My Only Wish (5 page)

“Yeah. But just think,” he leaned in closer to her, whispering hotly in her ear. “After dinner, we can do it again.”

Her breath was sharp as he nipped at her ear. “Say yes and we’ll go to any restaurant you want.”

“I don’t know if I can handle you.” Her fingers jerked shakily through her hair. “I don’t have the skill for this.”

“Honey, I’m harmless.” He held out his hands as if to show her he wasn’t hiding anything.

“Right. Just like a wolf to a lamb.”

“How about you be the wolf and I’ll be the lamb.” His grin was wicked. “You can take a bite out of me at any time.”

She chuckled. “You’re a smooth one, wanting me to think you’re an easygoing guy when I know you aren’t.” He raised a brow. “But still, why not? Dinner could be fun.”

“And you’re in need of some fun, aren’t you?” He didn’t wait for an answer, but moved in for another quick kiss. “I can guarantee there won’t be a dull moment when you’re with me.”

She laughed shakily. “I believe you,” she said, plucking his phone from his waist and opening the notepad. “Here’s my address and phone number. Why don’t you pick me up at six?” She replaced the phone at his belt with an ease that left him wanting haul her back into his arms.

Stepping away from him, she flashed him another smile. “See you tomorrow,” she said before heading back into the club.

He leaned against the wall, trying to catch his breath. She was much more than he bargained for. But he would be a fool to let her get away.

Not sure he could go back inside without kissing her again, he headed for his car, ready for the cold shower that waited for him at home.

Chapter 5

“He won’t know what hit him,” Ashley beamed at the fringed halter and skinny jeans Abby modeled in the mirror.

“You don’t think it’s a bit too… flashy?”

“No way! It’s perfect.” Readjusting on the bed, Ashley grabbed the latest edition of
Cosmo
. “With the heels you’re wearing, it’s dressy enough for anything upscale, but not too over the top for something casual.”

“I just don’t want to look like I’m trying too hard.”

“Abby. You aren’t. And remember this is a
fun
guy. Not a serious guy. You don’t need to worry about anything like that. Just have a good time. Have a few drinks, let him kiss your brains out, then come home.”

Abby let out a pent-up breath. “You’re right. Why do I always have to overthink things like this?”

“Because you want permanence. Just keep telling yourself this is only temporary. Enjoy him while he’s around.” Ashley flipped through a few pages. “When’s he picking you up?”

“In ten minutes.”

“I better head out then. I’ll make sure to leave the light on for you. Can’t have you fumbling out on the porch.”

“Thanks so much.”

Ashley chuckled as she gathered the magazine and her shoes before heading out the door.

Twirling one last time before the mirror, Abby took a deep breath. Just because she had never pursued a casual relationship didn’t mean she wasn’t capable of it.

Even though the thought nagged at her.

She would enjoy this. She wouldn’t look too into it or try and see what was in store for them. This would be commitmentless. The type of relationship that you never worried about because neither party was truly invested.

While it all sounded logical, Abby secretly wondered if she had the skills to pull it off. In her heart, she feared she wasn’t as polished and sophisticated as she wanted to be.

Abby was too traditional. “But I don’t have to be,” she whispered to her reflection.

From what she learned about Dylan last night, he didn’t seem the serious type. He was charming and sexy in that dark, mysterious kind of way. He laughed easily, which she knew from the first instance by his smile lines. But there was something else there. Something serious and perhaps even a bit… dark.

Thinking of the kiss they shared in the courtyard, she shivered. Yes, there was definitely something dark there. Something just bubbling under the surface. That fact both frightened and excited her.

He was different than any other guy she had gone out with. Her past dates could be molds of one another. Smart, funny, laid back. And utterly passionless.

Never had one of their kisses affected her as deeply as the kiss Dylan gave her last night. He had sparked something in her, stoking it until she was almost unable to breathe.

At the time, all she could think about was wanting more. More skin, more kisses, more pleasure.

She shivered, the black fringe of her top shifting with the movement. She shouldn’t think about it now. She didn’t want to do something embarrassing like jump him the moment she opened the door. Part of her was afraid she might.

And that she’d like it.

The doorbell rang, and she felt like a kid with her fingers caught in the cookie jar. “Don’t be ridiculous,” she muttered to herself as she walked to the door, forcing a breath before she opened it. “Hi.”

“Hi, back.” He didn’t disguise his interest as his eyes wandered over her, making her pulse spike with the move. “You look fantastic.”

“Thanks.”

“You ready to go?”

“Yeah.” She grabbed her purse off the entry table and walked out the door. “So, where are we headed?”

“It’s a surprise.”

