That bad? "
For her it had been. She had perspective—she knew her childhood was wonderful compared to a lot of people's, but she wouldn't want any kid to feel the pressure she'd had. " Just a lot of expectations. My sister Isabella had it lucky, though she always felt like she was short-changed. What's your idea of a good date? "
" One where the woman leaves before the morning and doesn't call me back. "
She frowned." That's not funn y, and y ou're making me think you're no good in bed. "
" What? "
She knew that'd get him. She hid her grin but couldn't resist teasing a little. " I bet they don't call you back because they weren't satisfied. "
Ethan leaned forward, giving her the look that made Marley dub him the Hulk." I always satisfy, Sunshine. "
S he patted his hand ." Tell yourself whatever you need to. "
" You doubt me? "
Valentine shrugged.
" I can prove it ," he said.
Most people might have taken that as a threat, but to her it was a promise of great delights. " No , thank you. Tell me about your job."
"I don't have one," he growled.
She'd stepped over the bounds with that question. She wished she knew why—it seemed innocuous enough. "You must have some source of income. Laurel Heights isn't cheap ."
"I get by. " He glared at her. "Next question."
Studying him, she wondered if there was another way to get that answer out of him, but his expression was completely closed to her. She sighed and glanced down at her phone.
She had more questions, but they weren't necessary for the pairing—she was just curious about him. She supposed she could ask next time, if she hadn't scared him away yet.
"You're thinking , " h e said . "I don't like the look of it."
Smiling slowly, she stood and held out her hand. "Just wait. You'll be on your knees thanking me in a couple weeks."
He took her hand and his gaze intensified, and Valentine could read every naughty thought going through his mind like it was an X-rated movie . She flushed. "Stop that. I'm not part of the bargain."
"Too bad," he mumbled, pulling her closer. His head lowered, his eyes at half-mast focused on her lips. His hand firmed on hers, and he leaned—
Just one kiss, she told herself. No one would have to know, and it wouldn't break the rules, because love wasn't involved.
But then he let her go.
She blinked as she watched him stride toward the front door . She regained enough presence of mind to call after him, "Meet me here tomorrow at one. I'll have a game plan by then. "
His only reply was a growl as he walked out .
H e probably made noises like that during sex.
She clapped a hand over her mouth, as if she'd said it out loud. She shouldn't have been thinking that. She shook her head, trying to dislodge the image of him over her, his hair falling forward around his face, his gaze intent on hers as he thrust into her.
She squeezed her eyes shut against the image . "Bad Valentine."
He wasn't for her. He was going to be her mom's savior—and hers, too. She'd make sure of it. She'd come up with a strategy to turn him into the ideal date. She'd tame the beast and then hand him over to another woman. That was what she needed to visualize.
She frowned at her phone. She really hated her job—sometimes more than others.
Chapter Seven
Ethan had every intention of blowing off Valentine . He'd picked up the phone half a dozen times to call and cancel, but each time he'd felt like a coward.
In the end, he decided to do it in person. He didn't need or want anyone to date right now—he genuinely had life-or-death issues to deal with. He'd explain it to her and that would be that.
But each time he pictured her big blue Bambi eyes, disappointed in him, and his resolve caved.
He'd have to be firm, he decided as he approached her underground office. He stared at the neon sign that fizzled Matchmaker and told himself to be strong . H e didn't want to date anyone. He didn't want to dress nicely or cut his hair. He didn't want someone to
For her it had been. She had perspective—she knew her childhood was wonderful compared to a lot of people's, but she wouldn't want any kid to feel the pressure she'd had. " Just a lot of expectations. My sister Isabella had it lucky, though she always felt like she was short-changed. What's your idea of a good date? "
" One where the woman leaves before the morning and doesn't call me back. "
She frowned." That's not funn y, and y ou're making me think you're no good in bed. "
" What? "
She knew that'd get him. She hid her grin but couldn't resist teasing a little. " I bet they don't call you back because they weren't satisfied. "
Ethan leaned forward, giving her the look that made Marley dub him the Hulk." I always satisfy, Sunshine. "
S he patted his hand ." Tell yourself whatever you need to. "
" You doubt me? "
Valentine shrugged.
" I can prove it ," he said.
Most people might have taken that as a threat, but to her it was a promise of great delights. " No , thank you. Tell me about your job."
"I don't have one," he growled.
She'd stepped over the bounds with that question. She wished she knew why—it seemed innocuous enough. "You must have some source of income. Laurel Heights isn't cheap ."
"I get by. " He glared at her. "Next question."
Studying him, she wondered if there was another way to get that answer out of him, but his expression was completely closed to her. She sighed and glanced down at her phone.
She had more questions, but they weren't necessary for the pairing—she was just curious about him. She supposed she could ask next time, if she hadn't scared him away yet.
"You're thinking , " h e said . "I don't like the look of it."
Smiling slowly, she stood and held out her hand. "Just wait. You'll be on your knees thanking me in a couple weeks."
He took her hand and his gaze intensified, and Valentine could read every naughty thought going through his mind like it was an X-rated movie . She flushed. "Stop that. I'm not part of the bargain."
"Too bad," he mumbled, pulling her closer. His head lowered, his eyes at half-mast focused on her lips. His hand firmed on hers, and he leaned—
Just one kiss, she told herself. No one would have to know, and it wouldn't break the rules, because love wasn't involved.
But then he let her go.
She blinked as she watched him stride toward the front door . She regained enough presence of mind to call after him, "Meet me here tomorrow at one. I'll have a game plan by then. "
His only reply was a growl as he walked out .
H e probably made noises like that during sex.
She clapped a hand over her mouth, as if she'd said it out loud. She shouldn't have been thinking that. She shook her head, trying to dislodge the image of him over her, his hair falling forward around his face, his gaze intent on hers as he thrust into her.
She squeezed her eyes shut against the image . "Bad Valentine."
He wasn't for her. He was going to be her mom's savior—and hers, too. She'd make sure of it. She'd come up with a strategy to turn him into the ideal date. She'd tame the beast and then hand him over to another woman. That was what she needed to visualize.
She frowned at her phone. She really hated her job—sometimes more than others.
Chapter Seven
Ethan had every intention of blowing off Valentine . He'd picked up the phone half a dozen times to call and cancel, but each time he'd felt like a coward.
In the end, he decided to do it in person. He didn't need or want anyone to date right now—he genuinely had life-or-death issues to deal with. He'd explain it to her and that would be that.
But each time he pictured her big blue Bambi eyes, disappointed in him, and his resolve caved.
He'd have to be firm, he decided as he approached her underground office. He stared at the neon sign that fizzled Matchmaker and told himself to be strong . H e didn't want to date anyone. He didn't want to dress nicely or cut his hair. He didn't want someone to
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