Free More Than One Night by Nicole Leiren Page B

whatever you have."
    Daniel smiled and glanced at the bartender. "You heard the lady. Two diet sodas and keep 'em coming."
    His efforts to be a gentleman eased her worry—at least a fraction. Her heart continued gently tugging her toward the jumping off point for the deep end.
    "Thank you." At Daniel's smile, she shrugged her shoulders. "I need the caffeine. Plus, I want to be sure I don't miss one word of whatever you have to say to me. It's been a crappy day that I'd love nothing more than to improve, so, I'm listening."
    Daniel leaned in and kissed her on the cheek. "Sure as hell has been, especially for one that started off on such a good note."
    "Feels like a lifetime ago now." She sipped a fair amount of the carbonated caffeine, relishing the way it released hidden energy. Hard to believe a little over twelve hours had elapsed since the best night of her life. Ironic how quickly life could take a nosedive complete with a one-hundred-eighty-degree twist. She wanted to focus on the good and returned her full attention to the present.
    Daniel took a long draw of his soda. She couldn't help but notice his sensual lips. A darker shade of pink but not quite red. They were full, soft, and capable of rendering her unable to string two words together in a logical pattern. She refused to give consideration to what they might feel like skimming over the rest of her body, venturing to places rarely visited by a man's hands or lips. Focus.
    "So, tell me what happened."
    One more swig. Whether it was to delay answering or some other reason, Melodie wasn't sure. She prayed whatever he said wouldn't prove an end to what had been a tumultuous, but potentially major life-turning, couple of days.
    "Remember my philosophy about women?"
    How could I forget? She nodded. "Cause and effect which brought you to a love 'em and leave 'em or, as I like to call it, use 'em and lose 'em kind of deal."
    His face darkened. "Sounds worse when you put it like that."
    Another drink and she shrugged. "I call it like I see it."
    Daniel's long fingers combed through the military cut of his dark blond hair, "You've got the story wrong for this woman. She used me like I used her. It was mutual. We both took what we needed. No strings. No expectations."
    A relationship of convenience. A small pang of guilt put her on edge. She and Tom had found each other convenient as well. "I understand why you preferred the arrangement. Why did she?"
    "She's not leaving her sugar daddy. He has little to no interest in a physical relationship with her from what she's shared with me."
    "Doesn't that make her the perfect woman for you?" The sarcasm rolled from her tongue, sadly with practiced ease. He was sharing a part of himself, and that scared her.
    He drained the soda and signaled for another round to the bartender. Deep sapphire hues drilled into her heart, letting her see all the way into his soul, bared and exposed, as the next words slipped out of his elegant mouth. "It did. Right until the moment I met you."
    Her entire body felt heavy. Had he just confessed to leaving his previously ideal woman because of her? Even after she'd refused his advances—well, most of them anyway—and wouldn't invite him to her hotel room? "What are you saying?" It wasn't eloquent, but the best she could muster at the moment—at least she didn't stutter.
    He moved his bar stool closer to hers until his inner thighs rested on either side of her now trembling legs. She swallowed hard, trying to ignore the heat radiating from his body drawing her into his sensual web. Helpless and awaiting her fate.
    "I'm saying I enjoy your company, and when I'm with you, I find myself wanting to change old habits. I'm not a perfect guy, but you already know that."
    The corners of her mouth turned up a little at his admission. "Jekyll and Hyde as I recall."
    "But much sexier than either of those two."
    Deep end, here I come. Her hands developed a mind and will of their own as they moved to rest on his