nervous laugh. "I know what you told me."
"Lila, what exactly is a woman like you?"
She shrugged, curling her feet beneath her. "I’m just normal. Nothing spectacular, Tom. A guy like you can probably go out every night with a different woman on his arm and never once have to settle for a date with someone who couldn’t pass for a supermodel."
"Do I look like I’m settling by being here with you?"
Again, she shrugged. "Maybe."
"And the kiss? Was that settling?"
"I don’t know, Tom!" Lila cried suddenly. "I don’t know you at all!"
She was right, of course. They’d spent less than ten hours together in total. Of that, maybe five of those hours they had spent in conversation. Hardly enough time to get to know each other.
"I’d like to get to know you."
"We have nothing in common." Lila winced as the hot tea touched her mouth, and she set her cup down hard enough to rattle it against the saucer.
Tom wasn’t willing to let her escape with so feeble an excuse. "What are you afraid of?"
"You." She sounded honest. "I’m afraid of you."
Afraid? Tom frowned as the thought surfaced. Of what? He shifted uncomfortably, unsure of what to do or say next. Had he been too forceful? The privacy that had seemed so seductive before now became awkward. Was she afraid he was going to try to force himself on her?
He knew he was much larger than she was and that made some women uncomfortable. Emma had told him it made them feel at risk. He hadn’t understood what it was like to be a woman until his niece had come to live with him. Hell, he still didn’t understand what it was like to be a woman. He had an insight, but not much more.
"Is it…am I too big?" he asked, uncertain how to phrase the question.
Lila looked at him goggle-eyed for a moment, a deep, brick red suffusing her cheeks. "What?" Her voice sounded slightly strangled.
"Too big. Do I make you uncomfortable?" The words began tumbling out, a terrible trait he had, but one he couldn’t seem to modify. "My niece told me sometimes women are afraid to be alone with big men, that they wouldn’t be able to defend themselves if he tried to…if he wanted to.…" His voice trailed off self-consciously. "Are you afraid I’m going to try and force myself on you, Lila? Because I would never, ever…"
"Oh, no!" Lila cried, clapping a hand to her mouth—in horror or embarrassment, he couldn’t tell which. "Oh, no, Tom, I didn’t mean to make you think.…"
"I’m sorry if I came on too strong.…"
"I wasn’t even thinking about that at all.…"
They were speaking at the same time. Tom sighed. "You go ahead."
Lila bit her lip and looked at her hands before meeting his eyes. "I didn’t mean that kind of afraid."
Now he was even more confused. "What kind of afraid?"
"I’m not physically afraid." She twisted her fingers together in her lap. "To tell you the truth, that hadn’t occurred to me at all. I meant afraid. Like afraid…emotionally, I guess."
"Oh." He felt like a jerk, but that’s all he could think of to say. His tongue could flap on both sides when he didn’t want it to, but just try to come up with something understanding and suave, and he clammed up tight.
"I realize we’re not even remotely close to that point yet," Lila rushed on, as if to cover up any embarrassment caused by his tepid response. "I’m not assuming anything, I mean. Not from one kiss. Oh, God." She covered her eyes for a moment. "I’m making a mess of this."
She was and that made him feel much better. At least he wasn’t the only one tongue-tied. "No, you’re not."
"You really mean yes." Lila gave him a sheepish grin. "I can admit it."
"No, really."
"One thing I respect in a man, above all else, is honesty. I’m making a muck of what I wanted to say. I’m sorry."
Tom did the only thing he could think of to do. He kissed her again. Her mouth had been half-open in speech when he covered it with his, and instantly the taste of her filled him. Her tongue stroked his, then again. His dick stiffened, hard like iron, and he put his hand to the back of her head to pull her closer.
Then all at once she was gone, and the only thing he was kissing was empty air.
Lila got off the couch and knelt in front of the shallow fireplace, well-aware