Not My Romeo

by Kylie Gilmore

  The front door opened and slammed shut. “Soph, you home?” a voice called.

  Sophia bolted upright. She pushed at his chest. “It’s my dad. He can’t see you here. Go out the back door.”

  He glanced over at the back door. “I’m sure he saw my car.”

  “Soph? You got company?” her dad called.

  “We have to keep this secret!” she hissed. “I’ll cover for you. Go!”

  He backed up a step, so he wasn’t plastered against her, but no way he was slinking out the back door like some juvenile delinquent.

  Her dad stopped short in the kitchen and narrowed his eyes. “What the hell are you doing here?”

  “We just finished dinner,” Vince said.

  “Get out of my house!” her dad hollered.

  “Dad!” Sophia exclaimed.

  Vince turned to Sophia. “I’ll call you.”

  Sophia grimaced. “He means for work. We were helping out at the library today, moving the collection.”

  “You’d better stay away from my daughter!” her dad roared. He shook a fist at Vince.

  “See ya, Soph,” Vince said, leaning down to kiss her cheek. He spoke softly in her ear. “I like no hands.”

  “What’s he saying?” her dad thundered.

  Sophia smoothed her hair over her ear. “Y-yes. That sounds good.”

  He could hear her dad hollering some more, but he didn’t care. It had been one hell of a kiss, and he could do a lot more with no hands. He would do a lot more.

  Chapter Fourteen

  Vince picked Sophia up the following Saturday night for their second date. He planned on taking her bowling, something he was good at. He’d debated between that and the batting cages, she did like baseball, but went with bowling because they could get a bite to eat at the same time.

  She opened the door, wearing a purple strapless dress with a little white wrap around her shoulders. She looked so beautiful. Too beautiful. Like she was going someplace classy with a classy guy.

  “Your dad home?” he asked, figuring it was best to be prepared.

  “No.”

  “Where did you think we were going?” he asked.

  “I didn’t know. You said someplace nice with food.”

  He hung his head. What the hell was she doing with a guy like him? And how could he ask her to change? He stared at her beautiful delicate feet in black stilettos. Those feet didn’t belong in rented bowling shoes.

  “Vince? Are you okay?”

  He met her eyes. “Why did you say yes to tonight?”

  “I had a nice time on our first nonphysical date.”

  He grunted.

  She smiled. “Even though you cheated and kissed me.”

  “But no hands,” he pointed out.

  “No hands,” she agreed.

  He rocked back and forth on his heels. He wore a T-shirt and jeans. It was a new T-shirt, but still. He felt really stupid at this mismatch in their plans and expectations. Obviously he didn’t know the first thing about dating a woman like Sophia. “What kind of dates are you used to going on?”

  “Is something wrong?”

  “I think…” He backed away. “I think maybe you got the wrong guy.”

  “What do you mean? Where are you going?”

  “I’m letting you off the hook.”

  She stamped her foot. “The hell you are. You asked me out, and you’re taking me out.”

  He stopped. “I planned on taking you bowling. Maybe get some beer and nachos.” He gestured to her outfit. “Nothing this pretty. Nothing like you deserve.”

  She slipped off her heels, turned, and went back in the house. Guess she agreed. The door shut quietly behind her, and he headed down the sidewalk.

  “Yo, Vince!”

  He froze and a smile broke out. He turned.

  She leaned out the front door. “Get your ass in here. Sit tight while I change.”

  He cocked his head. “You sure?”

  “Whadda ya need an engraved invitation?” she asked, sounding a lot like him.

  He strode up the steps, his heart filled with hope and something altogether tender. He cupped her jaw with one hand and stroked his thumb over her soft cheek. “You got it.”

  ~ ~ ~

  Bowling with Sophia was a riot. She was terrible, but even if she only got one pin down she did a little victory dance, whooping it up. Almost made his strikes feel like a nonevent. She drank his beer and stole the best pieces of nachos with the most cheese on them. He was having a blast until the drive home when she hit him with some very unwelcome news.

