Chapter Eleven

Devon returned to his table and guilt hit him hard. It wasn’t like he'd never flirted with multiple girls in one night, but these two were not his usual fare, they were both good girls. Dread crept up around him.

Things got worse when he noticed the dinner dishes had been removed, and judging by the looks of the empty, chocolate-smeared dessert plate in front of her, he'd been gone longer than he should've been.

The nameless woman cocked her head as he sat down. “What's wrong? I know things went well with the dancer. So why the sullen face?”

“How could you tell?”

“I have brothers, remember?” When he didn't answer, she smiled widely. “You had a ridiculous goofy grin when you came out of the hallway. It kinda gave you away.”

“Did I?” He smiled again, thinking about Aria.

“You did, and you're doing it again.”

“I'm so sorry.” He shook his head, unable to stop smiling.

“Don't be, like I said, I'm having a great time, eating great food, talking to a great guy. Everything's good, and I got to be here when you talked to your future wife for the first time.” She reached over and placed her hand over his. “We're making memories, Devon.”

He glanced over at Aria, and for the first time he caught her looking back at him. She didn't waver and kept her gaze on him. He gave her his sexy smile, and she turned away, but not before a grin spread across her face. He then glanced at her date, who was scowling.

Devon's date pulled her hand away. “He doesn't like you much.”

“I see that, but I'm used to that look from other men.”

“When do you see her again? You were gone for a while, so I figured you were working things out for a little get-together.” She waggled her eyebrows.

“No, Aria's sort of seeing that guy.” Devon gave a chin tilt toward Aria's table.

“Did you know her name before?”

Shit. How did she pick up on that? He shook his head slowly. “No, I didn't.”

“That says a lot, Mr. Mann.” There was a lilt in her voice.

“What do you mean?”

“You learned her name after a brief conversation. We're going on”—she tilted her head—”one hundred and fifty-one minutes, and you’ve never asked for my name, and you still haven't explained the name thing to me.”

She didn't appear to be upset, instead, she was upbeat, but it didn't make him feel any better. “I can't express how sorry I am. I feel horrible for the way I've treated you. I didn't want to know your name in case you turned out to be a one-night kind of deal. I promised myself that if by the end of the date or sometime before, if I felt any pull toward you, I'd ask your name if I wanted to see you again, make it more personal, you know?” The words nervously spewed from his mouth. “And now that I've said it aloud, it sounds crass.”

“You never felt the pull, and I'm not interested in just one night with you.” She smiled, but it wasn't the full megawatt smile she'd given him earlier.

“Honestly, no. And I feel so damn guilty about it. I find you attractive and funny. You're smart and fun to be with, so I can't figure it out.” His frustration and exasperation came out in his voice.

“I believe if dancer girl wasn't in your life, you'd have my name by now.” She grinned.

Devon glanced at Red as she ducked her head, but not before she smiled at him. “You're probably right, there's just something about her. I can't help but be drawn to her.” He turned back to the pretty blonde across from him. “Would you give me your name now if I asked?”

She shook her head. “No.”

“I didn't think so. I don't blame you, either.”

She tilted her head. “It's not like that, I'm just following your guidelines. No pull, no name.”

“I know all my friends’ names, and I consider you a friend now, but I understand.”

They sat in silence as Devon called Hank over for the bill. His date started to rise, and he shook his head. “Wait for me so I can walk you out.”

She settled back in her chair.

Once outside, he reached for her hand. She started to pull away, but he managed to grip on tight. When he loosened his hold, her hand remained.

She led him to her car, a cute little economy thing. He didn't recognize the make or model, but it suited her. He released her hand, settled his at the small of her back, and walked her to the driver's door.

When she turned to him, he caged her against the car with his arms, and he heard her breath catch. He was playing with fire, but he couldn't help himself, he wanted to be sure. “I enjoyed our time together.”

“I did too. No lie, and I'm not sorry I met you, Devon Mann.”

Her voice wavered a bit, and it killed him. He lowered his mouth to hers and kissed her slowly, testing her soft lips.

When he opened his lips to deepen the kiss, she pulled away. “I should say goodnight now.”

“I just wanted to check if there was...ya know, a spark of some sort between us.”

She didn't move or say anything for a moment, so he didn't either. “Just one kiss.” She wrapped her arms around his neck and pulled him in.

He met her mouth, and she opened to him as soon as their lips touched. Things were heated and his dick twitched, but it panicked him, and he stopped. “Shit, we shouldn't have.” He pressed his forehead against hers while breathing heavily.

“Was it that bad?” She laughed.

He raised his head to look at her in the dimly lit parking lot. “No, that was a hell of a kiss. There was a spark, but not the right kind of spark. If you were someone else, somewhere else, I'd have you in my bed by now.”

“Hey, I'm not complaining.”

“It wasn't fair to you. God, I'm an idiot.”

“I make my own decisions. Besides, now I can live with the knowledge that I kissed the infamous sexy Devon Mann, and he rocks at it. No pun, and it gives me fodder for my spank bank.” She winked and pulled away.

He raised his eyebrows. “Women have spank banks?”

“Sure, most of us don't call it that, but we do.”

“What do you call it, then?” He stepped back and put his hands in his pockets while his dick twitched against his zipper. She was after all, female, smelled pretty, felt soft and warm, and they’d shared one hell of a kiss. She'd undoubtedly be good in bed, but despite all of that, Aria still filled his mind.

She pondered it for a moment, and then smiled. “A fantasy.”

“I'm gonna miss you, fantasy girl.”

“Don't. I'll be fine, and if dancer girl doesn't work out, tell Cindy to give me a call.”

He nodded, and stepped farther away from the car.

She unlocked the door, got inside, and while starting the motor, she rolled down her window.

“Get home safe,” he told her.

“I will. I have standing orders to call Cindy when I arrive.”

“Good.”

“Don't worry, I won't disclose anything that happened. I already told her I wouldn't.”

“Thank you.”

She smiled and drove off into the night.