Chapter 9
Christine
“Ouch! Why in the hell did you do that?” He jumped backward, immediately grabbing his face.
Flower Killer’s cheek had to sting and my guess was the loud cracking of my palm against his skin was still echoing in his ears.
“Because you’re an asinine, haughty beast with a God complex. That’s why.”
I don’t know why his statement pinged my pissed-off-ometer other than the arrogance laced in the words. He didn’t ask, he just commanded that we go on a date. Now, my mother had taught me to be polite, but when he tried to grab my arm, all bets were off.
Plus, the possessiveness was just plain annoying coming from any man.
“I was just asking you out.”
Was he kidding me? I couldn’t help myself, getting right in his face. “No, thank you.”
Why did he need to be so damn good looking?
Godlike with chiseled features.
Sharp cheekbones.
Broad shoulders.
Killer thighs.
All I could think about was the kiss we’d shared and his rosy, plump lips.
My fantasy went wild, which wasn’t my intention. He was still an arrogant ass.
Before I backed away from him, I was gifted with a delicious whiff of his aftershave.
Whatever he was wearing, the scent of musk and earthy goodness assaulted my senses in the best way.
Being lightheaded at this point had nothing to do with exertion.
There was also another heavy crack of electricity that seemed as if it came from the heavens above.
I was shocked that the effect of having him so close momentarily took my breath away. It certainly wasn’t because of his charming personality, although he was trying to be cute. In a Neanderthal kind of way.
When I took a step back and out of arm’s reach, he shoved his hands into his pockets, disappointment showing clearly in his eyes. “I didn’t mean to come off so forceful. I wanted to make it up to you. That was shitty of me. Believe it or not, my mama raised me better.”
“You sure about that?”
When he pulled his phone from his pocket, I was caught off guard. “You want to ask her?”
“Well, sure. Why not?”
While I had no idea what kind of game he was playing, when he dialed a number, I was floored. And rarely did anything floor me.
“Hey, Mama.” He kept his eyes on me. Now, of course I wasn’t gullible. I knew damn good and well he could be faking it using some female friend of his.
But I remained where I was, curious how far he’d go to get me to have a drink with him.
“Yeah, I know, Mom. I promised I’d call, but I’ve been really busy settling in.
And I don’t mean to rush you, but I need you to tell someone that you raised me to be a decent man.
” He laughed at whatever was said. “No, just say hello and tell her I’m not a terrible person.
That’s it. Will you do that?” He lifted his gaze toward me once again. “Okay. I’ll put her on.”
“This could be your roommate,” I told him as I stole a quick hateful glance toward the phone.
“You’re right. It could be, but it’s not. He’s a burly dude with a God complex. I guess you’ll need to take a leap of faith.”
The way he was grinning made me grit my teeth in response.
“Fine.” I took the phone from his hand, backing away in pretense of the call being private.
“Hi, this is just a girl who’s trying to figure out if the boy standing in front of me is as big of a jerk as I think he is.
” On the off chance she was his mother, I decided not to be so uncouth as to share what he’d said to me.
Even if I was still tingling all over from the nasty words.
The laugh on the other end of the phone definitely came from an older person.
And a woman. The sound was also disarming.
“Oh, my son can be a huge jerk. Both my sons can be, but in truth, they have hearts of gold, which is really why they often get themselves into so much trouble. Let me guess. He likes you and is acting like a complete oaf, even offering inappropriate thoughts because his tongue is tied.”
“Thanks, Mom,” he chimed in.
How in the hell had he heard her? I was standing at least fifteen feet away. Oh, never mind. “Exactly.”
“Well, I’ve tried to teach my son manners, but he’s a boy after all. Just know this. If he’s acting like a befuddling idiot, he really likes you, which is rare for my son.”
“Interesting.”
“Now, I’m certain you kids want to have fun so just do me a favor and tell my son he needs to come home for a visit.”
“Yes, ma’am. I will be happy to. Thank you.” Why exactly was I thanking her? Oh, that’s right. My mother had also taught me manners.
“Maybe I’ll be lucky enough to see you around our dinner table in the near future.” Her laugh reminded me of my flower killer’s, which for some reason allowed me a sense of comfort around the rogue kisser.
“I don’t think we’re a match made in heaven,” I told her, but found it not only impossible to keep my eyes off him. I also had to admit this was the most unusual way a guy had encouraged me to go out with him.
Short of his earlier filthy statement.
That I’d actually found hot as shit.
