“Well, you tell me when something does.”
I nodded, sucking in my cheeks as I looked away for what felt like the millionth time. The intensity of his gaze was beginning to get to me, and already I wanted to fan myself, despite the comfortable temperature of the room.
“Tell me something else,” he said, and his fingers brushed against mine.
I glanced down, all too aware of the electric tingle coursing through my body at his touch.
“I don’t know,” I spluttered. “But I’m starting to wonder what my sister wrote about me on my profile.”
“You haven’t seen it?” He raised his eyebrows.
“Nope. Like I said, she does what she wants.”
“But you’re still here. Why?” he asked, cocking his head and eyeing me speculatively.
“Because…I was curious,” I admitted.
“And is your curiosity satisfied now?” He sipped his drink.
I opened my mouth to answer and then closed it. Why did it feel like everything out of this guy’s mouth was just some method to get me to admit that I wanted him, rough and ready, from the second I’d laid eyes on him?
And, more importantly, why did I like that about him?
What was happening to me? Where was homebody, keep-to-herself Piper?
“You’re not the usual kind of guy I see,” I confessed, hoping he wouldn’t notice my sudden change of subject.
“No?” he asked. “How is that?”
“You’re just different.”
“I got that.” The slight smile returned, and I took another sip of my drink to steady myself.
“Do you always dress like this?” I pointed to his suit.
“Duty calls. I work a lot.”
“Yeah, I was getting that vibe,” I said.
“And what other vibe are you getting?”
That you want me to slide off my panties and give them to you as a trophy?
“That you’re used to getting what you want,” I said, compromising. That was true too and a little safer.
“I am.” This time the smile was a full-on grin, like a wolf who’d just spotted a tasty-looking sheep.
My heart thudded a little faster in my chest, and I gripped my drink, swirling it nervously.
It was safe to say this was the most intense—and somehow terrifying—conversation I’d ever had with a man, but I still couldn’t work up the courage to get up and go.
And more than that?
I didn’t want to. Not even a little bit. My blood was singing as my brain tried to imagine what would happen from here.
Something about this guy—whether it was his dark stare or the way he smiled like he hadn’t had much practice at it—intrigued me. Attracted me. Just looking at his rugged square jaw made me need to squeeze my thighs together to quell the ache rising there.
He was the most handsome man I’d ever set eyes on, and there was no doubt what he wanted from me…and what I wanted to give him in return.
Swallowing hard, I forced myself to press on, if only to avoid being swallowed up by his gaze.
“Actually, uh”—I cleared my throat—“I didn’t see your profile. My sister just sort of picked you for me.”
“And you’re starting to wonder what it says about me? Since I’m so different than the guys you normally hook up with and all?” He raised his eyebrows, his lips tilting into a slight smirk.
“Sort of.” If he only knew.
“I can tell you in a nutshell.” He took a sip of his drink. “The picture of me is from a magazine article I was in a few years back.”
“Magazine?”
He nodded. “I don’t actually like the picture, but it was handy.”
“Apparently it was enough to impress my sister,” I said.
“And is she less discerning than you? Is that why I’m so different from your usual dates?”
I smiled, starting to relax into our banter for a brief second. “That’s not what I said.”
“But is it what you meant?”
I glanced away and swirled my drink, thinking hard. “I’m just…a low-key kind of girl. I’m betting that magazine was, what…forty under forty successful bachelors?”
“Close. Thirty under thirty. It was a few years ago.” He tipped his glass toward me in silent cheers for the guess.
“See? Yeah, I’ve never been out with a guy like you.”
“Until now.”
“Until now,” I agreed.
“And what do you think so far?” he asked, his gaze appraising me.
That I’m in way over my head…
That you’re out of my league…
“That…” I weighed a few more answers but couldn’t escape the truth. “That I have no idea what I’m doing with someone like you.”
“Do you want to know a secret?” he asked, momentarily catching me off guard.
“Sure.”
“I’m just like every other man you’ve ever met. When I look at you, I see a beautiful woman who I’d very much like to take back to my place and undress, one piece of clothing at a time.”
“That wouldn’t be very hard since I’m only wearing a dress.” I let out a nervous laugh and ignored the urge to slap my forehead and curse my own stupidity.
“Don’t think that hasn’t occurred to me.” His voice was low and husky, and followed by a predator’s grin.
I swallowed hard. “I’m betting you’re not the kind of guy who wants to chat over breakfast tomorrow morning.”
“You’d be a winner if you made that bet. I think you like that about me.” He snubbed a hand over his jaw and then moved closer, tucking an errant strand of hair behind my ear as he leaned in closer.
“I can tell you what I want from you down to the very last detail, but it can’t be here,” he whispered, his warm breath sending an involuntary shudder through me.
“Why not?” I breathed, captivated.
My heart thrummed in my chest, in my ears, in my lips, and I closed my eyes, savoring the sweet smell of his aftershave as he inched still closer to me—so close that I could feel the heat radiating from his body.
“Because when I tell you what I need from you, we’re going to be in private. And I’m guessing you’ll give me everything I ask for.”
It wasn’t a question. It was a demand. There would be no courtship here. No shy undressing and awkward first time. No giggling as he fumbled with the hook of my bra and pressed chaste kisses along the column of my throat.
Whatever happened between us, it was going to be rough and needy and passionate. But more than that, it was going to be exactly the way he wanted it.
And my curiosity about what that entailed was getting the better of me.
“So where do you suggest we go, then?” I asked.
He smiled wide, flashing a dimple I hadn’t yet seen. “I have just the place.”
I took one last sip of my drink, knowing I’d need a little liquid courage, and offered him my hand.
Jackson set some money on the bar and whisked me out onto the street.
Chapter Four
Jackson
The property was just around the corner, so we didn’t have far to walk. It was also on the edge of the industrial part of the city, and it looked every bit the remnant of a time long past. The walls were a dusty gray, and the steel framework surrounding the factory-like architecture was less than inviting.
For a moment, her sure grip slackened in my hand, and I squeezed her palm, reassuring her.
“We’re here,” I said.
“Which is where?” she asked hesitantly.
“It was a lightbulb factory,” I said as I motioned to the dark exterior. “Can’t really tell that now.”
“And you brought me here because…?” She raised her eyebrows.
“Because I have something I want to show you. You’ve just got to trust me.” I pulled out my phone and entered the code for the Bluetooth lock, opening the creaky, rusted gate, and then motioned for her to join me.
“Look, as much as I love following strangers from the internet into abandoned warehouses, I’m going to have to take a hard pass here.”
I grinned, not for the first time tonight, and handed her my phone. Sexy and funny. It was a heady combination and one I hadn’t seen in a very long time.
“Here. You can hold on to this if it makes you feel better. You can even get 9-1-1 cued up and ready to go. And, by the way, there’s a GPS tracker for blind dates on the dating app we used to meet, you know.”