The bundle in his arms suddenly stirred. He shot Max a pointed look, and the other man rose to his feet. “I’m going. We can pick this up another time.”
Or not, Decklan thought irritably. Max liked to psychoanalyze. Decklan didn’t.
“What happened?” She glanced around, her big eyes blinking as she came to—and remembered. “Oh. Wow. I never go under like that.”
He grinned, unable to help the ridiculous feeling of pride that he’d been able to take her there. “You did. Here, take a drink.” He handed her a bottle of water that had been left for her. He unscrewed the cap and held the bottle for her to sip.
She drank some. “Thank you.”
“You’re welcome.” He paused, then decided to push her a little. A woman who looked like her didn’t need to suffer from self-esteem issues. “You need to look in a different mirror,” he said, tightening his arms so she couldn’t bolt.
And she tried to. He held on. “We don’t know each other, and I’m not going to push you to talk if you don’t want to. Just know I meant what I said.”
“Then you’re also saying you’re shy? That’s why it took six months and another guy being an ass in order for you to make a move?”
Shit. So there really was more to her disbelief and calling him a liar earlier. “Are you questioning me again? Because I’m more than happy to add another ten.”
She bit down on that full bottom lip. “I’m just being honest. I thought that was part of what went on here.” Once again, she tried to push away.
“You tempted me too much,” he said, admitting the truth. It was that or giving her up for the night—and that wasn’t happening.
As she accepted his answer, the tension eased, and she curled back into him. He released a long breath, unwilling to question it too hard.
He brushed his hand down her long hair, breathing in the mixture of her scent, peaches and arousal. Desire, thick and heavy, kicked him in the groin. She pulled at emotions inside him he’d locked down years ago.
Time to lay out the parameters. “I don’t do relationships.”
“Me neither.”
A waste, he immediately thought. This woman deserved to have a man take care of her. He wanted to take care of her.
He immediately discarded the dangerous desire. “Well then, I think we have something in common, and we can go on with our night. Is that what you want?” he asked.
She slowly nodded. “I want that very much, Decklan. I want you.”
THREE
Amanda stepped into the ladies’ room to make a phone call, not wanting Decklan to overhear. “You’re sure?” she asked, talking into her cell phone.
“They don’t call me a computer genius for no reason. I dug deep. Decklan’s a decent enough guy. Not a serial killer, no arrests in his past. Nothing hidden either. I’d have found it.”
And he would have. Brad Ritter, her boss and very best friend, could hack with the best. She trusted his findings.
“Okay then. I’m not coming back tonight.”
“You have the jet fueled for when you’re ready. You spend way too much of your life catering to my needs. I’m glad you’re taking time for you.”
She thought of Decklan’s big hands caressing her long-deprived body and sighed happily. “Me too. But don’t worry. It’s still one night only. It’ll just last a little longer, that’s all. I’ll keep it impersonal and leave in the morning.”
“You know I appreciate that you let my father believe we’re together.”
Amanda glanced at the painted ceiling. Even the bathrooms in this club were first class. She sighed. “It’s fine. It’s a win-win for us both. I’m happy with my life the way it is, and you and Keith can stay under the radar.” Or in the closet, as the case might be.
As right wing tea party Senator Stephan Ritter’s son, Brad felt he could never come out and admit his sexual orientation without destroying his father’s career. And though Amanda had thankfully put her bulimic past behind her, she wasn’t all that trusting of men and relationships. It was simpler to get what she needed sexually at this exclusive club. Brad, her tech geek billionaire best friend, paid for her membership. As she’d said, win-win.
“Well, when you get home tomorrow, I want to hear all about the guy who got you to extend your couple of hours and only at the club rule.
No, he would not. What happened in New York would stay in New York. Including how very attracted she was to Decklan and how much she wished she had the normal ability to trust and indulge in relationships. Not that it mattered. Decklan didn’t do relationships either.