“When opposites attract, they make the best lovers. Ask my husband.” Her laugh was the last thing I heard before she ended the call.
“Your mom said you need to come home for dinner.”
“I heard,” he muttered. “I did a couple weeks ago. Anyway, did she convince you?” His mischievous smile had returned.
“I’m still debating.” I handed him the phone, careful so our fingers didn’t touch. “What you said was pretty tasteless.”
You bet I was even more curious than I’d thought possible. This guy was very different.
“Yes, it was. I was overcome by emotion.”
“You mean desire.”
Every time he grinned, I was even more hooked on his smile. “That too.”
A quiet awkwardness settled in, the only sound the rapid beating of my heart echoing in my eardrums. As I rubbed my arms, I allowed a daring good look at the man.
With his parka hood shoved away, I was given a beautiful shot of his thick, completely disheveled hair.
The image of him rolling out of bed in the morning floated across my mind.
Oops.
Including that he was naked.
Oh, I was such a bad girl. As soon as heat drifted across my neck, rising ever so slowly toward my chin, I pressed one hand against my face.
Completely embarrassed. Especially since when dropping my head I noticed the thick bulge between his legs.
Correction, huge bulge. As in no man was that large.
If they were, how would something so big fit into something so… tight?
And what the hell was I thinking?
Okay, so the last time I’d had sex was in nineteen fifty-five. Or at least it felt like it. Maybe because the experience had been less than memorable.
“Let’s do it in the car, honey,” he’d said.
Oh, why not try something different since the typical two-minute missionary style had become boring after day one.
That had led to, “We can’t do this. My leg has a cramp.”
His, not mine.
At least he’d proven he wasn’t agile in the least. Fortunately, not long after that I’d discovered why he hadn’t been that interested in me. He’d been boning the teacher in the classroom next to me. The one whose house I’d been at more than once for girls’ night out.
Yeah, another reason I’d left Jacksonville. Maybe I should have left the state instead of just the city.
Whoever the mystery Zamboni driver was, he was tall, muscular, and rock solid.
“You sure we can’t have a drink?” His wide grin highlighted two perfect dimples on either cheek.
I reminded myself that with what I might be about to go through all over again, finding time or energy to have a guy in my life wasn’t the best idea. Not even one who was rivaling every Greek god in the heavens.
“Thanks for the offer, but I need to go.” I turned away on purpose, skating slowly toward the locker rooms.
“You can’t let a guy down.”
“Why is that?”
“Because I could be something special. At least my mom thinks I am.”
“Your mom thinks you’re a troublemaker.”
He shrugged. “She doesn’t know my suave moves.”
Laughing, I shook my head. “Now, see, when a guy acts like he’s all that and a bag of chips, that’s a huge turn-off.”
“Does that mean you don’t like hockey players?” His eyebrows were knitted together.
“I think that’s fair to say. From what I’ve seen, they’re all dominating boys who demand respect and for women to fall at their feet, which is something I refuse to do.
They’re nothing but egotistical jerks who prefer perfect little…
Ugh, faces and bodies that one day will need thousands of dollars of plastic surgery if they aren’t already getting it now.
You know, big boobs and a tummy tuck every other year. ”
“Ouch. I didn’t know hockey players were that bad.”
“Oh, my guess is they’re worse. Anyway, just because I skate doesn’t mean I prefer alpha dudes with attitudes the sizes of their big fat heads.”
His eyes opened wide and another awkward moment settled in. “So, are you a professional? Skater, I mean? That sounded terrible.”
“Ha,” I threw over my shoulder. “I wish. And I knew what you meant.” He was almost adorable when he was bashful. Honestly, after the last men I’d dated, bashful sounded good right about now.
“Well, you look like it. Maybe I’ll see you around sometime.”
“Careful with your Zamboni. Don’t run over any pedestrians.”
“I won’t unless I lose my job. I mean I will try my best not to run over anyone.” His laugh held a strangely adorable tone to it.
He was worried I would tell his boss about his antics. I spun around, hating the awkward moment. “Don’t worry. Today will be our little secret.”
There was the larger-than-life smile again. He took a step forward. Then another.
Then he fell flat on his face.
My reaction was involuntary, without thinking. I rushed to his side, crouching down and trying to help him up. “Just lean on me. Okay? I’ll get you to safety.” I tried to pull him up, but he was a dead solid two hundred and fifty pounds of muscle for his six-and-a-half-foot height.