Finally (Mature Men, #3) (5 page)

"Thanks for the warning."

"But?"

"I can take care of myself, Johnny and I'm sure he can too. I'll talk to you later," I said and hung up.

I resisted the temptation to stop and buy flowers on the way to Sherlyn's place. Tonight would be all about making her feel comfortable enough with me for there to be a second date. That meant not acting as if I were trying to impress her. Besides, I'd had enough women chase me to know she was already impressed. But then so was I. If not for her damned friend, we could openly occupy the same page and move forward with getting to know each other.

As for any lingering feelings she might have for Amber's brother, I'd worry about those if and when the need arose.

I arrived at her apartment complex eager to see her again.

"I'll be down in a jiff," she said, sounding breathless when she answered her intercom.

"Don't bother. I'll come up."

"That's sweet but not necessary."

"I think we've already discussed the fact that I'm old-fashioned," I countered. "Let me in and I'll come up."

"Shane—"

"Let's not start the night arguing."

"We're not arguing. We—"

"Good. Then I'll come up."

She made an exasperated sound but unlocked the door.

"Thank you," I said and walked over to the elevators.

When she opened her apartment door ten minutes later, I saw she wore a dark green dress with an expensive gold necklace and earrings. Her heels were high enough to showcase her legs without making me wonder how she'd walk without falling on her face. She looked nice.

I smiled. "Hi."

"Hi," she said, giving me a shy smile I found alluring.

I waited for her to ask me in. She didn't. Great. It was going to be one of those evenings. Hell, for all I knew she had a damned man in her apartment. That might explain her reluctance to be picked up and her refusal to invite me in. Maybe the damned Darkwater who had been a thorn in John's side was poised to become one in mine too.

I glanced at her necklace. It was the kind a possessive lover might give his woman so other men would know she was off-limits. Maybe I was wasting my time with her. Oh, well. It wouldn't be the first time I'd miscalculated when it came to women.

I arched a brow and smiled. "Hiding a jealous lover inside?"

"Don't I wish?" she said and then laughed.

"If you like, I'm fully prepared to take on the role of jealous lover," I said.

Her smile vanished and she shook her head. "Please don't say things like that."

"Why not?"

"Because tonight is about Janine."

The hell it was. "Are you ready to put on a full course press?"

She nodded. "I am."

But she looked uncertain. I crooked my arm. "Then let the evening and the games begin."

She slipped her arm through mine, looking at me with a shuttered expression in her eyes.

"Don't worry. I don't bite on a first date."

"This is not a date, Shane."

The hell it wasn't. "Then you have nothing to worry about. Ready?"

She nodded and we left.

* * *

S
herlyn

If I'd been thinking clearly, commonsense would have dictated that going on a pseudo date with a man who made me breathless just by looking at me was a bad idea when the man in question was destined for Janine. But most of my commonsense had flown the coop when I started sleeping with Darkwater and hadn't bothered to return.

So instead of taking the wise course and not going out with Shane, I quickly found myself enchanted by him. He flirted with me on the drive to the restaurant, and I flirted back.

Once, while stopped at a red light, he turned to stare at my lips for so long, I knew he wanted to kiss me. My heart raced. Had he leaned over to kiss me, I would probably had parted my lips and welcomed his tongue in my mouth. Thankfully, the light changed, the car behind us honked, and he drove on.

I sat beside him, tense and wary. After weeks of wallowing in despair over how things ended with Darkwater, being with a man who clearly found me attractive and enjoyed my company was exhilarating.

I decided it was okay to bask a little in his admiration as long as I didn't lose sight of my reason for being there. I took a calming breath. By the time we arrived at the restaurant, I felt relaxed and looked forward to our evening together.

He spent most of the meal staring at me. I stared openly back. Conversation and amusement came surprising easier with him. We were sharing yet another laugh over coffee when I had the sensation of being watched. Glancing around, I saw one of Darkwater's brothers seated at a table across the room.

