Three Signatures for the Lady

by Graham, Suzanne

  A twinge of self-doubt crept up her spine. “You’re leaving?”

  “No!” He reached down and pulled her up to lie across his chest on the couch. “Not unless you’re kicking me out.”

  She nuzzled his neck where he smelled like piney aftershave and faintly of sweat. “Not at all. How long can you stay?”

  “I don’t teach until ten tomorrow.”

  “Are you saying you want to stay all night?” She met his eyes.

  “If you’ll have me.”

  She smirked. “I think I’ve already had you.”

  “Then it must be my turn to have you.” He flipped her onto her back on the couch and teased her ear and neck with hot, wet kisses. After a few minutes, he lifted his head. “So is it all right if I spend the night?”

  “I’ve got to get up at six for work.”

  “So you don’t want me to stay?”

  She wrapped her arms around his bare shoulders. “I want you to stay, and I have a feeling I’m going to need a lot of coffee at work tomorrow.”

  He grinned. “Yeah, but it’ll be the good kind of tired after a night filled with loving.”

  “Should we take this to the bedroom then, where we can get more comfortable?”

  His grin widened. “I like the way you think.” He stood and helped her up from the couch with her hand in his.

  “Um¼one question first,” she said before leading the way to her bedroom.

  “Yeah?” His brow creased with worry.

  “Did you bring many condoms?”

  He burst into a rough laugh. “I really like the way you think.” Reaching down into his cargo shorts, he pulled out a long row of condoms. “In fact, I believe the saying is ‘great minds think alike’.”

  Some of her good feelings dissolved. Was this just a booty call for him? He’d obviously planned on this, judging by the number of condoms he’d stuffed in his pocket.

  “What’s wrong?” he asked, stepping toward her.

  “What are we doing here?”

  “Having a good time¼and getting to know each other better. Is there a problem?”

  She shook her head and reminded herself that when he first showed up tonight, she was willing to take whatever he was willing to give. “No problem.” She grabbed his hand and showed him to her bedroom. Maybe after another night of raucous sex, she’d get him out of her system.

  Yeah, right, that’s what people said when they knew they were already in too deep, and she feared she was in way over her head with this bright, sexy, self-assured younger man. But she might as well enjoy the ride for as long as it lasted because it was sure to end sooner rather than later.

  Chapter Five

  But three weeks later, the ride hadn’t ended, and Anna waited outside a small classroom on campus with sweaty palms and a headache threatening. Self-doubt flitted at the edges of her decision, but she’d made up her mind. She had to do what was best for her.

  The door opened and young, fresh-faced college students emerged from the classroom. While she waited for the way to clear, she took a deep breath and threw back her shoulders. When the final student left, she stuck her head around the doorframe.

  Frank’s back was to her as he gathered a stack of papers into a pile and stuffed them into his messenger bag. She took the time to appreciate his broad shoulders, narrow waist, and long legs for the last time.

  When he turned and caught her staring from the doorway, his face broke into his familiar wide smile, and she choked on her breath.

  She wanted to run into his arms and forget the original purpose of her visit, but she bit her bottom lip and held firm to her decision.

  “Hi,” she said with a brief wave of her hand.

  “Hi, gorgeous. What are you doing here?” He walked toward her as he slung his bag over his shoulder.

  “Do you have a few minutes to talk?”

  “Sure. I don’t have another discussion group until after lunch. Do you want to grab something to eat with me?” He leaned forward for a kiss, but she took a step back.

  “No, thanks. Can we find a bench outside?”

  He nodded, looking at her with questions in his green eyes. “Is there a problem?”

  She walked near him, but not touching. “I’ll explain in a minute.” She didn’t think she could walk and talk and make sense at the same time. Not with something this important that she needed to get right.

  Once outside, they sat on an empty bench in the shade of an oak tree.

  Frank slid his bag to the ground and turned to her with his arm along the back of the bench. “So, tell me what’s up?”

  She met his gaze for a moment before she had to look away and stare at the campus building across from them. “There’s no easy way to say this.”

  “Then just spit it out.” His tone was rough.

  She glanced at him. Did he suspect what she was going to say? “I’m sorry, Frank. I really like you, but I can’t see you anymore.”

  “Why not?” His eyes lost their usual happy glow. She’d never seen him look so serious.

  “It’s not good for me.”

  “What? Since when?”

  “I’m not talking about the sex,” she said. “Well, I am, but not in that way.”

  “You’ve lost me, Anna. I don’t know what you’re talking about.”

  “I’m sorry. I wanted to get this right so I didn’t hurt you.”

  “You didn’t think I’d get hurt when you told me you didn’t want to see me anymore?”

