The stereotype.
“People have a lot of opinions about me. Most of them untrue.”
She nodded. “I might have been one of them. You’re nothing like I expected. You’re sweet and caring. Charming.” She gestured with the cup of tea to emphasize her point. “Can I be honest?” She looked away and whispered. “I sort of wish they were true.”
Something else drove her awkward attempt at conversation. Something Jack wanted desperately to find out. “And why is that? Have a fantasy about being with a bad boy? Someone with lots of money and time to make all your sexual fantasies come true?”
Her breath caught and despite the darkness, he saw the blush spread across her beautiful face. Should he have expected anything less? In his experience, lots of women wanted to date a man who had enough money to make every wish come true.
“I…” She bit her bottom lip and her fingers played with the hem of her skirt. She lowered her gaze. “I’ve spent my life being used by everyone I thought loved me. It’s time I looked out for myself.”
Something in her tone made his heart catch. And his fists clench. Jack wasn’t a violent man, but he wanted to hit the asshole who’d made her feel this way, something fierce. “You want to do things that please you and only you?” It had been a long time since he’d done something for pure pleasure. And to experience it with the first woman to stir up his latent desire would no doubt be unforgettable.
She hid her eyes from him, but the tiny shiver that rippled across her shoulders told him everything he needed to know. Despite promising himself he’d steer clear of meaningless flings, Sterling was unlike any woman he’d ever dated. And if she wanted a night of hot, passionate sex with a relative stranger, then he was her man.
Jack lifted her chin with his finger, bringing her gaze back to his. “Well hell, I can help you with that.”
“Oh, Jack, I…” Her shoulders drew back with her large intake of air. “I don’t know you very well, but I do know that you’re much more than money and a cool lifestyle. Those women—”
Those women? Right now all he cared about was this woman sitting beside him and wanting to fulfill every one of her fantasies. “What pleases you, Sterling Andrews?”
She sighed and her entire body went slack. She thought for a moment. “This tea.” She held up her cup.
“It’s a secret recipe.” He winked. “What else pleases you?”
“My job, my friends… But not my clothes. They’re just not me.” She frowned.
“I don’t know. I happen to love that outfit.” He leaned in closer and whispered in her ear. “I especially liked that skirt a lot more when you were bent over the railing.”
Sterling buried her head in her hand and groaned. “It wasn’t embarrassing enough to get sick in front of you, so let’s throw in some flashing for good measure.”
“You have nothing to be embarrassed about.” He took the cup from her and placed it on the bench behind her.
She raised her head. The horror on her face was adorable. “About getting sick or flashing you?”
“Either. There’s nothing wrong with some good flashing.”
“I don’t normally dress like this. It’s something new. I’ve…” She stopped and grinned before she lowered her gaze to the bench.
“What?”
“Nothing. It’s stupid.” She shook her head.
Jack would be damned before he let her get away with clamming up. Not after he just spilled his guts. “You have to tell me. Then we’ll be even. Otherwise…” He hoped she’d pick up on his insinuation.
“Otherwise, what?”
“Otherwise you owe me.” He leaned in. “And I plan to collect in some very creative ways.”
She sucked in a breath and bit her bottom lip. “That doesn’t make me want to tell you.”
He laughed. He really was off his game. Or was it just this enticing woman who rattled his confidence? “I guess that didn’t work out quite the way I’d planned in my head.”
“Okay, I’ll spill.” She turned a little to face him. “I want to do exciting things.”
“Exciting things?” he asked.
“Yes, things that get my heart racing and stomach fluttering.”