Page 2 of Doctor’s Orders

Again he laughs.

God, even his laugh makes me wet. I don’t know what’s wrong with me tonight.

“Fair enough,” he says. “Let me ask this way, then. Liz, would you like to come home with me and let me make you come at least three different ways?”

I cock a brow. Is that hubris or confidence? It’s hard to tell. I do know that with my limited sexual experience (Billy, who I stupidly thought was “the one”. Twice!) men are often big talkers with no follow through. Billy couldn’t find my clit with a map and a flashlight.

“That’s some big talk,” I say.

He nods. “I’m a big man.”

“That you are.”

“So, are we just going to flirt, or do you want to spend the night with me? Because I’m nearly done with my drink.” He tips the glass up and pours the rest of the liquid down his throat. “And I’m going to walk myself home.”

“I definitely want to spend the night with you.” I said that so quickly there’s no way he didn’t notice the truth about me—that I have zero chill.

He gives me one nod, then pulls out his wallet. He drops two hundred-dollar bills on the table. I knew he’d be tall, but when he stands next to my chair, he towers over me. I take his hand when he offers it. He pulls me up so our bodies are flush together.

The nerves inside me have become an entire Cirque du Soleil show in my stomach with all the flipping a flopping. The truth is, I’ve never done this before.

I’m a twenty-eight-year-old woman and I’ve never had a one-night stand. It wasn’t even necessarily on my bucket list, but one look at this handsome silver fox and it topped any list I have or haven’t made.

“Did you say you can walk to your house?” I ask.

“I did. It’s not far from here at all.”

I toss a thumb over my shoulder. “I have my car here.”

“You can follow me there or leave it here. Whatever you prefer.”

“You could ride with me?”

“I can do that too.”

Together, we walk to my car, our hands still thread together. Once we’re settled in my car, he gives me directions. It’s literally one turn. He takes up so much space in the passenger seat that his shoulder brushes up against mine. He directs me past a mansion perched on the lake. The lane circles around before dead-ending in front of a smaller house. The over-sized lot almost makes the smaller house more impressive.

Billy’s parents have a house close to here. It takes nerves of steel to own this kind of property, in a neighborhood like this, to build a small house instead of a mansion.

“I feel like maybe we should set some ground rules,” I say once I’ve parked in the driveway.

“We can have whatever rules you want, sugar,” he says.

See, if he keeps calling me ‘sugar’ in that soft Texas drawl, I’m gonna melt like butter in a preheated skillet.

Still, I need to say these things because I don’t know what expectations men have about hookups like this. “I don’t want to be tied or held down. I don’t do butt stuff. And I don’t like to be degraded.”

He turns to face me and tilts my chin so our eyes meet. “I don’t know what kind of men you normally spend time with, but I don’t get off on degrading women. Ever.” He practically growls that last word, leaving me with no doubt about the kind of man he is. “We can do as little or as much as you want. Tonight, you’re in charge, Liz.”

I nod. Again, the prick of tears inexplicably stings my eyes. Why am I so emotional tonight? And why does the thought of a man putting my needs first nearly wreck me?

He leads me into a door on the ground floor near the garage that looks like it probably holds at least three cars.

He flips on lights, and then we step into a large open room. Everything about the space reeks of understated elegance. A kitchen full of sleek modern appliances is on one end and a cluster of chairs around a fireplace on the other. A pool table divides the two spaces. The furniture is oversized and comfortable. It looks occupied, but not lived in.

There’s only one door leading off the central room, which makes me think there’s only one bedroom. This is undeniably the vacation room of a bachelor.

“Can I get you a drink, sugar?”