Free Dating A Cougar by Donna McDonald

mother, for reasons I’m sure you can understand, you’re next in the line of people whose opinion I need to care about.”
    Sydney looked at Casey Carter, trying to see the real person. Between the military and the hard knocks, Casey was self-contained and gave little away. It was the hungry eyes he used on Alexa yesterday that betrayed his interest.
    Sydney understood that kind of longing. And since Sydney really didn’t have a choice other than to take Casey’s words at face value, he decided to put the man’s integrity on the table as a discussion point.
    “I knew you were lying in order to see Alexa yesterday, but I thought it was too cute at the time to stop you. I’ve been deflecting unwanted attention from Alexa Ranger for a decade now,” he said, looking directly into Casey’s eyes and receiving a nod of understanding.
    “Do you think my attention to Alexa is unwanted?” Casey asked, more nervous about the answer than he realized he would be.
    “I haven’t decided yet. Maybe I could pass Alexa a note in one of our meetings to see if she likes you,” Sydney said, drumming his fingers on his desk, pretending to contemplate the problem.
    Sydney already knew Alexa was interested in Carter, but the jury was still out about whether or not Carter would be good for her.
    Casey laughed and ran a hand through his hair. “Please don’t ask her about me. I couldn’t take the rejection right now. Alexa’s answer would be that she’s too old for me. She’s not, but it’s not going to be easy to convince her otherwise.”
    Sydney laughed, delighted Casey was every bit as insecure as Alexa was about the attraction between them. Still Casey had come to the office and was doing the pursuing. It meant the man was at least worth a shot in Sydney’s book. But open support of Carter would only bring out Alexa’s stubborn side.
    No, Sydney decided, they needed to fight this initial stuff out themselves.
    “I’ll tell you what I’m going to do today, Carter. I’m going to head to the restroom and pretend I didn’t see you. If asked later, I’m going to swear you just got by me. Go to her office and ask her if she’s been thinking of you. I’ve never known Alexa to be less than honest to anyone but her mother, who still disapproves of her,” Sydney told him.
    Grinning, Casey stood. “How long before she has a meeting or other commitment?”
    “A couple of hours. Think it’s going to take that long?” Sydney asked, biting his tongue to keep from laughing again.
    “Depends on how it goes,” Casey said, heading down the hall, leaning heavily on his cane as he walked.
    *** *** ***
    Alexa was staring out her office window again when she heard the knock. The sound was wood on wood instead of knuckles. She was half way across the room when it occurred to her the knock was from a wooden object—possibly a cane.
    Pulling open the door, she noticed Casey had the cane up getting ready to knock again.
    “Hi,” Casey said, walking past her, not waiting for an invitation to come in, afraid he might not get one. “We need to talk.”
    He noticed Alexa was dressed in jeans again today with a shirt the color of a summer sky. It fit her curves well, he thought.
    Alexa closed the door behind him, and then put her hands on her hips.
    “How did you get past Sydney?” she demanded.
    “I’m a lethal weapon with this cane. Sydney’s tied to the desk chair out front. Don’t worry, I gagged him so he wouldn’t be able to call for help, but I left a few magazines on the floor. He can turn the pages with his toes, once he gets his shoes and socks off,” he told her. “He should be adequately entertained for a couple of hours.”
    Alexa walked to her desk and buzzed the front desk. When there was no answer, she narrowed her eyes at Casey. “He’s not there.”
    “I like my story better,” Casey said, grinning at how quickly she had checked.
    “Why do we need to talk?” Alexa asked.
    Casey stared at her for long