She knew he was right. Still, she didn’t want to admit defeat. “What about Vanessa?”
“What about her?” He shrugged one shoulder. “She was never anything serious, despite what she thought. It’s over. We broke up.”
“Yet she came crawling back.”
“I had a talk with her about that.” Before she could respond, he continued. “I love you, Delilah. I have for years. I will continue to love you whether you love me or not. When Marion asked me to come tonight, I knew it was my last shot with you.” He stood then, the chair scraping the floor. “I had to try. I’m sorry it wasn’t good enough.”
Sam turned and walked away, weaving through the crowd. Delilah couldn’t believe she sat there, letting him get away. But she was still reeling from his declaration of love. This wasn’t the Sam she remembered. The old Sam would never offer up the l-word so readily. He rarely did.
He helped his buddy out by giving him rent money and she’d assumed he was buying drugs. Why did she sit there, letting him walk away when everything inside her told her to jump up and run after him?
She was afraid. That’s why. She was scared to fall back in love with him, let him sweep her off her feet. She was afraid it would work out, and they would live happily ever after. She was terrified he would love her and she would love him back.
“What are you doing?”
It was Marion’s voice that broke into her thoughts and when she looked up, Marion’s brow was creased with anger and her fisted hands were on her hips.
“He’s leaving, you dolt,” Marion snapped. “Go get him!”
“But, I—”
“No buts, Del.” Marion snagged her by the arm and hauled her to her feet. She gave her a shove toward the door. “Go. And don’t come back without him.”
Still she hesitated and then she whirled on her friend. “I love him, Marion.”
“I know, honey.” She patted her arm. “That’s why you need to go get him before it’s too late.”
“And he loves me. We could make it work, right?”
“God willing.” Marion nudged her toward the door again. “But you have to go now.”
Delilah took a step toward the door, then spun and enveloped her friend in a hug. “Thank you.”
She didn’t wait for a reply. She ran towards Sam, the love of her life.
As she left the party room, she snaked her way through the diners enjoying their evening meals. She kept her eyes on the front of the restaurant, hoping to spot him but there was no sign of him. And then she saw him coming out of the men’s room.
“Sam!”
She hadn’t meant to shriek his name. Diners turned as did those waiting for a table. All eyes pinned on her. But she kept her gaze on him. The object of her affection.
He stopped short, stared at Delilah with question written all over his face. She came to a halt in front of him, trying not to lose her nerve. She’d planned it out this far, but now she didn’t know what to say, how to act, what to do.
“Sam, I…” She paused. He waited. “I’ve been an incredible fool.”
“Yes.”
“I’m sorry.”
“Okay.”
“Can you forgive me?”
He didn’t answer right away. Leaving her standing there feeling like an even bigger fool. He had walked away. She shouldn’t have let him.
“Maybe,” he said finally.
“Maybe?”
He took her by the arm and led her out of the restaurant to the parking lot. He took her right to his car, unlocked the door and opened it.
“Get in.”
“But…”
“Get. In.”
She complied without another word. He shut the door and walked around the front of the car, all the while her heart hammering in her chest. He opened his door and slid behind the wheel, slammed the door. Clutched the steering wheel. And said nothing. But she couldn’t stay silent.
“Did you mean what you said?” she asked.
“Every word.” He didn’t look at her, keeping his gaze on the darkness beyond the windshield.
Her heart did a weird ka-thunk in her chest and it took all her strength to remain still.
“Losing you was the worst thing that ever happened to me, Delilah. It was the wake-up call I needed.” He glanced at her finally. “I wanted to find you before you walked back into my life.”
“Why didn’t you?”
“I was afraid.”
He didn’t have to say it, she knew of what he was afraid. Rejection. It was hard to face the one you’d been intimate with, given your heart to, only to have it stomped on. Delilah knew herself well enough to know she’d have done exactly that.
“That first night you came to my house…how did you find me?”
“I have my ways.” He flashed an evil grin.
She knew he had a way with computers and could get any information he wanted off the Internet.
“Why did you come?”
“You know why. I wanted you.”
“Sam…” Say it. He’ll never know unless you say it. “I wanted you, too.”
“Really?” Sam turned to her, leaned toward her, enticed her.
“Yes, really. I guess I’ve been denying I’ve been in love with you since I met you. I had a boyfriend once tell me I would sabotage relationships. I think he was right.”
He leaned closer still. “Why is that?”
“Because they weren’t you.”
