He chuckled and let his folded arms drop. “I’m sure it does, but it’s worked okay for me so far. See, here I am, standing on the front porch with a beautiful woman, about to be invited in because I took a chance and escorted her home.”
He didn’t seem so intoxicated now. Just back to charming, self-assured Leo, and I started to wonder if maybe those rum and Cokes were still in my system because suddenly I was the one feeling light-headed. Or maybe that’s because he’d stepped closer.
“So, what if some other woman had walked past you? Would you have decided to follow her home, just to see what might happen?”
His gaze locked with mine, and he took another step forward until his jacket brushed against my coat. “No, Brooke. Not just any woman. You. The truth is I asked you out to dinner that first time simply because you were beautiful, and I liked your smile and really wanted to know why you were wearing someone else’s shoes. And the next time I asked you out because I’d discovered you’re smart and funny as well as beautiful and I really wanted to kiss you. And tonight, I walked you home because the whole time I was away, I kept thinking about getting back here and seeing you again. And I’m not going to lie. I’m really hoping to kiss you again because the truth is, you’ve got me all kinds of hot and bothered, and I was hoping we could spend a little time together. But if you want me to amble on home, I will. I won’t be glad about it, but I also realize you’ve had a lousy night, and if you’re not in the mood for my company, I’ll give you some space.”
Space. He was offering me space. My entire life was nothing but space. Still, everything else he’d said had disarmed me and warmed me and made me feel like someone special. Not just special, but special to him. He’d said “hot and bothered.” He’d said he’d thought about me while he was away. That was a good sign, wasn’t it? So what should I do now? I could send him on his way and go have that little cry I’d been so looking forward to. Or . . . I could invite him in and let him flirt with me and seduce me and make me feel even more special, even if it was only for a little while. Even if it was only for pretend. Leo Walker, with his deep-blue-ocean eyes and linebacker shoulders, could woo me and kiss me and convince me, if only for tonight, that love wasn’t really that far out of reach.
I couldn’t contain the sigh I’d been holding in since first seeing him on the sidewalk. “You should probably come in, but just for a little while, okay?”
“I will be a complete and total gentleman.”
I sincerely hope he doesn’t mean that.
I pulled my house key from my purse and reached past him to unlock the door. He smelled like whiskey and cologne. The combination was vintage-sexy and oh-so-appealing. My mind instantly wondered if that whiskey would be on his lips if we kissed, and then the rest of me flushed with anticipation. Because, come on. Who was I kidding? We were absolutely going to kiss.
He followed me inside as I flipped on the lamp.
“How about that water, or some coffee?” I asked, pulling off my coat while simultaneously slipping out of my strappy shoes.
“Mmmm, whichever you want, but I sure wouldn’t mind something a little stronger.”
“Good, because water sounds boring.” I needed a drink to fend off my nerves because I was about to get some action, and in spite of being very happy about that, I was also tied up in emotional knots. I wanted this. I did. And I knew if I suddenly changed my mind, Leo would respect that, but mostly I was nervous because I wanted him to keep wanting me. I didn’t want him to change his mind or to realize that whatever he saw in me wasn’t really there.
I went to the kitchen and pulled a bottle of white wine from the fridge, and turned to find Leo right behind me, practically in my shadow.
Laughter caught in my throat. “Geez! You’re like a ninja.”
“Sorry. I thought you could use some help.”
“Help opening a bottle of wine?” I reached behind me and pulled the corkscrew from the drawer.