AllFreeNovel
Share Us
"Could be. Something like that, anyway," he replied, sounding hopeful.
"I'm way too old for you, Sawyer."
"Wouldn't that be my call to make?"
"Thanks. I'm flattered but—"
"But what? Why can't we just be two people who are attracted to one another, without caring about silly things like age and what others would think? I mean, I didn't realize I had to be a certain age to be attracted to any woman. So come on, live a little. I swear I won't hurt you."
"Who says I'm attracted to you? Also, I remember another man using those very words and I believed him, so you'll forgive me if—"
"I may be a little younger than you are, but that doesn't mean I don't feel the same buzz when a woman is into me. By the way, I'm not your husband, so don't compare me to him. He's a grade-A asshole."
"At least there is something we agree on."
Sawyer sniggered and his shoulders visibly relaxed. Placing his hands together in prayer in front of him, he flashed me a winning smile.
"Come on, come with me," he whined. "I'm starving. Here, feel," he said, grabbing my hand before I could object and splaying it over the tightly stretched thin cotton T-shirt he wore. Heat radiated from his lean, hard abdominal muscles underneath and I felt his stomach rumble. "I'm not a liar. I skipped dinner when my buddy, Kevy, called in a favor. The band he had booked to play got a better offer with more money upstate and he called in the cavalry—me."
"You're a good friend," I remarked.
"Good at most things," he said cockily. Then he winked.
I blushed and chuckled. "Okay, but just so we're clear, all I'm agreeing to is coffee." A broad smile curved up his lips and his warm eyes creased in a genuine smile.
"I'll take it," he said, taking hold of my hand again and linking it under his arm. When I tried to slide it out again, he quickly squished it against his body with a chuckle. "Hey, what's the deal? Are you embarrassed to be seen with me?"
"A little," I admitted. "Like I said, you're a hot young guy. People will stare."
"Of course they will, and they'll be saying what's that scruffy-looking turd doing with a stunner like her?" His comment lifted my heart because it was impulsive and hadn't felt contrite. "Anyway, who gives a fuck? Do you know them? Do they know you? Even if they do," he dipped his head and looked up at me through his lashes at the same time, "would they care as much as you think they would?" I sighed, a small unsure smile on my lips and a warm feeling in my chest that Sawyer wanted people to see me on his arm.
It was late and I was enjoying the attention he paid me, so I agreed. "All right. Let's do this," I felt scared as hell, stepping out of my comfort zone.
