Page 16 of Delayed
It was his turn to tense. He rolled on hisside to face her. “It started that way.”
“I thought we agreed. One night.” She closedher eyes and inhaled deeply.
“I don’t remember ever having a conversationabout it.”
“You live in Orlando. I’m in Tampa.” Shepulled her hands against her chest as if trying not to touch him.“Long distance won’t work.”
“It’s an hour and a half.” His words had abite that he hadn’t intended.
“An hour and a half one way.” She rolledonto her back and huffed out a breath. “I’ll be busy Monday throughFriday at work, and you’ll be traveling the country doing your job.When will we see each other, Rex? Every other Saturday is notdating.”
“It will require some effort.” He trailed afinger over her shoulder and down her arm.
“Some effort? Ha!” She tossed the sheets offand rolled out of bed to a stand, her back to him.
He let his gaze travel over the curves ofher nakedness. The way her chestnut locks cascaded down her backmade her look like a model in the charcoal drawing class he’d takenlast summer. Damn, she was beautiful. How could he let her go?
“I thought we had a connection.”
She glanced over her shoulder. “We had sex.That’s the connection.” She yanked a sheet from the bed and wrappedherself in it.
“I’ve enjoyed every second with you. Notjust our time in bed. Our conversations. Our laughter. Your dreams.Your hopes.”
She rolled her eyes.
“Did you just roll your eyes at me?” He satup in bed.
“Observant.” She hustled around the roomgathering her clothes off the floor.
“I want an opportunity to get to know youbetter.”
“I’m sure you say that to all the ladies youpick up on your travels.” She huffed. “I’m not one of those girlshanging on your every word, waiting for you to throw me a morsel ofattention.”
“What’s that supposed to mean?” His chesttightened to the point that his breath burst from his lips in fastpants.
“Let’s not pretend this is your first rodeo.It may be mine, but it was clear from the start that you do thisregularly.”
“Really? And what made it so clear?” Hisnostrils flared. She challenged his personality, his reputationwith minimal knowledge. Though she was right. And that may havebeen what bothered him most.
“You’re smooth. You flirt like it’s yourprofession,” she sputtered.
He flexed his fingers. “You’re a beautifulwoman, Anna. I’m positive men flirt with you all the time. Thatcan’t be held against me.”
“It’s the way you do it.” She brushed herfingers through her tangled hair. Her skirt and sweater draped overher forearm. “Tell me, Rex, how often on your travels do you take awoman to your room? Your bed?”
He swallowed hard. Not a question he wantedto answer, particularly in this moment. Not a question he was proudto answer either. It happened more times than he cared tocount.
“No, you aren’t the first woman I’ve met orslept with on my work travels. But you are the first woman I’vewanted to see again. Who I’ve wanted to get to know.”
She scoffed. “I don’t want to be abooty-call.”
“You would not be a booty-call.” He groundout the words. “That’s not what I’m suggesting at all.”
“I’ve enjoyed our time. It’s been a whilesince I’ve felt the desire to flirt with a guy. And this,” shewaved a hand around at the room, “was fun and exciting andphysically enjoyable. But it can’t go anywhere.”
He didn’t know if he should be offended orangry. Anger won out. “Why the hell not?”
“Because I said so.” She turned and walkedinto the bathroom, shutting and locking the door behind her.