From the way he looked at Shane and then me, I had a feeling he was Michael. Telling myself I had no reason to feel guilty, I flashed a brief smile and turned my attention back to Shane, only to find him looking in Michael's direction.

"Do you know him?" he asked when he finally turned his attention back to me.

I nodded. "Yes."

"Intimately?"

"What? No. He's my best friend's brother."

"I think it's time we introduced ourselves properly." He sudden stretched his hand across the table. "Shane Reddorn."

"Red..." I suddenly realized why he'd looked familiar. He bore a resemblance to John and I'd seen his picture at John's place. "I'm Sherlyn Drake. You must be one of John's brothers."

He nodded. "And you must be Amber's best friend."

"Yes," I said, extending my hand. "I must be."

He engulfed my hand in his, sending a tingle through me. "And he's who?"

"I told you—one of my best friend's brothers."

"But not
the
brother?"

The way he emphasized the word the made it clear he knew about my past relationship with Darkwater. After a moment, I realize I didn't mind him knowing. "No. Not him," I said, just as Michael crossed the room and stopped by our table.

I quickly pulled my hand from Shane's.

"Sherlyn, what a nice surprise." He smiled at me before turning a cool gaze on Shane. "And your friend is?"

Before I could speak, Shane rose and extended his hand. "Shane Reddorn."

Michael nodded coolly but extended his hand. "Michael Darkwater."

I watched them briefly shake hands while bracing myself. For what? I had a feeling Michael wasn't going to appreciate seeing me with another man.

Michael narrowed his gaze before looking at me. "I didn't realize you were dating." He glanced at Shane, arching a brow. "John's brother?"

Shane nodded. "And you're clearly Darkwater's brother."

"Yes. I am," Michael said and looked at me again. His gaze lingered on the choker long enough to remind me that he and Darkwater had picked it out together.

I inhaled slowly, feeling defensive and almost as if he'd caught me cheating on Darkwater. "We're not dating," I was annoyed to hear myself say. Why was I explaining anything to him?

"I'm very glad to hear that, Sherlyn," he said and smiled suddenly.

"Yes, well, I wouldn't get too happy about that just yet, if I were you," Shane said, sounding annoyed. "That could change at any moment."

After several tense moments when he and Shane traded unfriendly stares, Michael suddenly bent down to brush his lips against my ear. "I know it's been hard, but please don't give up on him just yet, honey." He kissed my cheek and then turned to walk back across the room to his table where his date sat.

"Charming guy," Shane said and resumed his seat.

"Actually, he is," I said. "He's just very close to his brother."

"And clearly wants the two of you back together. Is there any chance of that happening?"

Didn't I wish? The thought caught me unawares and disheartened me. I shook my head. "Not really."

"Why not?"

"He likes silicon infected, skinny blondes."

He shrugged, looking amused. "Who doesn't at one time or another?"

"Are you including yourself?"

He nodded. "I married two of them."

"I knew it," I said, making no effort to conceal my annoyance.

"Before you get too certain you know me and my preference, you should know that I also divorced them."

"Meaning what?"

"Meaning I am so over skinny blondes."

"But still into silicon?"

His gaze shifted to my breasts and lingered on them for several, long moments before he looked into my eyes again. "Like most men I know, I prefer natural breasts, but they're hard to come by these days."

I bit back the urge to tell him mine were natural.

"From the disdain I heard in your voice, can I assume you have no silicon infestations?"

I stared at him and then nodded. "What you see is what you get."

"And what would that be?"

"All me and all natural."

His gaze shifted briefly to my breasts. "Sounds and looks damned intriguing."

I felt a rush of satisfaction at the knowledge that he clearly liked what he saw. But then realized I was crossing the line with him. "I didn't mean..."

"What didn't you mean, Sherlyn? 

"To draw attention to myself."

"You did that the moment our gazes locked this morning."

"Oh, no, Shane. Please don’t say that."

"Okay, but it won't change the truth."

"Please—"

"Never mind us for now. Tell me, are you okay with things being over between you and Darkwater?"