  “So you know how we’re going to have a much bigger space for the new library?” she asked.

  “Yeah, I know. I’m the one building it.”

  “With my help.”

  He grunted. The groundbreaking ceremony was in three weeks, and he couldn’t wait for his dad to see him there with a big sign that said Marino and Sons Construction. He’d ordered two signs for the front and side of the library property to serve as advertisements for their company.

  Sophia went on. “Well, we’re going to need more books for the collection, which means more money, and my donor friend, Armie, thought a gala dinner would be a great way to raise the money. To be honest, I think he just wants his name on the event. He needs some good publicity after some video got out of him throwing potato chips at tourists after a drunken night at a club. Don’t ask.”

  “Armie who?”

  “Armie Zephyr.” Vince recognized the name. He was a young actor who’d been lucky enough to score a major role in a new superhero franchise. “My anonymous donor decided not to be anonymous. He’s the one that made the big library donation.”

  “You mean the guy that plays for the other team after sleeping with you.”

  She huffed. “I mean the actor I dated briefly.”

  “He threw chips?”

  “Yes. Some tourists wanted him to do his signature kick move, you know from the Blue Metro movies?”

  “Yeah, I know.”

  “And he hates doing it in real life. Says he feels like a trained monkey putting on a show.” She blew out a breath. “I know, it’s stupid. Anyway, he wants me as his date. Just for show.”

  “Maybe he’s bi. Maybe he’s still into you.”

  “That’s over. I just thought I’d mention it since we’re kinda…seeing each other. A little. Maybe it doesn’t matter. Maybe you’re sick of me.”

  “I’m not sick of you.”

  “Oh. Okay.”

  “When is this gala dinner?” And where’s my invitation? Didn’t she think he could handle himself at a classy gala event?

  “Three weeks after the groundbreaking.”

  His temper flared because she still didn’t invite him. In fact, she was just humming along to the radio like it didn’t even matter. He drummed his fingers on the steering wheel and clenched his jaw tight so he wouldn’t yell. Finally when he pulled into her driveway, he asked her point-blank in as calm a voice as he could muster, “Am I invited?”

  “Oh, did you want to go? I didn’t think it was your kind of thing. Armie and I thought we’d invite people who were, you know, big spenders. It’s a fundraiser.”

  “How much are the tickets?” he asked through clenched teeth.

  “A thousand dollars. Black tie. I only mentioned it so you wouldn’t worry. Armie and I are just friends.”

  “Yeah, I heard that part.”

  “You can go if you want. We’ll waive the fee. I just didn’t think you’d want to.”

  “No, why would I want to? Why would the guy who builds the damn library care what goes in it? It’s not like I read, right?”

  Her eyes widened. “What’re you getting so worked up about? It’s just a boring dinner. I told you as a courtesy.”

  “Courtesy. Yeah. Save your fancy manners for Armie.”

  “I don’t understand what you’re upset about. Are you jealous?”

  “No.”

  “Did you feel left out?” />
  “No.”

  “Then what?”

  How could he explain that he was out of her league? Maybe she was better off with pansy-ass boyfriends who would actually like going to black-tie events and spouting historical facts. Maybe that was what turned her on.

  Still, she’d said she’d never got off on any of them.

  “You slumming with me, Sophia?” he finally asked.

  “I have no idea what you’re talking about.”

  “I didn’t go to college. I don’t do black tie. You said you had to teach me manners.”

  “Nico said that. And he’s right.”

  His shoulders slumped. She rubbed his arm. “I don’t care about that other stuff. I’ve met some real assholes with PhDs. What matters is what’s on the inside.” Her hand slid across his chest and stopped over his rapidly beating heart. “You have a good heart, Vince.”

  His eyes watered. Dammit. He put his hand over hers, his throat tight. He had no words and, even if he did, he couldn’t get them out.

