He didn’t just say that to Taylor in his truck. How stupid could he be? Would she think he wanted something more with her now?
Nah. No way. She was almost more cynical than him, he could tell.
She wouldn’t be interested in someone like him even if she was looking for a man. He’d bet she had relationship on the brain even though she was denying it. She saw him as the type to be out for a good time only.
But she’d been helpful to him today and that’s what it was all about.
Now he wanted to know more about her though. Why she made that comment about having something tough happen in her life. Though she didn’t specifically say it was in her life, he knew it was. He needed to know what it was.
He wondered if that was why she was quick to say she wasn’t going to do this all the time. Either way, he’d find a way to spend more time with her if for no other reason than he had fun today.
More fun than he’d had in five years with any woman. With even any man out on the town.
He’d had a few beers tonight, he’d stayed sober, and he’d been cordial.
Hell, he’d even been polite and it hadn’t killed him to do that.
But what did almost kill him was the fact that not only had Taylor been hit on tonight, but he’d also seen as many wandering eyes in her direction as she claimed were sent in his.
He couldn’t remember the last time he’d felt like he wanted to put his fist through a wall with jealousy, and when he realized what that emotion was, he started to head toward the beer.
But there was Rachel. Always around and watching him like she’d done most of his life.
“So you’re really just friends?” his sister had asked him.
“She told you that, didn’t she?”
“I’m asking you though.”
“My answer is the same. I need someone to keep you and the single ladies away. She wasn’t lying when she said it. Why don’t you believe it?”
“Oh, I believe it,” Rachel said. “I just didn’t think even you’d stoop that low.”
“It’s not low,” he’d argued. “It’s smart. Now Taylor can weed anyone out.”
“Hmm,” Rachel said.
“What’s the hmm for?” he asked, narrowing his eyes.
“The fact you said weed someone out and not keep them away. That makes me think you’re interested in trying again.”
“Get over yourself, Rachel,” he said, laughing, and walked away to see Taylor sitting by herself, sipping her wine.
He’d watched Taylor on and off after that when he wasn’t by her side. He hadn’t really known what to expect with her, but she held her own.
She was beautiful, there was no doubt. Not in the trashy way he was always looking for since Whitney’s death. Not even in a classy way like Whitney was. But in a natural way. Deep down he’d always been a sucker for that.
Everyone always said he and Whitney had nothing in common, and he should have listened but he didn’t. He was so in love with her in high school and she’d never given him the time of day. When she came back to the area after law school and they bumped into each other out one night, he knew he was still infatuated with her.
They’d had one too many drinks and gone home together that night. All his teenage fantasies about the hot chick in school had come true when she ended up in his bed. He was on cloud nine.
He should have remembered she’d gotten around in school, that she’d been known to find another guy before she ended things with the current one.
But he didn’t. He figured they were both adults and could be honest with each other.
He’d figured wrong.
Just because none of his friends and family cared for Whitney didn’t mean they couldn’t make it work.
Reed wanted to say he was the only one of the two of them that wanted to make it work, but in all honesty, he had let himself deny the truth. In that last year, he had suspected something was going on and just didn’t want to believe it.
He didn’t want to think he could be made into the fool. He’d always told other men it would never happen to him.
It did happen to him and he swore to never let it happen again.
That he wasn’t going to allow himself to fall for another woman.
That love wasn’t in the cards for him, only sex.
Why not find a hot woman, roll around in the sheets, and get some action, then both go on their merry way?
Because deep down he’d never thought he’d be the person he’d turned into, but he wasn’t sure he knew how to change or if he even wanted to at this point.
“Why do you say that?” Taylor asked after a few minutes of silence. Enough silence with his mind wandering that he wasn’t sure her meaning.
“What?” he asked.
“That a woman should be more like me. I’m nothing special.”
He grinned at her. It was the only thing he could think to do. “Now I’ve got to know why you would say that. Have you looked in a mirror lately?”
“So it is all about looks with you?” she asked, her hand going over and slapping his thigh playfully. The minute she did it, he could see she regretted it. He didn’t though but knew enough to pretend it didn’t happen.
“Not at all. You’re hot. Of course you are and you know it.” She winked at him. Honest and not modest either. “But you tell it like it is. I like that more than I thought I would.”
“You’ve spent a few hours with me and think you know me, but I’m telling you right now, you don’t have a clue about me,” she said.
“Maybe I want to though.”
“I don’t think so,” she said quickly and turned her head away to look out the window.
He wanted to think she was going to play hard to get, but he didn’t believe she had it in her to do that. He didn’t think she’d be anyone to play games at all.
The only thing he knew right now was she was a complete mystery to him and he couldn’t wait to find out more.
It didn’t take long for them to get to the parking lot where her car was. He parked his truck but didn’t shut it off. The air conditioning was lightly blowing with a few strands of her hair floating around and catching the moonlight.
If he was a romantic type of guy, he’d say this was a night he’d been dreaming about for years. That Taylor was almost mystical on top of being mysterious and he’d always loved a challenge.
“Thanks for coming with me tonight. I really do appreciate it,” he said.
“Not a problem. I actually had fun and it was nice to see you in a different light. Of course it’s not like I see you much at all at work to know one way or another.”
Was that a hint that she wanted to see more of him? If he asked, she might say no, so it was best to let it go for now. “Like I said, don’t believe everything you hear.”
She nodded her head, then fiddled around like she wasn’t sure what to do, but finally unbuckled her seatbelt and opened the door.
He did the same and jumped out to walk her to her car. Not that it was far to walk, but for some reason he wasn’t quite ready to let her go just yet. He wouldn’t dare tell her that though.
“It’s getting late,” she said.
“What are your plans tomorrow?” he asked before he could stop himself.
“Why? Do you have another party to go to?”
“No,” he said and wished he hadn’t when he realized her train of thought.
“Then you don’t need me tomorrow.”
It was on the tip of his tongue to tell her how much he needed her tonight. Only that thought was starting to scare him silly.
The last time he wanted a woman like this...felt he needed one...was with Whitney. Though he’d never had ice water dumped on his head, he imagined that the thought of his ex was causing the chill to overtake his body.
“I didn’t say anything about spending it together,” he said, laughing, trying to make it sound like she was assuming something he had no intention of saying.
“That’s true, you didn’t. Either way, I’ve got plans.”
“What are they?” he asked.
“Nothing to do with you,” she said, tilting her head.
“Fair enough.” She turned to walk to her car, but he reached his hand out and laid it on hers, saw the shivers her body had and the chills on her arms, knowing he had them too. Not from the thoughts of his ex this time, but rather the touch of her body. “Thanks again,” he said.
“You’re welcome.”
Then he did what he said he wasn’t going to do. He kissed her.