His hand ran through her hair and rested on the curve of her neck. “Do you want to do this again, Delilah?”
She tipped her head to one side, their lips only a breath apart. “Yes, Sam, but slowly this time.”
“Slowly…” he repeated and she nodded as his lips brushed hers. “You got it.”
“Which means you have to be my date for the wedding.”
“Done.” His lips traced her jawline, soft, slow, sensual kisses. “And you lose.”
She sat straight up then, breaking the contact. “No way do I lose. You came to me.”
“Only at Marion’s request. You came to me.”
She scowled. “Fine. You win. I lose.” And then she leaned toward him again, smiling. “Now you get to have your way with me.”
“And I intend to.” He ran his hand up her arm, to her shoulder, tugging the material of her dress to bare her skin. “Right after you pick whatever you want out of my shop.”
“Oh, Sam, there’s only one thing in your shop I want.”
“And what is that?”
“You.”
###
Dear Reader
I never intended to write a series.
When I first wrote Talk Dirty to Me, it was never with the intent of getting published. I wrote it because I wanted to and because it was fun (and, yes, because it’s the title of a Poison song. What can I say? I love 80s hairbands). Back then, a new small press publisher was launching and a friend encouraged me to submit. Imagine my surprise when I landed a contract (this was in 2005) and then that little book got published in mid-2006.
Talk Dirty to Me launched the series, Coffee House Chronicles. I wrote book 2, Nice Girls Do, and it was published by that same publisher. Eventually, I moved on to another publisher with books 3-5. I’d written book 4 (Take Me, I’m Yours) followed by book 5 (Sex, Lust & Martinis). When the publisher had a call for short, sexy books, I wrote the novella which turned out to be book 3 (Have Yourself a Merry Little Latte).
And then I got my rights back to all these books and decided to re-release them. They’re all up in Kindle Unlimited now.
Nowadays, I’ve moved away from writing super sexy contemporary romance. I’m busy writing fantasy and paranormal romance (where my true love lies). I have a love of all things fairy, elves, dragons, and castles. If you’re new to my books, I hope you’ll check them out. You can follow me on Twitter, over at Facebook and Instagram, and sign up for my newsletter at my website. I do giveaways for newsletter subscribers only. Hope to see you there.
&n
bsp; Thanks for reading.
Michelle
www.MichelleMiles.net
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About the Author
Michelle Miles believes in fairy tales, true love and magic. She is the award-winning author of the epic fantasy, IN THE TOWER OF THE WIZARD KING, as well as the fantasy romance series, REALM OF HONOR, featuring knights and their ladies fair, and the paranormal romance series, GUARDIANS OF ATLANTIS. Her love of romance began with Victoria Holt, Elswyth Thane and Daphne du Maurier. Her love of fantasy began with the lyrical stories of Patricia A. Mckillip and Anne McCaffrey. As a member of Romance Writers of America, she has served on the board of several chapters as president and treasurer.
In her spare time, she enjoys listening to music, reading, cross-stitching and watching movies. A Native Texan, she loves castles, dragons, fairies and elves and is an avid Game of Thrones fan. She can be found online at Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Pinterest and Goodreads.
Also by Michelle Miles
Age of Wizards (Fantasy)
In the Tower of the Wizard King
On the Hunt for the Wizard King
Realm of Honor (Fantasy Romance)
One Knight Only
Only for a Knight
A Knight to Remember
A Knight Like No Other
Shadows of the Knight
A Ransom & Fortune Adventure (Time Travel)
Highland Fling
Dead of Winter
Dragon Protectors (Shifter Romance)
Desiring the Dragon Lord
Seducing the Dragon Knight
Tempting Her Dragon Bodyguard (Coming Soon)
Guardians of Atlantis (Paranormal Romance)
Tempting Eden
Seducing Eve
Ravishing Helene
Guardians of Atlantis Box Set
Coffee House Chronicles (Contemporary Romance)
Talk Dirty to Me
Nice Girls Do
Have Yourself a Merry Little Latte
Take Me, I’m Yours
Sex, Lust & Martinis
Forever Yours (Contemporary Romance)
A Little Taste of Heaven
Shorts and Anthologies
Available on Prolific Works Only
A Dance Among the Faeries, Short Story
Eorwulf, Short Story
The Soul of Sharah, Short Story
Sinfully Sweet, Short Story
Flights of Fantasy: A Collection of Short Stories
Sex, Lust & Martinis Page 13