She chuckled. “Of course it is.”

Walking down the path from her apartment, she stopped in her tracks when he led her to the gleaming black Ferrari parked along the curb. “This is your car?” His answer was clicking the beeper to unlock it. “Man, maybe I should think of switching careers.”

His lips twitched as he held the door open for her, helping her into the low seat before walking around to the driver’s side.

“Do you like cars?” he asked as the engine roared to life.

“I don’t know that much about them, but who wouldn’t appreciate this one?”

“True.”

As Dylan shifted it into gear, the car pulled forward, moving like the smoothest of predators.

“Were you driving this last night at the club?”

“Yeah.”

“I don’t know how you could stand parking it in a lot. I’d be afraid of every scrape it got.”

“Scrapes are easy enough to fix.”

“But I don’t imagine they’re cheap.” She shifted in her chair to look at him as he shrugged. The last rays of the sun were shining on his dark hair, teasing the highlights into glow. His face looked sculpted from this angle, hard lines in his cheekbones and square jaw. She couldn’t decide if his features were those of a prince or a villain.

She chuckled at the thought.

“Something amusing?”

“Oh, just a stray thought.” She waved it away as inconsequential.

“Yeah? What about?”

Not seeing a reason to keep it a secret, she said, “I was trying to decide if you looked more like a prince or a villain.”

“And did you come to a decision?”

“Not yet.”

“So, I take it this is a difficult choice,” he said, humor coating his laughter.

“Actually, yes. You are handsome enough to be a prince.”

“I knew you liked me.”

She rolled her eyes playfully. “As I was saying, you are handsome enough to be a prince, but you’re also mysterious. Princes usually don’t have that quality. They are what-you-see-is-what-you-get. But a villain, on the other hand, he has more depth.”

“And you don’t find me easygoing enough for the prince?”

“Oh, you’re easygoing all right. I just haven’t decided how much of it is real and how much is for show.” Her mouth opened and closed. “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to offend you.”

“Don’t worry about it. I’m not easily offended.”

“Still, I should think more before I speak sometimes. I tend to have a habit of sticking my foot in my mouth.”

He glanced over at her. “I’m just a little surprised. People don’t really look deep enough to see something like that. I’m curious why you do.”

She shrugged his question away, but a lump had caught in her throat. She knew why she looked deeper into people. It’s because she wanted that connection. She wanted to get close to someone, to figure out who they really were. That quality had often led her into trouble, especially where relationships were concerned. Too deep, too fast.

So instead of telling him the truth, she fitted a small smile to her face, ready to brush off this unspoken question until she looked out of the window, seeing water gently lapping at the docks.

“Why are we at the harbor?”

“For dinner.”

“Dinner on the boat docks?”

“Something like that.”

He parked the car, moving around to open her door. She took his offered hand and was momentarily stunned by the shock that raced up her arm. Glancing up, she saw his eyes darken as he pulled her out of the car, drawing her closer to him.

“So, back to what you were saying,” he said, his voice a deep whisper. “Would you prefer the villain or the prince?”

“Oh.” She wanted to rub the butterflies in her stomach, but she held still, meeting his gaze. “I’ve had enough princes. I think I’d prefer the villain this time.”

A wicked smile crested his lips. “I’m glad to hear it. I can’t claim to be the prince so many women desire.”

“I think you could be if you wanted to.”

He shook his head slowly before dipping down to place a hot kiss to the side of her neck. “I’m much too wicked to be a prince.” A shaky laugh escaped her lips, but she didn’t have a chance to reply before he pulled back, taking her hand. “Come. They’re waiting for us.”

“Who is?”

“The crew.”

They walked down the slowly swaying dock, the sky almost completely dark save for the glowing moon and the few winking stars that were brave enough to tempt the remaining sun.

As they progressed, they moved past the more modest vessels to the ever-increasingly elaborate ones. Hesitating once again toward the end of the dock, she looked at the gleaming yacht.

“Are we…” she trailed off, swallowing deeply.

“Yes we are.” He leaned down to whisper in her ear again, wrapping his arm around her waist as if he were worried she might faint.

“But that’s a yacht.”

“A pocket yacht, actually.”

“But… are you sure it’s all right? Won’t the owner mind?”

A ghost of a smile flittered across his lips. “No he won’t mind. It belongs to the company I work for.”

“Oh.” Her shoulders relaxed a bit more. For a moment she was afraid it belonged to him, and she didn’t know how she felt about that. But it would make sense if it belonged to his company. Many employees enjoyed perks such as these. “Well, it sounds like a great company.”

“It is.” He guided her up the boarding ramp.

“You must have been working there from some time to be able to enjoy this.”