One Night Stand: One Night Stand: Book One Read Free

walk to Charlie's Steak House had been a little awkward. John had clearly wanted to offer Lisa his arm, or at least hold her hand, but after teasing him so brazenly in the computer lab, Lisa found herself suddenly embarrassed to be with him.
    She wasn't embarrassed of John. She found his contradictory mixture of self-confidence and uncertainty unexpectedly charming. Nor was Lisa concerned by John's race. She'd heard endless speeches from her mother on the subject of white men exploiting black women's bodies throughout history, but that argument didn't resonate with Lisa today
    No, it was the expectations she'd instilled in John that made her uncomfortable. Everything had been fun while she had been in control, but now that they had moved to neutral ground she felt less poised than she had in the classroom.
    They were no longer in her element, playing by her rules.
    John opened the door of the steak house and held it for her. "It's still a bit early. Why don't we start with a drink at the bar?"
    The thought of John getting her drunk amused Lisa when it should have worried her. She did not need to further loosen her inhibitions, but despite this reservation she let him order two glasses of the house red and sat next to him on a stool while the bartender poured the wine. The restaurant looked 17

    One Night Stand
    by Veronica Tower
    practically empty, although the bar was beginning to see some action.
    Lisa decided to gather some information and establish some limits on the evening. While still somewhat conflicted as to what she ultimately wanted to happen tonight, she had no doubts that she was not fooling around with a married man.
    Some lines were inviolable and for Lisa, this was one of them.
    She picked up her glass and swirled her wine. "So who is this Robin you mentioned earlier?"
    John smiled, sloshing the liquid in his own glass. "This is the moment I'm supposed to be offering a toast. You know, something lame like to new friends or something clever like to interesting encounters . In this case, let's make it something sweet." He lifted his glass. "To serendipity. If Robin hadn't signed me up for your stupid class, I wouldn't have the pleasure of sitting at this bar with a gorgeous, sexy woman, wondering what have I done recently to make things start going right in my life."
    He tried to touch his glass to Lisa's, but she avoided his attempt and set hers down on the bar. "And Robin?"
    John's smile grew broader and he put his own glass down beside hers. "Just a friend, decidedly not my girlfriend." He raised both hands so she could see he wore no rings on any of his fingers. "I'm not married; not dating; and under no possible definition could be considered attached."
    Lisa hadn't realized how tense she had become until she relaxed after hearing his answer. Her shoulders loosened and the breath flowed easier in her chest.
    18

    One Night Stand
    by Veronica Tower
    Smiling, she picked up her glass and toasted John. "To serendipity. If Liz's mother hadn't broken her hip, I would not be in this bar sharing a glass of wine with a gorgeous, sexy man, wondering what have I done recently to make things start going right in my life."

    * * * *
* * * *
    Despite the toast, Lisa didn't abandon the topic of Robin.
    John put his glass back down and interrupted her. "Do you know that you have the most phenomenal pair of legs?"
    It wasn't much of an exaggeration. John's fingers literally itched to touch Lisa there. He'd like to start by stroking her calf then slowly slide his fingers up on a quest of exploration.
    He wondered if Lisa was wearing pantyhose or stockings and hoped that before the night was done, he would get the opportunity to answer the question.
    Lisa re-crossed her legs in the fashion John found so enticing. He could not tell if it was a nervous gesture or one calculated to bring his cock to attention.
    "I don't see what my legs have to do with Robin. I just want to know why you aren't dating her. You say you're friends.