Page 70 of Protecting Love

“Sweet. Okay, here is what I was thinking. I trust that you’ll be honest.”

“What is your thought?”

“That you told Marcus to come back early because any longer you didn’t trust yourself and that you had to go home to your son anyway. You took temptation off the table.”

Fuck.

“You’re a walking temptation,” he pointed out.

“I win.”

“I didn’t say that.”

“But you didn’t say no.”

He blew out a breath. “Where is this date going to be?”

She let out what could only be classified as a victory laugh.

Loud, excited, full of joy, and sending shock waves over his chest and right to his dick.

So much for cooling down.

“You have a more complicated life than me. What works for you?”

“When is your sister due back?”

“Tomorrow afternoon,” she said. “Why?”

“Then I’ll pick you up for breakfast at eight.”

“What? Seriously? Why so soon? Don’t you have to tell Ian something?”

“You ask a lot of questions. You said it was my choice and yet now you’re changing your mind. You’re not scared, are you?”

“Of you? Never.”

She would have no idea how much he might have needed to hear that.

“Night, Paris,” he said and hung up before this conversation could take another turn that he’d lose control of.

17

HOW HE REALLY FELT

The knock had her wiping her hands and rushing to the door on Sunday morning.

“I told you to be ready at eight,” Fletcher said, standing in her doorway in jeans and a T-shirt, sneakers on his feet.

“I am ready. Come in.”

He moved in, sniffed the air, then said, “You’re cooking?”

“Breakfast. You said breakfast date at eight, but you didn’t say where. I thought I’d cook it and we’d have time to talk without skirting traffic and noise. Or are you afraid to be alone with me?”

“Now you want to play games?” he asked.

“Just asking a simple question.”