Free Red Hot by Ann B Harrison

organize fundraisers, she was into that kind of
thing. Dad and I had to dress up like penguins to impress the backers but we
needed them less and less as our research progressed and we sold our findings.”
    “And how about now, do you socialize much
or is it still all about work for you?” She held her breath while she waited
for his answer.
    “Um, not much on the dating front no,
pretty much just work. But there is something coming up.” He looked at her with
a slightly wild look in his eyes. “My mother started this tradition with my
father. Because we didn’t do much in the way of Christmas, not my father’s
thing at all, she decided she needed a break in February. She made him leave
work early just that one day of the year. It was what she called her date
night.” He glanced up at her, and she longed to take him in her arms and tell
him how wonderfully worthy she thought he was. “I’ve never had a date on
Valentine’s Day. Would you like to be my first?”
    “I would be honored to, Red. Thank you for
asking.”
    “Look, it’s okay if you don’t want to you
know. I’ll understand if you change your mind.”
    “I’m not going to change my mind. Really,
Red, you shouldn’t think so little of yourself. You need to stop selling
yourself short.”
    “I don't know any other way, Rhian. I'm
sorry if that's not what you were after but I told you I'm not good at the
dating game.” He leaned forward on his arms and looked intently at her. “I
wasn't trying to play hard to get. I'm just not that good at doing the whole
social scene. I'm much happier on my bike with the road racing past under the
wheels, or studying microns or germs. It's not the kind of thing most dates
want their man to prefer.”
    “I've already told you I'm not most kind of
dates, Red. We’ve both had issues with the opposite sex and obviously some
terrible dating hang-ups. But if you could just give us a chance, you won't
regret it.” Rhian sat still holding her breath and watched as he chewed on his
bottom lip. Her sex quivered as she imagined those teeth somewhere else and she
hurried on. “Can we just agree we’ll try and see how we go? I mean, neither of
us are seeing anyone else and we have something that's worth looking into
further. And Valentine’s Day sounds lovely.”
     

Chapter 5
     
    “If you promise to tell me when you want to
end it.” Red couldn't believe he had spoken those words. He wanted to have a
relationship with her, he did. But not at the cost of being dumped as soon as
his heart was pounding for her and long-term thoughts were creeping into his
dreams.
    Using him as a convenient sex stop between
boyfriends had been what most of his dates had been up until now, all except
Eleanor that is. Not that he minded the sex. He was a red-blooded male after
all. But they could have been honest and up front. He wouldn't have minded if
he'd known the truth. He was old enough to have dreams of little clones of
himself and football games on the weekends instead of his job consuming his
every waking minute. Although it had been his whole life for so long, he craved
more and didn't need to be dragged along and dumped just when he was feeling
good about the relationship. “I don't want to get comfortable if all you want
is sex while giving me the idea you want more than that.”
    “Oh God, I want the sex. I won't lie to you
about that. I'm not a slut, I've just been through a man drought and I need
your body like you wouldn't believe. But I want more, I already told you that
too.” She tucked a curl behind her ear and looked earnestly into his face. “I'm
not getting any younger, you know? I want a home and a family. Okay, I have a
home but this big old house is so lonely with just the animals. I want more and
I think it shows on my dates and that's why they run a mile. They think I
scream out 'desperate fruity needs to procreate now. Mad woman with animals for
friends'.”
    “I'm not running, Rhian. Just give me