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A thump makes me look at her.
She has dropped her raised leg onto the floor. "You thought I was a hooker?"
For a moment, I have no clue what she's on about, then it hits me. I chuckle. Did the lass honestly think I mistook her for a prostitute? No one could make that mistake with her.
She huffs. "You think that's funny? Listen up, buddy, I am not for sale."
"You misunderstand." I lean back in the chair, smiling at her. "I meant women who have successful careers, the kind who have no time for relationships and want what I want. A casual encounter with no strings and no future."
She glances down at her shirt. "If you like professional women, why'd you pick me last night? A geek in a ComicCon T-shirt."
"You aren't a geek." But I have no ruddy idea what ComicCon is.
"I am a proud geek, a computer programmer who loves fantasy and science fiction movies. I don't have a high-powered career. I love to dress up in sexy costumes for Halloween or just to go to the Renaissance fair." She clasps her hands on her lap, seeming a wee bit embarrassed by her confession. "The point is, I'm no professional in search of a quick fling."
I give her an appraising look. "Do you often follow strangers to their hotel rooms?"
"No, of course not." She slouches in her chair. "I've never had a one-night stand before. Certainly never had sex with an anonymous stranger. I like to have fun, be wild and crazy, but even I've got my limits."
The lass has never done that before? I assumed she must have since she agreed to go with me minutes after we met. For a minute or two, maybe longer, I sit here observing her without blinking. I seduced a woman who has never done this sort of thing before. Not sure how I feel about that. But I do have an idea of how to make it up to her.
I exhale a gusty breath, slap my hands on my thighs, and push my body up off the armchair. Then I march over to her chair, offering her my hand. "Up."
She frowns. "I'm not a dog, you know. I don't heel on command."
"I'm aware of that." I grasp her right hand. "Please stand."
"Why?"
"Are you always this suspicious?"
She raises her eyebrows. "Only of men who won't tell me their names."
The lass won't get up, so I kneel before her with my gaze at her level and trained on her eyes. Then I hold out my palm again in the appropriate position for a handshake. "Rory MacTaggart."
"Emery Granger." She slips her palm into mine, hers feeling surprisingly cool, and we shake hands almost tentatively. When I curl my fingers around her hand, she clears her throat. "Nice to meet you."
"Nice to meet you too, Emery. You have a lovely name."
"Thanks." With her hand still enveloped by mine, she stares into my eyes for a moment before she speaks again. "Why were you wearing a kilt last night?"
I lift my shoulders in a half shrug, tipping my head to the side. "I like wearing kilts. They're quite comfortable, and they represent my heritage. Of which I am very proud."
Does she like my grey trousers and grey dress shirt? Not that I care. It doesn't matter if she approves of my clothing. I like hers, but then, she would look sexy in anything—though she looks best naked.
Emery bites the inside of her lip while her gaze wanders over my chest. "You look good in a kilt. But I like this businessman kind of stuff too."
I lift her hand, touching my lips to her knuckles. "I know I said it would be one night but… May I see you again?"
She straightens in her chair, seeming uncomfortable again.
Maybe she doesn't want to see me anymore. I did tell her it would be one night only, yet here I am all but begging her to let me bask in her presence a wee bit longer. I must be off my head. Nothing else explains my need to be with her even when we aren't having a poke.
Emery eyes the suite's door like she's calculating the best trajectory for fleeing.
I still hold her hand close to my lips, my breaths ghosting over her skin. "Do you have plans for today?"
"Not yet." She squints at me briefly, then relaxes. "Okay then. Come sightseeing with me."
