Free Double The Risk by Samantha Cayto Page B

a spur of the moment thing, and…”
    “I know. He told me this morning.”
    “He did? What exactly did he tell you?”
    “That he’d dropped by on the chance that you were free and asked you out to dinner.”
    “Oh. Um, okay. Was that it?” Jesus, what was she asking him? Did she really want to know if Diego bragged about having sex with her? Besides, while she didn’t know him well, she couldn’t believe Diego was a fuck and tell kind of guy.
    “That was it.” Ronan frowned slightly. “He didn’t give me details, and I didn’t ask for any. It’s none of my business what you two did last night.”
    Well, that was awfully mature of him. It flew in the face of everything she thought she knew about men. “Then it doesn’t bother you?”
    “The only thing that would bother me is if you’re only going out with me tonight because you’re too polite to cancel.”
    “Oh! No,” she was quick to assure him. “I want to go out with you.” She felt her cheeks heat up and had to fight to keep from cupping them with her hands. She was so not good at this femme fatale stuff.
    Ronan’s megawatt smile was back. “Great, let’s go.”
    This time when he held out his hand, she stepped up to his side. Her body tingled when his palm lightly touched the small of her back, guiding her out of the building. He led her to a sedan that gleamed in the waning sun. Someone had been through the carwash recently. As he opened the door for her, she smiled her thanks and couldn’t help noticing that his pants were a little snugger than they had been.
    Well, good. She was glad she wasn’t the only one aroused by their brief and chaste contact. “So, where are we going?”
    Ronan glanced at her as he maneuvered out of the parking lot. “Do you like seafood?”
    Raising her eyebrows, she turned to look at him. “Is that a serious question?”
    Ronan shrugged. “Sure. Just because you’re raised with something, doesn’t mean you develop a liking for it. I’m not a big fan of the boiled dinner, for example.”
    “Oh, I love corned beef and cabbage.”
    Ronan grimaced. “I’ll be sure to let my Uncle Jack know to put you on the invitation list for dinner next St. Patrick’s Day. You can have my portion.”
    “Hmm. I can’t wait.” She licked her lips. The little grunt that passed his lips told her she’d hit her mark. “Anyway, in answer to your question, yes, I love seafood, especially shellfish.”
    “Good to hear because I am jonesin’ for lobster. And given the balmy night, I thought we’d go to a little place I know up in Rockport.” As he said it, she realized he was heading to Route 93 north. “If you don’t mind the drive.”
    “I don’t mind. I enjoy riding in the car when I’m not the one driving. I’m like a dog that way,” she added with a laugh.
    “A dog is not what comes to mind when I think of you, Cassidy.”
    She laughed again. “I guess that’s good to hear. Still, if I were a dog, what kind of dog would I be, do you suppose?”
    He looked at her skeptically. “Is this like a Barbara Walters interview?”
    “Sure, why not? We can get to know each other by asking silly questions.”
    “Okay, I’ll play along.” He hummed for a few seconds as he contemplated his answer. “I guess you’d be a poodle.”
    “A poodle, why? I don’t have curly hair.”
    “True, but poodles are very smart dogs.”
    “Oh, I like that. They’re often pampered, too, though.”
    “I wouldn’t mind pampering you if you were my poodle. In fact, I’ll amend my choice by saying that you would be a teacup poodle.” He glanced at her slyly and with enough heat in the brief gaze to make her reach for the vent and turn it to blow directly on her face.
    “Really?” she choked out.
    “Yup, I’d keep you curled up on my lap.” He shot her a wicked smile. Her only response was a sharp exhalation of breath. “Your turn.”
    Well, Jesus, how was she going to top that little sexual innuendo? She racked her