Way to Her Heart - By Melanie Schuster Page 0,15

that you’re not ready for and if I stay, I don’t think we’ll keep talking. I think we’ll do everything but talk, as a matter of fact.”

One silky brow went up in a quirky way as she considered his statement. “What makes you think I’m not ready? I admit it’s been a while since I was sexually active, but the procedure is pretty standard, isn’t it? I think we can handle it,” she said in her damnably seductive voice as she moved closer to him, close enough that he knew she could feel the hard-as-steel erection with which he was now burdened.

“Listen, I freely admit that I’d like to make love to you more than I’d like to take my next breath, but it’s not going to happen tonight. It’s too soon, for one thing. This isn’t something I want to rush into. I want to take my time and do it right. I wanted to kiss you. I’ve waited months for that kiss. But I can wait on everything else,” he said softly, his deep voice rough with desire.

But Sherri wasn’t through with him yet. “Suppose I don’t want to wait?”

Lucas moved his hands to her shoulders and took a step back. Because his legs were long, it provided him with a lot of space between their bodies. “I don’t have any condoms with me. If I can’t protect you, I’m not going to bed with you. No buts,” he added sternly as she opened her mouth to protest.

She gave him a mock pout as he all but dragged her to the door. “I hope you’re not going to get all weird the next time I see you,” she said.

“Definitely not,” he assured her. “I hope you don’t think about this after I leave and decide to never see me again.”

“I’ll see you tomorrow if you’re working. I promised to take Sydney to Seven-Seventeen for dinner. Tomorrow morning is her swim class and then she endures getting her hair done so we go out to eat afterward. And I promise you, I won’t be acting strange, not in the least.”

The logical thing would have been to reach for the doorknob, but good healthy lust won out and Lucas pulled her into his arms for one last kiss. Their mouths fit together. He could feel his passion about to blaze like a flambé pan splashed with cognac. It was hard, fast and full of longing but extremely satisfying.

“I’m getting out of here while I still can. Good night, Sherri.”

“Good night,” she whispered.

Chapter 5

After locking the door behind Lucas, Sherri tidied up the living room. It should have taken just a few minutes, but she had too much on her mind. She had to draw on all of the analytical abilities she’d developed in years of college and med school for her to sort through what had just happened. As she took the tray into the kitchen, she tried to make sense of everything. She poured out the iced coffees and washed the glasses, then put the uneaten brownies into a ziplock bag. She opened the refrigerator to put them away after she removed one and took a big bite. Chocolate always helped her think more clearly.

On the one hand, it was no big deal, right? All she’d done was act like a normal, fully functioning woman for a change. She’d gone out with a handsome, very sexy guy and had a good time. He’d brought her home and they’d kissed a few times. No big whoop; this was just what her friends had been telling her to do for years and she’d finally done it. So what? She wiped off the counters in the kitchen, put away the wooden tray and glanced around to make sure that nothing was out of place. Taking a deep breath, she turned the lights off and went into the living room.

Everything was tidy, as usual, but that didn’t stop her from fluffing every pillow on the sofa and two chairs, straightening every magazine and picking off every dead leaf on the many plants that adorned the room. She’d always been an organized person and now, with her active little girl and her busy career, it was paramount that she stayed on top of the mundane chores that kept the condo neat and homey. She paused by the ficus tree with its glossy leaves and smiled. It was such a nice addition to the greenery she and Sydney adored and it would always remind her