Page 59 of Third Chances (Men of Manhattan 2)

She laughed. "It's a waiting game. And I'm being patient until the right guy comes along and then I'll be patient as I learn all about him and see if we truly are compatible. It's all about patience."

"It's not about patience. It's about passion."

She stared at me for a second. There was something in her eyes that I couldn't quite read. She laughed awkwardly. "You're wrong."

I raised my eyebrow. "I don't think so, beautiful."

"Passion can build. It can be one of the things that patience brings. You have to get to know each other first. That's the whole point of building a relationship."

"Passion like we have doesn't build. It's instantaneous."

"And that's what love is to you? Just passion? Like what we have? Does that mean you're in love with me, Rob?" She batted her eyelashes at me.

Damn. She was good. But I was better. "It means I have the potential to fall in love with you because of said passion."

She rolled her eyes.

Oh God I wanted to spank her. I wanted to do more than spank her, but right now I just craved my palm on her bare ass. She was so incredibly naive. And charming. And sexy as hell. I put my hand back on her thigh. Now that I knew she felt the heat between us, it was even harder to control myself.

Patience? Screw patience. I trailed my fingers up her thigh, relishing the softness of her skin. "Patience isn't fun, Daphne. Patience is torture. Patience is something you hold onto when there is no spark. Wouldn't you agree?" My fingers stopped at the top of her thigh. She hadn't resisted at all as my hand slid under her skirt. I wasn't going to touch her. No matter how much I wanted to. I just wanted her to admit that I was right.

She shook her head. Apparently she wouldn't abandon her horrible belief about love in order to experience the most mind blowing orgasm of her life. Yes, with just my fingers.

"You can't deny that we have chemistry," I said.

"It's not about a physical connection." Her words were slow. She was clearly consumed by lust. Consumed by me. "It's about an emotional one."

"Yet, you've only known me for a day and you want me to touch you. That's passion. That's the key. This undeniable heat." I ran my fingers along the edge of her thong and her body trembled. That's right.

She shook her head. "You're wrong." Her voice wasn't as determined this time.

"And you're stubborn." I stopped my ascent and removed my hand.

"I'm stubborn? What about you?"

"I'm not stubborn, I'm just right."

She scoffed. "That's something a stubborn person would say."

"Is stubbornness a quality on your list?" I lifted up the drink the waiter had just set down in front of me.

She didn't deem my question with an answer. Instead she looked down at the drink the waiter put in front of her. "I don't drink margaritas."

"You'll like this one." I had ordered it for her while she was fantasizing about me.

"You don't know what I like." She picked up her menu.

"I think I do."

She lifted the menu slightly to cover her face. Yeah, I know her better than she thinks.

"I'll be right back to take your order," the waiter said and walked away.

I wanted to be alone with Daphne. I'd take whatever opportunity I could get. I quickly stood up and put my hand out. "May I have this dance?"

She slowly lowered her menu. Her cheeks were still rosy. "He said he'd be right back."

"I'll keep an eye out for him." I moved my hand closer to her. "Just one dance."

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