Free Impulsive by Helenkay Dimon Page A

container and sniffing one before dumping piles on her plate. “Is this food thing part of your no-sex plan?”
    He stole a quick glance behind her to make sure Cara wasn’t standing there, ready to kick his ass. “I believe normal people call it a date.”
    There, he’d said it. It was official. This was a date.
    â€œComing to my house without telling me is a date?”
    But maybe he was the only one who saw it that way. “I’m going to go with yes.”
    She pointed her fork at him. “Using that reasoning, if I hadn’t come home tonight, you would have had a date with Cara.”
    Something about the wording caught his attention. They didn’t have an agreement or even an understanding about what they were doing or what the parameters were, but the idea of her seeing another guy sent an icy cold rage washing through him.
    If she wanted to sleep with someone, she could damn well sleep with him. “Where would you have gone?”
    Her fork scraped against the plate as her head shot up. “What?”
    â€œIf you stayed out.” Tension crept up out of nowhere and slapped against him. He had no idea what she was going to say. Nothing in the sudden stillness of her body or her blank expression gave it away.
    â€œFor a lawyer, you’re not being too clear.”
    That was on purpose. It was a matter of self-protection he’d learned the hard way from Deana. “Meaning?”
    â€œWhat exactly are you asking, Eric?”
    It was as if she wanted to torture him. “I think you know.”
    â€œI’m not seeing anyone but you, if that’s what you’re getting at.” She folded her napkin and put it next to her glass. “Hell, I can’t even figure out if I’m seeing you, but whatever we have is monogamous.”
    The churning in his stomach died down to a steady rumble. “Good.”
    â€œThat’s all you have to say?”
    â€œWe agree.” When her I’m-going-to-shoot-him scowl didn’t subside, he tried again. “We’re on the same page.”
    â€œReally?” She folded her arms and leaned against the table. “About which part?”
    He was walking into a shit storm. He saw it and ran in anyway. “All of it.”
    â€œYou’re telling me that there aren’t any other women in your life.”
    â€œI like to visit my mom now and then.”
    Katie’s mouth fell even further. “You know what I mean.”
    He did. Looked like he wasn’t the only one who needed some reassurance. She’d probably heard the rumors about Deana. Even though Katie acted cool and confident, not seeing him again wouldn’t matter, he could understand how the garbage about an ex might shake her.
    He held up one hand acting like he was taking an oath. “I haven’t been with anyone, dated anyone, had sex with anyone, since meeting you.”
    â€œThat’s quite an accomplishment, since it’s only been a week.” Katie shrugged, acted like she didn’t care either way, but her smile came through.
    â€œFeels longer.”
    Her hands fell to the table. The fingernail drumming started a second later. “Speaking of your mother….”
    Now there was the last topic he’d expected to cover tonight. He was thinking more along the lines of some ground rules to the whole sex and sort-of-dating thing. “Were we?”
    â€œI’m assuming I’m not what she’d expect.”
    This was one of those conversations women put out there to trip a man up. Eric recognized the minefield but wasn’t sure how to dodge it. “I have no idea.”
    â€œShe probably sees you with someone…different.”
    â€œI’m not following you.”
    â€œI’ve read articles.” The thumping of Katie’s fingers almost drowned out her voice. “You’re the overachieving son of hardworking Japanese parents. They pushed you. You excelled