  She leaned close, her breast pressing into his arm, and then she kissed him on the cheek. “Call me for date number three.”

  He turned to her. She seriously wanted to go out with him again? After he took her bowling instead of to a black-tie event? “Are you sure?”

  “Damn hell sure.” She was so cute when she cursed.

  A smile dawned slowly. “Third date could get physical.”

  She gave him a sexy smile and kissed him, her tongue darting out and touching his. He took control of the kiss, like a starving man feasting on her mouth. Sweet and hot and his, all his.

  He pulled back. “There will be hands,” he warned. “Mine. All over you.”

  He kissed her again, had barely gotten started, when she pulled away.

  “If you insist,” she said. She opened the door and got out.

  “Oh, I insist,” he called.

  She leaned in the open window and gave him a brilliant smile. His heart stopped and then started again, lurching painfully on. “Night, Vince.”

  “Night. Wait. Let me walk you to the door.” He took off his seatbelt, belatedly remembering his manners.

  “Don’t. My dad’s home now. I’m really not up to a confrontation. He said he’d get his bat if you showed your face here again.”

  “Bloodthirsty.”

  “That’s him, not me.” She blew him a kiss and damn if he didn’t catch it.

  Chapter Fifteen

  Sophia got ready for her third date with Vince, humming with nerves. She knew him well enough after a month to know he meant it when he said things would get physical. And when he promised he’d show her ecstasy, she believed him. She couldn’t wait, actually. She was realistic about it, though, didn’t expect he’d want much to do with her after tonight. She’d insisted on a few nonphysical dates because she needed to ease into the physical. And she didn’t want him to think her slutty even though his words, “fingers fisting in the sheets, raw, screaming-top-of-your-lungs orgasm” had run on repeat in her head ever since he’d uttered them.

  She had to know what she’d been missing all these years.

  For her sex had always been slightly awkward and over before she even had a chance to get into it. She wore her hair down, put on her favorite purple lace bra and panty set, and went with her trusty little black dress. She knew he liked her in dresses.

  Whatever happened after tonight, it would be okay, she told herself as she carefully applied makeup. She and Vince were rarely on site at the library at the same time. She’d turned in her plans for preserving the historic section. Most of the rest of the job was in Vince’s hands. He would be busy doing assessment and testing before the demolition of the old space that had been added on in the 1960s.

  She’d be moving back to her apartment in Brooklyn soon. She had a new client in the city and it was time for her to pay attention to her real job before she lost it. Her dad was permanently back home, so she wasn’t needed to watch over the house. And she missed her old social life. She didn’t have any friends left here in Greenport, and night after night sitting home with only her dad for company had gotten old fast. Her weekly date with Vince was the highlight of her week. Not that she’d ever tell him that. Let him think she was having a grand time without him.

  The doorbell rang, and she hurried to answer it before her dad could threaten Vince with bodily harm. It would be hard to enjoy herself if the night started off with total embarrassment.

  “I got it,” she called. Tonight they’d be going to a nice Italian restaurant in Eastman, Vince’s idea. He lived in Eastman, so it would be a short drive to his place, and she was eager to finally see the upstairs of the old carriage house he called home.

  “Who is it?” her dad called.

  “Don’t wait up, Dad. I’m spending the night at a friend’s place.”

  “What friend?”

  She dashed out the door.

  “Hey,” Vince said, swallowing visibly and giving her the once-over. “You look amazing.”

  “Thanks. You too.” He wore a navy blue suit minus the blazer. She put a hand on his arm. “Let’s go before my dad comes out here.”

  He put his hand over hers, holding her arm, led her to his car, and opened the door for her.

  “Such manners,” she teased.

  “I can take a hint,” he said with a smile. His gaze was warm and tender, and she found herself basking in that smile. Like he adored her and only her. Don’t go thinking crazy. Vince had been very upfront about what it meant to get involved with him.

  “How was your week?” he asked after he got in the car.

