She stepped back. “I’m sorry. God, I’m so sorry. I didn’t plan to meet you. Really.”
I frowned. “What the hell does that mean?”
“I didn’t know who you were.”
I relaxed a little, relieved. “That’s good, angel. I’d rather not be known as the rodeo champion. The stupid nickname Sir Loin of Beef. I want to strangle those stupid papers who’d come up with it. That’s not me anymore. I can just be Duke to you, or Landon.”
She shook her head, her dark hair sliding over her shoulders. This morning, she wore jeans that showed off her thick curves, but her shirt was a knit top in pink. The color looked good on her and the cut, well, it framed her full breasts really well. She had a name tag pinned to it with her first name and Raines library above. Fuck, she really was a librarian. I itched to lift my hand and cup her plump tit again, feel the weight of it. Get her eyes to go all blurry behind her glasses.
Hell, at least get some color back in her cheeks and get rid of the miserable look on her face.
Slowly, she shook her head. “You don’t understand.”
“If this is about the fact that you thought I was a stripper, I told you, I’m flattered.”
“It’s not that.”
“Then let me come in and tell me over coffee. Hell, I’d be happy to strip down and finish what we started. I want nothing more than to watch you come again. This time, I want my mouth on that pussy. I bet it’s as sweet as can be.”
Bright spots of color blossomed on her cheeks, and I loved seeing how I could rile her up. That she had an innocence to her.
She lifted her hand, put it on my chest. “No.”
I took a deep breath, let it out. It was best to change topics so I didn’t scare her off any more than I already had. “How am I going to give you a quote for work if I don’t see the house?”
Sighing, she pushed her glasses up. Yup, nervous.
“I can’t afford much, but roof work is first. Not the whole thing though. Only the section over the family room is leaking and needs to be redone right away. I wanted a quote for just that. I’ll do other stuff when I have the funds.”
“You’re upset because you’re on a budget?”
Her eyes flared and she rolled her shoulders back, tipped up her chin. “No. I’m used to being on a budget. Living frugally.”
I sighed. “Angel, tell me what it is. I admit, we took things a little fast last night, maybe skipped the get-to-know-you stage, but we can change that. Tonight. Dinner. I’ll tell Jed and we’ll pick you up at six. We’ll be perfect gentlemen.” I held my fingers up in a Boy Scout salute.
“I have to work.”
“Okay, tomorrow.”
“I have to work.”
I was starting to get a little frustrated. She had to give me something. Toss me a bone, at least. Rejection was one thing, and she could have told us she wasn’t interested at any time the night before. But she hadn’t. She’d been into it. And by the kiss we’d just shared, she was still into me. I knew it. I’d seen it. Felt it. Until something made her stop. Again.
“Every day?” I asked.
“Yes, I work every day.”
I glanced down at her nametag. Kaitlyn, the librarian. And that was hot as hell. I hadn’t been to the town library since I was in eleventh grade and had to write a book report on Hamlet. It seemed I’d been missing out. I wanted to strip off that prim exterior and get to the soft, wet places. “The library’s not open every day.”
“I have a second job.” She sighed, flicked her gaze up to mine. “It’s not just that.”
“Then what? I’ll apologize for both me and Jed if we were too forward, not gentlemanly enough, but you were right there with us.” I licked my lips, getting more of her taste. “Still are.”
She laughed, but she didn’t sound amused. Closing her eyes, she took a breath, then another. “You’re going to hate me.”
I stilled, glanced down at her left hand, but didn’t see a ring. “Are you married?” We didn’t fool around with a claimed woman. Never had, never would.
Behind her glasses, her eyes widened. “What? No, I’m not married. Worse.” She bit her lip. “Well, you’ll think it’s worse.”