Not This Time Read Free Page B

without a second thought. He
sounded like her.
    Indifference hurt more than rage. Veronique
lived at that point with Hedrick. Not getting a reaction out of her
pissed her ex off, big time. He still didn’t understand he’d used
up his get-her-to-care pass, years ago. When she’d been younger,
with their small daughter to take care of, he’d wrecked her world
when he blithely informed her of his mistress’s pregnancy. He knew
she’d kick his ass to the curb, and a month after the divorce, he
married the heifer. The emotional upheaval she’d suffered had been
brutal; the man had been her world. Striving to survive the
excruciating sense of loss, she’d lost weight, her hair fell out,
she drank heavily, and if it weren’t for her baby girl, she never
would have made it. During that time, Cherise started having panic
attacks. Dealing with her child’s burgeoning problems left less
time to focus on her own. After a while, she barely gave the
asshole a thought, especially when he tried to come back.
    “ Smart man.” She continued
sipping her water, watching him watch her. “I bet no one has ever
gotten close to you since then.” What was she doing asking such
personal questions? Helloooo, this is not
that serious. Get up and get down with his
ass. Better yet, let him fuck you senseless and move on.
    Head tilted, he offered a crooked smile
tinged with sadness. “No. No one else has had the chance to get
close. I use the excuse of not enough time, but that’s not true. We
make time for things we want or think are important. Maybe I need
to meet someone who’ll make me want to set aside some time.” He sat
forward, arms resting on the table. His short beard framed a cute
smile. “But I will admit this,” he lowered his voice as though
sharing a secret. “I shoulda left town hours ago. Then I met you.
Now, I’m sitting in a restaurant, talking about things I haven’t
thought of in years. Conversation isn’t what I’m normally
interested in when I meet a sexy woman. Yet here I am, making time
for you to get comfortable with me. I find that almost as
fascinating as I find you.”
    Her arched brow conveyed
he’d scored. Once again, the man left her speechless. They’d played
the last serve in a game of verbal volleys and she admitted he’d
won. No, she'd won. Rarely, did she meet a man who interested her
on all fronts. Physically, he had a body like Adonis. Mentally, he
was intelligent, thought before he spoke, and only spoke when he
had something to say. That alone catapulted him to the forefront.
Sexually, the man sizzled, leaving scorch marks on her libido. Her
panties were soaked and her need for sexual release had reached the
red zone. Fire.
    “ I’m glad you find me
fascinating.” She pushed away from the table; pinpricks of need
thrummed through her, sending additional heat to her core. In a
minute, he’d see steam rising from between her thighs. He watched
her stand, his eyes unreadable. She bent forward, his eyes dipped
to her breast before returning to her face.
    “ But, I’ve run out of things
to talk about and I’m comfortably ready to leave.” She stood, and
slipped on her shoes as he threw some money on the table. Walking
to her side, he gently placed his large palm against her back and
left the restaurant. Waiting for him to ask where she was staying,
he surprised her when he guided her toward the bank of
elevators.
    “ You’re staying
here?”
    “ I keep a room here in case
I stay overnight.” Looking at her, he smiled. “I’m flexible if you
prefer to go somewhere else.” They’d stopped in the middle of the
lobby while she made up her mind. Her teeth worried her lower lip
while she processed her options. No matter how she catalogued
things, he was a stranger. She’d be with a stranger in her room,
around her things, but she’d have the home court advantage. Or be
with a stranger in his room, no worry about interruptions from her
sorority sisters. Besides, it gave the whole