  “Yes. No. I mean¼I wanted you to know that it has nothing to do with you.”

  “You’ve met someone else?”

  “No!”

  “Then please explain to me what has changed. I thought we were getting along really well.”

  “We do get along really well¼in the bedroom.”

  “And that’s a problem, how?” he asked.

  “Because that’s all we’ve got between us, and I need more.”

  He drew in a breath. “You think we’re only together because of the great sex.”

  “Yes, and it’s not enough for me anymore.”

  “Shit.”

  She placed a hand on his forearm where it rested on the bench. “I’m sorry, Frank. I really do care for you.”

  “But you think I’m only into you for the sex.” He blew out a harsh sigh. “God, I screwed this up badly.”

  “No, it’s not your fault. I jumped quite willingly into your bed, but it’s time for me to stop playing with casual sex. I’m looking for something more serious.”

  “And you don’t think I’m it.”

  Her chest tightened as she registered the hurt showing on his face. “I didn’t think you were interested in serious.”

  “Would you believe me if I said I was?”

  “We’ve never even been on a real date in the three weeks we’ve known each other,” she said. “It’s always been your place or mine, but we’ve never been out together in public.”

  “So if I took you out for dinner and a movie, it would show you how serious I am about us?”

  “I don’t know. I guess it would be a start.” He was confusing her. She’d thought he’d be satisfied with her explanation for the breakup, and he’d be happy to move on to his next conquest. Well, maybe not happy, but she didn’t think he would give her a hard time. But he wasn’t letting her go that easily.

  “Anna, I’m sorry. I guess I should have told you this a lot sooner, but I really like you.”

  “Well, yeah. I kind of figured you liked me a little when I—”

  “No, don’t say it. I’m not talking about what happens in bed. I’m talking about the late night conversations in the kitchen when we grab a snack, or when we stay awake most of the night talking. You make me laugh one moment, and in the next you make me consider the bigger issues of life with your talk about human rights and equality.” He traced his finger down the side of her cheek. Softly, he said, “I love your big heart and your determination to represent the underdog. I love y
our sense of humor and your honesty.”

  She stared at him and blinked back the tears that threatened to spill. He was making it much too difficult to break this off.

  “When we started this relationship, I admit I was only looking at your physical attributes. But when I look at you now, Anna, I see your beauty, inside and out. And I love everything I see.”

  “You do?” she whispered.

  He nodded. “Anna, will you go on a date with me?”

  She smiled.

  “But wait.” He held up his hand. “Before you answer, I have to let you know something. I don’t have sex on the first date with someone that I’m serious about.”

  “You don’t?” she asked.

  He shook his head. “No, I’m sorry, but if you go out with me, we won’t be having sex for at least two¼” He studied her face. “Nope, not for at least five dates, because I want you to know I’m really serious about this relationship.”

  “Five dates before you’ll have sex with me?”

  He nodded. “Do I need to make it more?”

  She groaned. “Please, no. I don’t know how I’ll wait that long.”

  “Is that a yes?”

  “Yes, I’d be happy to go out with you on a date, Mr. Burke.” Then she laughed.

  “What’s so funny?”

  “This has got to be the most backward start to a relationship.” She looked around her before leaning forward and saying in a low voice, “From a ménage a quatre on our first meeting, to three weeks of the best damn sex ever, to our first platonic dinner date. Could we have a more unusual beginning?”

  “I think it’s an incredible start to an incredibly promising relationship, and I’m looking forward to spending a lot more time with you¼outside of the bedroom, Miss Paulson.” He closed the short distance between them, and she prepared herself for one of his sizzling kisses, but he merely brushed his lips against hers chastely.

  “Can we count this as date number one?” she asked when he sat back against the bench, leaving her feeling unfulfilled.

  He chuckled. “Nope, but I’ll pick you up at six tonight for dinner, and you should wear something nice. There’s a restaurant I want to take you to, and they have a dress code¼as in you actually need to be dressed to eat there.”

  She smiled at him, thinking about the perfect dress in her closet. The low-cut front showcased her cleavage, and she planned to drive him crazy with it all night. By the time their five sex-free dates were over, they were going to be making a mad dash for the bedroom, and she imagined it was going to be as incredible as he promised.

  About the Author

  Suzanne Graham has always been an avid reader and diary writer. After inheriting boxes of romance books from her aunt, she decided to try putting her own stories on paper.

  Suzanne met her husband, a fellow American, as an exchange student at the University of Warwick in England. They are the proud parents of three boys. In her spare time, you can usually find Suzanne on the living room couch reading romances.

  Suzanne loves to talk to her readers and can be found at www.suzannegraham.blogspot.com.

  Also available from

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