Reign A Romance Anthology - Nina Levine Page 0,298

like an electrical charge. “I’d be happy to give you his details.” We stare at each other for a moment. I take in a scar on his cheek just under his eye. It’s hot, in a girls-dig-battle-wounds kind of way. “You’re not what I expected today.”

“I’m sorry to disappoint.” I smile. “I get that kind of response…a lot.”

“What response?”

“Men come in here expecting a man, but when they see me, I can tell by the horrified looks on their faces that they want to leave immediately.” He bursts out laughing. It fills the room as I continue, “So, just to clarify, you have wasted my time today?”

The humor drops from his face. “Again, I’m incredibly sorry about that. Please don’t be angry.”

I want to be angry.

However, the more I look at him, the more an idea forms in my mind.

“Perhaps you can do me a favor, Mr. Carter? Since you won’t have to pay for today.”

“Please, call me Cole.”

“Sure, Cole. I hope you’re ready to go to dinner, because you’re going to save me from the constant nagging of my mother. Call it payback.”

A grin spreads across his beautiful face. “What do I need to do?”

“It’s simple—dinner with me at my mother’s place. Tonight.”

3

Cole

What the hell has Deacon done?

I stare at the professional beauty in front of me. All she needs is a pair of glasses and it would be like every boy’s Playboy dream.

“I’m sorry. What did you say?” I ask. Surely, she did not say what I think she said.

“You’re coming with me to my mother’s place for dinner.” She says the words slowly and succinctly as though I’m a child.

“I thought that’s what you said.” This wasn’t how I expected this afternoon to go. I should be tearing up the dirt track. Instead, I’m here, trying to weasel my way out of a date with a random woman’s family. There’s no doubt in my mind that I’m going to kill Deacon.

She places the folder on the bed and crosses her arms over her voluptuous chest.

Stop being a pervert.

“Well, the way I see it, you want to waste my time, then I find it fair you help me get my mother off my back.”

“You can’t be serious. I only just met you,” I scoff out.

She shrugs. “My name is Dylan, and I’m a surgeon. They will ask you all the questions and finally lay off me,” she states matter-of-factly.

“They?” Worry creeps through me like a snake.

“Yes. My mom and my sisters. That should be enough to make up for this…” She gestures around the room with her hand. “But I still intend to bill your friend as a form of payback…from you and me.”

“Is there a way for me to not go to dinner? I don’t think I’m a take-home-to-your-mom kind of guy.”

I drop into the chair against the wall.

Dylan stands and steps closer.

“It’s one night. One dinner. And twenty questions. Then, I can say you left and broke my heart. Boo hoo. Do we have a deal, or I’ll bill both you and your friend?”

Rising from my seat, I move even closer, there is only a foot between our heated bodies. The scent of strawberry assaults my senses, and it’s the first time I really take notice of the strong woman in front of me. The take-no-crap-from-no-one kind of girl. The dimple in her cheek and the way she nibbles her lips does all sorts of things to me.

“You obviously have no idea who I am.” Inch by inch I move closer.

Her head tilts up, and I could easily kiss her.

“I could be a murderer. A madman. A stalker. Did you even think about that?”

Her eyes dart from my lips and then back to meet my gaze. If I didn’t know any better, I would guess she wants me to kiss her. Her pink lips are like a cherry dangling in front of me, ready to devour.

Dylan clears her throat and takes a step back.

The air between us chills.

“So, tell me a few things about yourself.”

She has no idea who I am.

“I’m a supercross rider.”

Her brows knit together. “Motorbikes?”

“Yep.”

“Are you any good?” A genuine smile pulls across her face.

“I’ll let you decide that when you Google me after I leave. So, what time tonight? Can you give me your number? Am I picking you up?” A ball of nerves bounces around in my stomach. I can’t believe I’m agreeing to this. I must be nuts. One too many bike stacks might be finally taking their toll.

Dylan turns