Page 54 of Mr. Flirt

She nodded and waved something in her hand.

“Well, you probably don’t need to see this, then, since you might be taken.”

“What?” I asked, walking toward her.

“Since you’re addicted to that game on your phone, I just had to show you this, and he’s as hot as sin.” She unrolled a magazine and slid it in front of me. “Now, maybe you can figure out how to hook up with this guy and get all the free game play you can have. And FYI, the article about him was actually pretty good.” She chuckled as I stared down at the glossy magazine to see Shep’s face blown up for the cover shot.

I looked up at Karlie and had this sudden urge to laugh, cry, and get sick all at once.

“You look like you just saw a ghost.”

“Long story.” I snatched the magazine from her hands. “Mind if I read it?”

“You can keep it.”

“Thanks. Have a nice Sunday night. Try not to stay too long.” I clutched the magazine as I headed toward the elevator, unable to hide my fascination with what was inside these pages.

What I’d learned so far about Shep was that he was kind, intelligent, funny, liked a challenge, and didn’t like to stay a long time in any one relationship. I also knew he loved his family more than anything.

But we were in the beginning stages of all this, and I had so much more I wanted to know about him. Even though I’d merely tapped his shoulder to teach me a few things, I wanted to learn about the real Shep. Not the side his friends used to place a bet or joke about his relationship status. I wanted to know the whys of it all.

And I had a start right at my fingertips.

It almost felt like cheating to get this type of information. I could get some real insight into what made Shep tick. He was adamantly against cheating, from everything I could garner from his reaction to my poor friend’s situation, but I didn’t know the dirty details about his life.

Yet, I hopped into bed with him. Granted, we didn’t fully sleep together, but just as I almost begged him, I saw a glint of something in his eyes that scared me.

The sweetness in his gaze as he looked at me hit me hard. It was like his soul could read mine, and that freaked me out.

Because I promised myself it wouldn’t mean a thing with him.

Not a thing.

It couldn’t with his track record. He’d just end up finding the next shiny and new object of his affection, which was why I told him it was okay to see other people. If he had done it in front of me, I could have come to grips easier than creating a fantasy that didn’t exist.

The elevator chimed, and I walked inside, pushing the button to the lobby as I stood refusing to look inside the magazine.

While the carriage whisked me down, I guilted myself into refusing to look at the article about the man, the mystery, and the legend Shep appeared to be. I wanted to hear it from his lips before I read all about the guy I was about to sleep with.

As I crossed the lobby from the bank of elevators to the parking garage, I was a confused mess of emotions. And by the time I slid into my car, I’d decided to take one little peek inside. I’d read the first paragraph and then slam it shut.

After all, he did agree to the interview, and it’s public information. It wasn’t like he didn’t know what was in the magazine.

Shoot. He might even think I’d already read it.

Exactly.

I buckled my seatbelt and turned on the overhead light before flipping to the page where the most eligible bachelor beckoned me.

Interviewer: You’ve earned your title well, Shep. You’re a successful businessman who owns several homes, has a great bond with your sister, and has generously donated to several charities, including your best friend’s animal shelter, yet you haven’t found that special someone to share all this goodness with.

Shep: My title?

Interviewer: Most Eligible Bachelor.

Shep laughs uncomfortably.

Shep: That’s where the magazine and I differ. I don’t really see myself as eligible.

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