Mary Lynn - Totally Tempting

“Who is it?”

“Dean.”

“Dean?” She panicked. “Hold on a sec.” She rushed into the bedroom and found a robe to put on and hurried back to open the door. “I’m sorry to keep you waiting. I was in the shower when I heard the bell. Please. Come in.”

He walked in and said, “I hope you don’t mind my stopping by without calling first.”

“I’ll forgive you this once,” she replied with a smile, “especially since I just got home and you wouldn’t have reached me anyway. Would you like some coffee while I get dressed?”

He shook his head. “Had too much already, but thanks.”

She waved at the grouping of sofa and chairs and said, “Have a seat. I’ll be right back.”

Jodie hurried into her bedroom and closed the door. What was he doing there? And why was she letting his presence rattle her so? She didn’t have any answers. She dug out an old pair of jeans and a faded sweatshirt, stuck her feet in house slippers and went back to the living room.

He stood as soon as he saw her. “You look comfortably casual,” he said with a lopsided grin.

“I am.” She stood there for a moment, waiting, and when he didn’t say anything, she said, “Let’s sit down. I’m sure you have a reason for coming by.”

He settled back on the sofa while she sat on the edge of one of her chairs.

“I’ve been thinking.”

That sounded a little ominous. “About what?”

“Us.”

She frowned. “There isn’t an us.”

“Actually there is, whether we do anything about it or not. We became friends while we were in Maui. I’d like to give the relationship a chance and see where it takes us.”

Oh, dear. His reason for being there was worse than she’d thought.

After a moment she replied, “I don’t think so.”

“Why not?”

She rolled her eyes. “Oh, let me count the ways. One, I work for you, which we’ve already discussed. Nothing has changed in that regard. Two, I’m not into flings. Besides, you’re still involved with Rachel and I don’t want to get in the middle of that.”

He looked uncomfortable. “We’ve agreed that the relationship isn’t working for either of us. I won’t be seeing her anymore.”

“I can’t imagine her breaking up with you unless she found out you’re seeing someone else, and I don’t believe that’s the case. I always know when you’re seeing someone. You send them flowers, you get them tickets…” Her voice trailed off and she stared at him in dismay. “You sent me flowers.”

“So I did.”

She stared at him, feeling confused. “Well…but…you didn’t mean them in that way,” she said.

“I meant them exactly that way,” he murmured.

“Oh, my gosh.”

“You didn’t guess?”

“Are you kidding? Of course I didn’t think that’s what they meant.” She couldn’t believe she was having this conversation with Dean.

He leaned forward, resting his elbows on his knees. “The thing is, Jodie, I’d like to start seeing you socially. I discovered that I enjoy your company. When I’m with you, I see everything through your eyes and I like the new perspective.” He kept his gaze focused on her. “Teach me how to relax and enjoy life a little more, like we did in Hawaii.”

“You’re asking me to tutor you?” she asked, frowning slightly.

“If you want to call it that.”

“For how long?”

“I don’t understand the question.”

“Well, let me put it this way. How long do you generally date one person before moving on?”

“What kind of question is that? I have no idea.”

“Well, I do. It averages about two to two and a half months. How long do you expect to see me?”

He threw up his hands. “This isn’t the conversation I thought I’d be having.”

She crossed her arms. “Really? Did you think I’d rush into your arms when you decided you want to spend time with me away from the office?”

“If I did, that idea got blown out of the water.”

“Dean?”

“What?”

“What’s this all about?”

He leaned back on the sofa, rested his head against the back and sighed.

“I miss you more than I could have dreamed I would. We were good together. We had fun together. Or I did, at least. What’s wrong with extending that?”

“We could try it, I suppose,” she said thoughtfully.

“Your enthusiasm is underwhelming.”

“I could be your transition person until you find someone else.”

He closed his eyes. “Transition person,” he repeated without inflection.

“Maybe we could do that. Still nothing serious.”

He straightened. “So you’ll do it?”

“Within reason. I’m busy with school, as you know, but maybe once a week or so we could spend some time together.” She brightened. “We could meet for coffee after my classes. Have dinner on weekends. Is that what you want?”

“Never mind what I want. I’ll take what I can get.”

“All right then.” She stood up. “I brought home a sandwich from the deli. I’m willing to share it if you’re hungry.”

“As a matter of fact, my appetite is definitely returning.” He stood, putting him a step or two away from her. “Shall we seal our agreement with a kiss?”

She looked wary. “We were talking about food.”

“Of course. Why don’t I take you out for lunch? It’s a beautiful day for this early in the year. We might take a drive after we eat.” He lifted her chin with his forefinger. “Just know that food isn’t the only cause of my hunger,” he said and kissed her.

Not fair, not fair at all. He knew how his kisses affected her. There had been too many occasions when he’d felt her reaction.

This kiss was no exception, even though she stiffened at first, determined not to be swayed. It was his gentleness that destroyed her resolve, because she’d never considered him a gentle person until they’d spent the week together.

Now all the emotions he evoked within her poured out and she knew they were more powerful than her determination not to succumb.

The problem was that all her valid reasons still stood.

The problem was that she found him too compelling to resist spending a little more time with him.

The problem was that she was going to be hurt badly when the relationship ended. All she could do at this point was deal with the pain at that time.

The following Wednesday Jodie reached for her purse as she prepared to leave the office when Dean called to her. She went into his office.

Without looking up from the schematic drawing covering most of his desk he asked, “What time are your classes over tonight?”

His question was the first personal remark he’d made to her since he’d left her on Sunday. Jodie had begun to wonder if she’d dreamed that her boss had come over to plead his case for seeing her socially or whether it was some fantasy she’d concocted to relieve an otherwise boring weekend.

“Nine.”

“Tell me where to meet you,” he said, marking something on the drawing.

“Uh, well, there’s a coffeehouse a couple of blocks from—”

“No. I’ll pick you up at school. Where are your classes being held?” When she didn’t answer, he straightened away from the desk and looked at her. He was still in his boss mode, snapping out orders.

After a moment she gave him the address, turned around and walked out.

Dean watched her leave with a frown. He hadn’t handled that right. He wasn’t sure what he’d done wrong, but he could tell from the stiffness in her shoulders as she walked away that she wasn’t pleased with him.

He rolled his head, trying to loosen the muscles in his neck and shoulders. Women were a mystery he’d never been able to solve. Until now he’d never particularly cared.