Page 18 of One Hot Deal

"I see Avery's plot has backfired," Hugh says.Then he pats Avery's arm."I told you not to push so hard, darling.Stubborn people don't respond well to that sort of technique."

"I know all about stubborn men.You were way more pigheaded than Derek will be.I'm his sister, after all."

The happy couple slows down until they're walking well behind me and Diana, but I resume my position just behind her.

"You might as well walk beside me," she says with a sigh."Those two won't stop until you do."

She's right, so I move up beside her.That ponytail bounces a little with every step she takes.

"I like the ponytail," I tell her."It suits you."

She jerks as if I threw a dead bird at her."Suits me?That's ridiculous."

"Why?You're always beautiful, but that scrunchy thing makes you look sweet."

She casts me a sideways glance, her lips curving up at one corner."Please don't insult me that way.I have a tough-as-nails image to uphold."

"Your secret is safe with me, Ms.Sangster."

"We're taking the day off.That means you should call me Diana for now.In fact, I asked you to do that in my office."

"Right.You should call me Derek, then."

Hugh and Avery catch up to us and point out the restaurant they'd had in mind.It's a nice place, not fancy, just the kind of thing normal people enjoy.I might have learned a lot about Diana over the past few months, but I know very little about her food preferences.The menu includes everything from burgers to quiche and even oysters.I don't order those.When Hugh jokingly suggests he wants to order oysters for Avery, and he wags his eyebrows at me, I kick his shin under the table.

Well, he did ask for that.I don't need to hear about what he and my sister do to get turned on.I know Lord Sticky just likes to harass me, the way guys often do to each other.

I didn't kick him hard.It was really just a poke.

Hugh does not order oysters, which means I don't need to drag him into an alley and sucker punch him.He and Avery share a gigantic plate of pasta, but fortunately for my stomach, they don't feed each other.I would've barfed for sure if they did that.I love my sister, and I'm glad she's happy, but all the lovey-dovey stuff isn't for me.

I decide to eat a double-decker hamburger with all the fixings and a large side of French fries.

Diana orders the same thing, but with chili cheese fries and jalapeños.

I can't help gaping at her."I can't believe you eat stuff like that.No woman I ever met likes hot peppers."

She shrugs."I don't often eat this way, but I'm quite hungry.Ravenous, actually."

Ravenous?Yeah, I am too.But not for food.

When our meals arrive, I get to watch Diana Sangster consuming a hamburger with all the gusto of an inmate who just got released from prison.Oddly, that turns me on big time.A drop of ketchup slides down her chin, and I wish I could lick that off for her.But she daintily dabs it away with a napkin.

I want to drag her back to her flat or mine and eat all kinds of succulent treats off her body.

Stop thinking about sex, moron.Remember the plan.

Take it slow, give her time, don't push.That's my plan.But seeing another side of Diana makes it so damn hard for me to stick to my guns.

After lunch, Hugh and Avery climb into a taxi to go home.Diana and I grab a taxi too, though I can tell she doesn't like utilizing public transportation.She's used to her limo, but we didn't drive here, so she has to make do.I resist the urge to drape an arm around her shoulders or clasp her hand.Having sex with Diana, even if it only lasted thirty seconds, is screwing with my head.

Diana squirms in her seat and puckers her lips.

This isn't the most comfortable taxi I've ever been in.Is there such a thing as a comfortable taxi?Probably not.

"Pull over here," I tell the driver."We can walk the rest of the way."

Diana swerves her attention to me, surprise widening her eyes.

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