You just met him.

My brain tries to calm me down. I can almost hear it telling my hormones to quiet, the adrenaline flow to yield way to the more subdued chemicals it’s ordering be expended. But there are two parts to your brain and the other part of mine has taken on the role of the bad angel on my shoulder.

As I exchange a knowing smile with Dr. Connor Manning, the yin to the yang in my head grows louder.

It would technically be a one-night stand. You haven’t had one of those. Ever. And you’re almost thirty-five. You’re allowed to have sex with someone you don’t know once, Collins. Besides, look at him.

I do. I watch him roll his shirtsleeves to his elbows. As each inch of thickly-veined skin is revealed, my panties dampen more. He takes his time as if this process requires ultimate concentration. It’s foreplay. There’s no doubt. And I’m playing, regardless of what the logical part of my brain says.

Despite the decision being made to at least stick an offer out there and see if it’s taken, my belly still swirls. I squeeze my legs together in hopes of relieving some of the sensations making the fog in my head heavier. It fails. It’s just enough friction to make me whimper.

Connor lifts his chin to me. “Hands on the table.”

“What?” I laugh. “Why?”

He leans forward, those sexy forearms resting on the table. A sly grin spreads across those gorgeous lips and I try to not stare. I try. But I do.

“Cause and effect,” he says.

“I don’t follow you.”

“You see, you made this sound. Something like a whimper. That’s the effect. I don’t know the cause.”

“Oh.” I force a swallow. “I didn’t realize that was audible. Sorry.”

“Don’t apologize. I’m a fan.”

My hands coming off the table, I laugh. He doesn’t.

“What were you thinking to illicit that response?” he asks.

“Nothing.”

He lifts a brow. “Then what were you doing?”

“Nothing,” I say. My insides start swirling again, my head a mix of sense and seduction. I’ve never been here before. I’ve never been on the brink of suggesting or inferring I would be willing to sleep with someone just one time.

Not just willing. Happily.

Oh, you’re thirty-four, Collins. Stop this nonsense.

You’re thirty-four, Collins. What are you waiting for?

“That’s a lot of nothing.” He chuckles.

“Fine,” I say, not sure what in the heck is going to come out of my mouth. What side of me is going to win is up in the air but I’m committed. Whichever part of me is the strongest will win. “I was thinking about how much my finger hurt.”

Damn you!

Slinking back in my chair, shoulders rolled forward, I gaze around the room. At the plaster frog sitting on the bar. At the bathroom doors with the unisex sign. At the chalkboard with Today’s Specials spelled out in pink chalk.

At anything but at him.

He reaches for my hand. “Then let me see it.”

My cheeks turn a wicked shade of rose as he takes my palm in his. His skin is warm, oh-so-warm, and smooth. He works his thumb around my finger, pressing on various points. Lifting my hand toward his face, he inspects it like a precious gem.

“It’s fine,” I say, my voice shaking. My eyes are glued to the spots where our bodies touch. It’s so heated in those areas I wonder if it can actually burn. “It was a simple cut. I’m just a baby.”

“You could get an infection,” he says, dropping my hand to the table but not letting go. “It’s a small slice, but you don’t know what was on the knife beforehand.”

“Great.”

“I have some antibiotic creams and bandages in my room.”

That lands on my lap like a thud.

“What are the odds, would you say, of something happening?” I ask.

He grins. “If you go to my room? Or if you don’t?”

Shifting in my seat, my fingers curling against his, I sigh. “Either way?”

“I’ll be honest,” he says. Giving my hand a final, soft squeeze, he lets it go. It falls to the table before I can pull it back to my lap. “If you don’t, you’ll be fine. You might have to, you know, take care of it yourself …” He glances down at the spot where the table hits my midriff before dragging his eyes back to mine.

I gulp.

“But, yeah, you’ll be fine.” He shrugs. “But if you choose to come to my room, I’ll guarantee you’ll be better than fine.”

His tongue works inside his mouth. My jaw drops open to allow for air to actually get to my lungs so I don’t pass out.

You shouldn’t do this. You’ll regret it. Think of the regret you feel when you eat two ice cream cones in the waffle cup, Collins. This will be so much worse.

“I’d like you to check me out, Doc.”