All in all, a perfect late evening companion. Or he would
have been, if the blond giant hadn’t been making odd
gestures behind Charles’s back, causing her to wonder if
she should look deeper into her date than the surface
perfection he’d presented.

“I hate to leave, but work tomorrow, you know.” Charles
shrugged.

“I know what you mean.” She smiled. “I had a wonderful
time, Charles.”

He brightened. “Me too. Would you consider dinner some
evening when you’re free?” He handed her a business card.
“You have my email, but here’s my number.” He gave a
sheepish grin. “I confess I wrote my cell on the back
earlier, hoping you’d be as lovely in person as you are
online. You totally are.”

How sweet.” She was touched.

Blond guy sounded like he was choking on something. If
only.

“Dinner sounds great.” She pumped enthusiasm into her
tone, because she meant it. Charles had fit all her
criteria. No reason for her to feel let down by her night
with him. She inwardly gave blond giant a scowl while
still smiling at Charles. No, no reason at all.

“Can I kiss you good night?” Charles asked. A gentleman
to his bones.

“Please.” She met his kiss on her cheek and blushed. “I
look forward to our dinner.”

“Me too.” He looked flushed and brushed back a strand of
hair that slipped over his forehead. “Can I walk you to
your car?”

“I’m parked right next to yours.” Which sat directly out
front thanks to the timely departure of two couples
earlier. “But I need to use the facilities before I
leave. Go on without me. I’ll call you later in the
week.”

He nodded. “Sounds great. Have a good day tomorrow, Ava.”

“You too.” She watched him leave, ignored blond guy
staring at her with what seemed to be a smirk, then
searched for the ladies’ room. Once finished, she had
every intention of leaving and not looking back.

But she paused next to blond guy and, noting the still-
open seat, she sat.

“You.” She glared at him.

“Ava, huh? Pretty name.” He turned in his seat and
grinned down at her while guzzling a beer.

“And you are?”

“Landon.” His grin nearly did her in, because his whole
face lit up with joy, making it seem as if he’d brought
the sun into the darkened restaurant. “But I’m sure there
are a few other names you’d like to call me.”

“What is your problem?”

“Me? I’m good.” Before she could lay into him, he added,
“But you’re not.”

She blinked. “What’s my problem, besides you?”

“You and boring guy.”

She frowned. “That’s not a nice thing to say.”

“Yeah, I’m not known for nice. But I’m honest. Honey,
Charles is not the guy for you.”

“Excuse me, but Charles was a perfect gentleman.”

A jazz band started playing in the corner, making it
harder to hear, so he leaned closer. Unfortunately, she
got a good whiff of his cologne, and it went straight to
her head. Just her luck Landon smelled like a dream.

She cleared her throat. “And my name is not ‘honey.’ It’s
Ava.” She would have added Dr. Ava Rosenthal in a haughty
tone, except Landon’s breath brushed her ear, and her
entire body locked up. Tight.

“Ava, you need someone who makes you hot. Boring is no
good. Not for someone like you.”

She’d swear his lips touched her, and her system seemed
to go haywire. Her breasts tightened, she got a funny
feeling in the pit of her stomach, and she clenched her
thighs together, feeling a lower torso shiver from out of
nowhere.

“Like me?” She felt weak and slowly pulled back.

Except that put her at eye level with the man a breath
away. He was so close she saw gold flecks in the irises
surrounding pinpoints of focus, directed at her. His
cheekbones were high, his nose straight, arrogant, his
chin square. Manly. His firm lips parted when he inhaled,
as if breathing her in.