  “Good. I’m still waiting to hear on the historic paperwork for the library. I’m working on a church in the city that has a very old bell tower they want to preserve.”

  “Cool.”

  “Yeah, it is, actually. How about you?”

  “Can’t complain.”

  “And how’s your family? How’s your godson?” She always liked to hear about his brothers and what was going on in their lives. And she knew he loved to talk about the baby.

  He beamed. “Family’s good. My godson is growing, moving like crazy. He kicks his ma so hard. He’s going to be an athlete.”

  “I’m sure you’ll be a great godfather.”

  He got quiet. She looked out the window at the passing scenery, surprised at how calm she was, given what she expected to happen tonight.

  “You want kids, Sophia?”

  She snapped her head around, shocked at the question coming from him of all people—the good-time guy. “Sure, someday. If I met the right man, got married. You know, the whole deal. How about you?”

  He didn’t reply. He was probably hoping she didn’t want them. Too much ball and chain there. Still, he was excited about his godson. Why had he asked that? She couldn’t quite figure him out.

  They went to dinner, and Vince was extremely polite and respectful. It was a little unnerving. She felt like she was on a date with someone she didn’t know. Gone was the teasing, the gruff affection. He held doors open for her, helped her off with her coat, held out her chair, inquired what she’d like to eat and then ordered for her.

  “Is everything okay?” she asked.

  “Why do you ask?”

  “You’re being almost too polite.”

  “First I need to learn manners and now I’m too polite. What do you want from me?”

  “I just want you to be yourself.”

  “I’m not getting that vibe from you at all." He scowled. "I’m trying really hard to stop being dumb old Vince.”

  “You’re not dumb!” She thought quickly. She couldn’t let everything fall apart before she even had a chance to experience the passion he’d promised her. “Please don’t be mad. I’ve really been looking forward to tonight.”

  He crossed those big muscular arms, the fabric straining across his bulging biceps. “Why?”

  She licked her lips nervously and lowered her voice. “Because of what you menti
oned before.”

  He dropped his arms and leaned across the table. “Gimme a clue. I’m new to all this. And the female mind is a little mysterious.”

  “The fingers-fisting-in-the-sheets thing,” she whispered.

  He jolted. Then he looked side to side around the restaurant.

  She took a long drink of wine, watching him. He turned back to her, his deep brown eyes burning into hers. “You sure about this, Soph?”

  She nearly sagged in relief. “Yes, I’m sure. Very sure.”

  He took her hand, lifted it, and placed a warm kiss on the back of her hand. “I can’t wait.”

  ~ ~ ~

  Sophia surprised Vince tonight. She’d been so careful to keep him in check. He could hardly believe that on their third date she was ready for more. Hell, what did he know? Maybe third date was always when she slept with someone. He never made it past the first date, unless the woman called him for a repeat performance. Even then it was twice and done. Third time had never happened. He’d never wanted it to happen, but Sophia was different. Yes, she was beautiful, but it was more than that. She was smart with all her history knowledge, a real lady, a classy lady, but with a fiery passionate nature. He still didn’t know what she wanted with the likes of him, but he was happy to go along with it.

  They finished dinner, and she got quiet. Maybe she was having second thoughts.

  He walked her out the door and to his car. “You know, Soph, we don’t have to…I’m fine with—”

  She turned and put two fingers over his lips. “Don’t try to talk me out of it. My mind is made up.”

  He studied her and saw the bluster for what it was. She was nervous. He grabbed her fingers and kissed them. “Let’s go.”

  She let out a shaky breath. Geez, what did she think he was going to do to her? It was just a roll in the hay. He wasn’t into any kinky stuff. He guided her into the car and headed home.

  She was so unusually quiet and tense on the drive back that he pulled out a whopper of a lie just to calm her the frick down. “I’m bringing you back to my place, but we’re just going to talk. Maybe have a glass of wine. Then I’ll drive you home.”