chapter 40

Especially in a relationship. I hate it when men say one thing and then I find out they have five other women they’re dating and a handful of baby mommas.” She raised her brows. “Do you have any baby mamas you need to tell me about?”

He almost fell out his chair laughing. “No.” He chortled. “No baby mamas here. I am keeping my need to have babies locked away until I get a mate.”

“Good man. Waiting for marriage. I hope you’re not expecting a ring after last night,” she flirted, her gaze dropping down to his lips. “I mean, you’d need to show me more skills before I can decide on something so important.”

“You need more skills? Will my genius math skills help?”

“Are you?” she asked, laughter sparkled in the depth of her eyes. “Are you a geek?”

“Are you a genius?”

“When I was a kid most others thought I was too smart for my own good.” Smart and scrawny.

Her eyes widened and she blinked, her jaw hanging open. “Were you a geek?”

“You don’t need to sound so surprised.” He twisted his lips in a wry smile. “I’m not all brawn and no brains.”

She swiped her tongue over her bottom lip, licking the juice from the strawberries. Talk about torture in the first degree.

“Oh, I know you’re more than just brawn. It takes some serious smart to do some the stuff you did with your tongue.” She winked.

Heat crowded his cheeks. She made him blush. That was a new one. He hadn’t blushed in almost fifteen years. “That’s it, I won’t say anything else or you’ll definitely peg me a geek.”

She laughed, the sound sweet music to his ears. “It can’t be that bad.”

He folded his arms over his chest, enjoying the way she stared at him. She couldn’t have denied she wanted him. It was clear for him to see and scent. “Yes it can.”

“What’s your favorite movie?”

“Star Trek. The original, not that remake crap they have.”

Her mouth formed into a surprised O.

“I told you.”

She waved her hand. “A lot of people like that. That doesn’t make you a geek.”

Wind tossed loose tendrils of her hair around her shoulders. He loved the sight of her skin shining from the sun and water. The bronze color glowed in the light.

“All right, suit yourself.” He knew he was treading on dangerous ground. She might figure out who he was if he kept talking about his past. He might look different, but the things he’d enjoyed as a teen were the same he liked as an adult.

“Hmmm.” She leaned forward and tapped the table. “What’s your favorite TV show?”

“Doctor Who.”

She frowned. “Who?”

“Yeah.”

“What?”

“Doctor Who.”

“I don’t understand.” She pouted her lips prettily. “Who’s Doctor?”

He barked a laugh. She was a riot and didn’t even realize it. “It’s a TV show. The name of the show is Doctor Who. It is also the name of the main character. Sorry if I confused you.”

“Oh,” she said, still sounding puzzled. “Okay, I’ll admit that one threw me off.”

“I told you so.”

“Whatever.” She rolled her eyes. “It’s not like you have boxes of mint condition comic books in your room and some plastic gloves to read them with.”

He must’ve given himself away because she gasped. Busted!

“You do have comic books.” Her voice was filled with awe. “Are they in little plastic baggies?”

“No.” He snorted as if that were some sort of crime. “I have them in a clear enclosure to display them without getting dusty. In my guest room.”

Yeah, that made him sound so much less the geek.

She stood up and strolled around the table to his side only to sit on his lap, curling her hands around his neck. “You know what? I think you’re sexy whether you read comic books, go to Comic-Con or watch reruns of the original Star Trek.”

He held her by the waist, pressing her closer. “You don’t think being a geek is stupid?”

She leaned forward and brushed her lips over his. “I think, Mr. Bear, you are the hottest geek I’ve ever met.”

He’d never been told that before. Usually when women found out his entertainment preferences, and the fact that he analyzed everything, they tended to pull away. If they found out about his net worth or that of his clan then things changed. They’d get real close to him. He didn’t need to dress in button-down shirts or wear a Rolex because he had money. He was a bear shifter. He’d happily spend his time fishing and cuddling with a woman.

Not just any woman. Nita.

Nita didn’t understand the surprise on Ky’s face. How could he think that because he enjoyed different things than she did, it made him somehow undesirable? Hell, the way he looked in those glasses, like a hot college professor, made her thoughts go straight to the gutter every few minutes. She was having a difficult time reminding her body to stay in control.

“Anybody home?” someone called out. It sounded like Liam.

“We’re back here,” she replied and stood. The last thing she wanted was to make a bad impression on his clan member.

There was a brief struggle and some giggles when Ky tried to keep her sitting on his lap. She stuck her tongue out at him and ran around the table to sit across from him.

“You do know I have to go home today.” She watched him for a reaction.

“I’ll come with you,” he offered. “You don’t need to make the drive home all alone.”

She grinned. “No way Mr. Bear. It’s been awesome but I have some work to do.”

Her stomach twisted in fearful knots. Was she going too fast too soon with him? Maybe trusting her instinct that this was the right man wasn’t what she should be doing.

“I can make it worth your while to stay.” He waggled his brows.

“Hah!” She didn’t need to say that he definitely could make her stay. All he had to do was say the word.

“What’s so funny?” Liam asked walking out from the kitchen. He had a T-shirt that said Born to be Wild on it.

“I have to go home,” she answered, wrapping the towel around her torso in a more discreet cover up.

“Already? I thought for sure the chief would find a way to keep you here.” He winked.

Her cheeks heated with embarrassment. “Believe me, it wasn’t for lack of trying. But I do have a job to do. And I kinda ran out of clean clothes.”

Liam shrugged. He filled a glass with iced tea and took a gulp. “Clothes are overrated.”

“My thoughts exactly,” said Ky.

She choked on a giggle, trying to keep a straight face but failed miserably. “Figures you guys would think that.”

She eyed Ky’s naked torso, slowly lifting her vision up to meet his gaze. His smile told her he knew she was bullshitting. If she could figure out a way to keep him naked then she’d happily allow it.

“I’ll go change.” She stood to go to the small cabin but stopped a few feet away and turned back to Ky. “I might find myself taking some more time off. If I’m invited back, I’d happily return.”

“Are you leaving already?” Liam asked.

“No. I’ll be back in a few.”

Liam waved as she walked away. By the time she reached the cabin her phone was buzzing with text messages from Tally, Mrs. Wilder and one from Ky. His was the only one she wanted to see.

No invitation needed. I want you here with me all the time.

She grinned like a fool and went to take a shower. She’d probably lose her job taking all that time off, but she hadn’t taken vacation time in a few years. All those hours of unused time off were going to come in handy now. She knew what she’d do. Go home and get more time off, then visit Tally and Mrs. Wilder before heading back. So what if she looked sort of desperate? She liked being with Ky. It wasn’t all about sex either. He was a genuinely nice guy. That meant more to her than anything.