you just ask—?”
“If you wanted to have sex. It’s fine if you don’t. It was really just a passing thought. It’s just that I want to... be different. Just a little. And that’s the first thing I thought of.”
He was still standing, stunned and overwhelmed by the pounding of his heart. His blood.
Her cheeks grew pink as she dropped her eyes again. “I’m sorry if I made things weird. You can pretend I never said anything—”
“Yes,” he burst out.
She grew still. Her eyes lifted to his face. “Yes?”
“Yes. I’d be more than happy to help you act out the way things have changed if that’s really what you want. How much have you had to drink tonight?”
“One glass. I stopped with one.”
“Okay then. I’m in. Unless you decide to change your mind.”
She gave him a half-hearted scowl. “I’m not going to change my mind. Where should we do this?” She glanced around. “To tell you the truth, I’ve never had a spontaneous one-night stand before, and I’m not sure of the logistics.”
He laughed, something warm and excited rippling from his chest and out through his body. “Well, we could try to find a back room somewhere, but that’s kind of risky. We could do it in the car, but that’s kind of uncomfortable. Or we could go to your place or mine.”
“Let’s just go to mine. It’s closer.”
“Sounds like a plan to me.”
Most of Robert was internally screaming that this was exactly what he wanted, but a tiny voice beneath all the rest was warning that this could be a big mistake.
four
AMANDA WONDERED IF she was making a big mistake.
She didn’t even know what she was doing. Or why she was doing it. Before that moment out on the terrace, she’d had no intention of suggesting a one-night stand with Robert. It had never even crossed her mind except in brief, hot visuals of what it might feel like were he to touch her. She’d never seriously considered the possibility, however. It had just come out of her mouth without thought or volition.
And now here she was, pulling into the garage of her town house with Robert behind her in his expensive SUV. He parked in the driveway and walked into the garage as she waited.
He looked so good in his slightly rumpled suit, tie loosened and no jacket since he’d tossed the jacket he’d let her wear in his back seat when he’d gotten to his car. Even his hair was slightly mussed, like he’d been hot and run his fingers through it while he was a bit sweaty.
Amanda gulped at the ripple of excitement that ran down her spine.
Was it really possible that she was doing this? With Robert Castleman?
“You still good with this?” he asked her with arched eyebrows, his dark eyes studying her face closely.
She curled her lips. “Yes, I’m still good with this. You think I’m going to change my mind?”
“Just checking. It’s fine if you do. I’d rather you just call it quits than push yourself through based on a spontaneous impulse if it’s not what you actually want.”
His tone was cool and slightly lofty, but he was still scrutinizing her face. And she realized he was genuinely worried. He understood this had been an impulsive suggestion for her, and he didn’t want her to pressure herself to go through with it.
It was a kind thought. A sensitive one. And it removed the last flicker of doubt she’d been feeling. She smiled—sincerely. “Thanks for that. And yes, this was kind of out of the blue for me, but I do want to do it. I guess I really do want to be someone different. For tonight.”
“Okay. I’m not about to complain if it means I get to take you to bed.” His eyes heated up, just enough to take her breath away but not enough to be weird.
“Is that... is that something you really want?” Okay, she wished she hadn’t asked that question. She regretted it as soon as the words left her lips. It sounded almost insecure—which was something she tried never to be.
He blinked slowly. “Are you serious?”
“No. I mean, not really. I just meant is it the idea of sex that you’re into or is it something specific about... about me?” That might have been a little better, but it was still rather needy for her liking. She wished she’d just kept her mouth shut.
The heat in his eyes softened into something almost gentle. “Yes, it’s sex. And yes, it’s you