Free Sweet Surrender by Maddie Taylor Page B

after two dates, cara. I’d like for us to get to know each other better and explore the possibilities. If you don’t give it a chance, how do you know we don’t have a forever in our future?”
    A sheen of tears misted in her eyes. Blinking rapidly to keep them from overflowing, she looked away. “After the way I acted, why on earth would you want to try?”
    “Because you’re sweet, funny, and sexy as hell, and despite your warped assessment of who we are, we do have a lot in common. We’re both in the medical field, wear scrubs eighty percent of the time. We enjoy dancing, stinky animal cages, cotton candy, and five-layer lemon cake.” His wit earned him a small laugh and a watery smile. “Plus, we are both attractive as hell and I like the way we turn heads when we walk by.”
    “You’re conceited, and at the risk of making your head bigger, I think it’s you they can’t keep their eyes off of.”
    “Bullshit, they’re drawn to that wealth of red curls, your sky blue eyes, and killer ass.”
    “Marc!”
    “Don’t give up on us yet, Jess. I swear to give up Beluga and Cristal and I’ll tell my butler Jeeves he’ll have to find other work.”
    Her face crumpled, “I sound like a big snob, don’t I?”
    “You’re the first girl to give me the brushoff because I have money. It’s actually rather refreshing.” He wiped away the lone tear that escaped with his thumb and claimed her lips in a gentle kiss. “When’s your next night off that you don’t have to study?”
    “Thursday.”
    “Shit, I’m on call Thursday and Friday. After that?”
    “My last mid-term is Friday, so I suppose the weekend.”
    “Excellent, I’ll pick you up at one on Saturday. Wear jeans and sneakers.”
    “Okay,” she said hesitantly, still doubtful. Marc wasn’t the least bit discouraged, appearing to welcome the opportunity to turn the dark shadows of doubt into glimmers of hope. In fact, he seemed determined to make it so.

Chapter Six
     
     
    Pouring a single glass of the red wine he’d brought, she carried it to where he stood, leaning against her kitchen counter, watching her. His relaxed stance had his butt resting up against the curved Formica edge, his arms crossed, his muscled forearms bared by the rolled up cuffs of his cotton shirt. The man did crazy things to her mind and body. As if to prove she went a little nuts in his presence, instead of handing him the glass meant for him, she took a swig to wet her dry mouth. Immediately, her lips drew together in a pucker as a shudder passed through her.
    He chuckled. “Too dry for your taste?”
    “It’s fine.”
    His voice was soft as he shook his head at her obvious fib. “You don’t have to drink it if you don’t like it, cara .”
    Glancing up at him thoughtfully, she decided he was right and passed him the glass. “I’m not much of a wine drinker actually, so it’s all yours.” Going to the fridge, she pulled out a berry wine cooler, unscrewed the top, and took a big swig of the cold, sweet, fizzy drink. “Mmmm, that’s more like it. No bite, no cringe, no pucker.”
    “I’ll remember cold and sweet for next time,” he said with a smile.
    “Would you be offended if I stick with my redneck wine courtesy of Mr. Bartles and Jaymes?”
    “Absolutely not, but I’ll bring a sweet red next time and if you don’t like it, you don’t have to drink it either, deal?”
    “Deal. Dinner won’t be ready for a bit. Would you like to sit in the living room?”
    As he settled into the corner of her couch, his big body dwarfed what to her had seemed a roomy piece of furniture up to now. She slid two coasters on the coffee table and sat in the other corner. It was the first time she’d had him to her apartment and cooked for him. Usually they went out to a restaurant or some kind of social function with others present, a few times Jared and Stacy had joined them and acted as a buffer. Tonight it was just the two of them—alone—and she felt a little