I sighed and then nodded. "Yes. Our relationship, such as it was, was toxic for me."

"Were you in love with him?"

"That's a very personal question." But I didn't really mind him asking it.

He nodded. "I know, but don't you think we should be honest with each other?"

I shrugged. "I thought I was, but it might just as easily have been an obsession as it was love."

"That can be almost as fulfilling or painful."

"Don't I know it?"

"Are you ready to forget him, Sherlyn?"

"I need to."

"Perhaps I can help."

Oh, Lord didn't I wish he could? I shook my head. "No. You can't."

"I'm sure I can," he said with a confidence I was sure was completely justified.

"I'm sure you could, but Janine—"

He shook his head. "In the spirit of being honest, I might as well tell you that I have zero interest in your friend and I don't see that changing."

I sank back against my seat, feeling winded. "Please don't say that."

"I already have."

"She's a great person and she really wants to get to know you."

"The feeling isn't mutual and it's not going to be."

"You haven't given her a chance to—"

"You're the one I'm interested in, Sherlyn."

"No! No. She—"

He reached across the table and placed his hand over mine.

I felt a shock of desire and immediately pulled my hand away.

"I'm sure she's everything you say she is, but I'm just not interested in her."

"You haven't given her a chance."

He recaptured my hand, giving it a gentle squeeze. "I know what I like and what I'd like is to get to know you."

What was I supposed to tell Janine when she asked how the evening had gone? I pulled my hand from his. "We should go."

"As you wish." He signaled for the waiter.

As we left, I turned to find Michael staring after us.

The atmosphere in Shane's car for the return trip felt oppressive. The evening that had started out so well ended badly because I suspected Michael would tell Darkwater he'd seen me out with another man and he wouldn't care.

I wanted to say good night in the lobby, but he insisted on accompanying me to my apartment. Although I suspected it was a bad idea, I allowed it. After opening my door, I turned to look at him, determined not to invite him in.

"I'm sorry the evening didn't turn out as you'd hoped it would," he said. "But I'd like to see you again on a real date with no pretense that I might be open to dating your friend."

Recalling how liberating and enjoyable flirting with him had been, I sighed. "I can't go out with you."

"Why not?"

"Because she's my friend and my friends are important to me."

"Is she as good a friend to you as you are to her?"

"Of course she is."

"Then be honest with her about my complete lack of interest." He caressed my cheek. "And then we can get to know each other...unless you're worried what Darkwater will say."

I pushed his hand away from my face. "He has nothing to do with this."

"Doesn't he?"

"No. He doesn't."

"Did you know your voice changes when you discuss him?"

"It doesn't." Did it?

"It does." He locked his gaze on my lips. "I really can help you forget him."

"You're very sure of yourself. Aren't you?"

"As a matter of fact I am." He stroked his fingers against my neck.

I inhaled quickly, enjoying the touch of his fingers on my skin.

"Why don't I let you decide if my confidence is justified or not?"

While I stared up at him, struggling to remember how much Janine was into him, he bent his head slowly.

I had ample time to turn my face away or to push against his shoulders. I did neither and moments later, I felt his warm, insistent lips caressing and nibbling at my neck and ear.

And oh...nice. So damn nice.

Giving my ear a last nip, he trailed a warm, sensuous path across my check to the corner of my lips and paused.

Despite my good intentions, I turned my head and leaned close to eagerly brush my mouth against his. The touch of his lips sent a surge of desire though me.

Slipping his arms around me, he drew my body tight against his.

I leaned close as he slowly, sensuously seared the taste of his lips on mine with a serious of hot, demanding kisses that sent chills of lust through me. Oh God. Burning with desire, I sucked at his thrusting tongue while pressing myself against his groin.

He slid his hands down to palm my ass and ground himself against me.

Holy hell that felt good. A shock of need and desire rushed through me, obliterating what was left of my commonsense. Moaning against his lips, I slid my arms up his chest to stroke my fingers through the hair at the nape of his neck.