling like I was on top of the world.

“Why?” The question left my mouth before I even realized that I had thought it. A groan followed shortly behind it. “Don’t answer that.”

“Why not?” he chuckled. His eyes locked on mine. “Why would I choose to make this night all about you?”

“Mmhmm.”

“Hmm. Guess I need to come up with a good reason instead of the cliche things.”

“Cliche things?” I asked with my head slightly cocked.

“I find you attractive. You intrigue me. There’s something about you… Those cliche things.”

“So none of them are true?”

“They’re all true. Candice.”

“I see,” I whispered, leaning my forehead against his firm chest. He rubbed my back and I wrapped my arms around his waist.

What the hell was wrong with me? He was a stranger and I was being intimate with him. Intimacy, wasn’t in my vocabulary. Or at least I didn’t think it was. Ask any of my exes and they’d tell you that I was themanof the relationship. Yet here I was cuddled up with Zane – a total stranger.

“What kind of genre are you wanting, Miss Delayney?”

The huskiness in his voice made me want to rip his clothes off him. The man dripped of sexiness. I was surprised I had managed to keep my hands off of him this long.

“Whatare my options, again?" I asked with my face still against his chest. I didn't trust myself to look him in the eyes. Something told me that I'd regret it if I did look him in the eyes.

Maybe I was afraid of a romantic emotion or maybe I was afraid of my wanton thoughts escaping. Either way, I kept my face hidden.

"Well, I asked you…" Zane groaned. "Itrickedyou into this date so I could romance you and get to know you."

I laughed at his use of the word tricked and looked up at him. He looked down at me.

"I really am sorry about that. I'm not sure what the hell I was thinking, when I concocted the plan," he whispered. "I just knew I wanted to see you again."

My heart skipped several beats and I sucked in a sharp breath. Why were any of his words affecting me like this? They were just words. Most of them I had already heard before.

"Want me to drive you home?" He asked, looking down at me. His question barely left his mouth and I was already shaking my head. "No?"

"No," I replied timidly. "Unless you are wanting to get rid of me."

"No," he blurted but it was followed by a groan and him rolling his eyes. "I swear, I'm usually not a complete idiot."

"Noted," I giggled before standing on my tippy toes and kissing him gently. I lowered myself back down. Zane looked like he had seen a ghost, making me regret kissing him.

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