Genuine Lies

wine.
    “I figured you wouldn’t make me drink alone.” He passed her the glass, tapped his against it. “To motherhood. You have my undying respect.”
    “Put you through the paces, did they?”
    “Eight times,” he said, and sipped. “That’s how often two ten-year-olds need to use the John during a basketball game.”
    She laughed and sat on the sofa. “I can’t say I’m sorry I missed it.”
    “Brandon says you’re pretty good with baseball.” He pushed the loot to the edge of the couch and sat beside her. “Pretty good.”
    “Maybe you’ll come along for the Dodgers.”
    “I’ll think about it, if we’re still in town.”
    “April’s not so far away.” He tossed an arm over the back of the couch and let his fingers play with her hair. “And Eve’s led a long and eventful life.”
    “So I’m learning. And on the subject of the book, I’d like that interview as soon as possible.”
    His fingers wandered through her hair and onto her neck. “Why don’t you come to my place, say tomorrow night? We can have dinner, privacy, and … discuss things.”
    The curling in her stomach was part fear, part temptation. “I’ve always felt business was best done in a business setting.”
    “We have more than business between us, Julia.” He took the glass out of her hand, set it aside next to his. “Let me show you.”
    Before he could, she put both hands on his chest. “It’s getting late, Paul.”
    “I know.” He took one of her hands by the wrist, bringing her fingers to his mouth to nibble. “I love watching you get stirred up, Julia.” He stroked his tongue down her palm, then back. “There’s such a battle going on in your eyes over what you like, and what you think’s best for you.”
    “I know what’s best for me.”
    When she curled her hand into a fist, he contented himselfwith scraping his teeth over her knuckles. He smiled. “And do you know what you like?”
    This, she thought. She liked this very much. “I’m not a child who overindulgences in what feels good. I know the consequences.”
    “There are some indulgences that are worth the consequences.” He took his hands to her face and held it still. The taut thread of impatience she felt in his made him only more seducing. “Do you think I pursue every woman I’m attracted to so single-mindedly?”
    “I have no idea.”
    “Then let me tell you.” He dragged her head back with a roughness that surprised and excited. “You do something to me, Julia. I haven’t been able to get a fix on it, and I haven’t been able to change it. So I’ve decided not to try, just to take things as they come.”
    His mouth was a breath from hers. She could feel herself being drawn in, helplessly, to a place she was afraid to go. “It takes two people.”
    “That’s right.” His tongue flicked out to trace the shape of her lips. And she began to tremble. “We both know if I pushed this right now, we’d make love the rest of the night.” She would have shaken her head, but his mouth closed over hers. He was right, absolutely and completely right. And so was the taste of his lips.
    “I want you, Julia, and fair means or foul, I will have you. I prefer it to be fair.”
    Her breath was coming too fast, the need leaping too high. “And what I prefer doesn’t count.”
    “If that were true, we’d already be lovers. I feel something for you, some dangerous thing, some volatile thing. God knows what’s going to happen when I let it loose.”
    “Are you interested in how I feel?”
    “That’s something I’ve given a great deal of thought to, maybe too much thought to, over the past few weeks.”
    She needed distance, quickly, and was grateful he didn’t prevent her from rising. “I’ve also given this situation a lot of thought, and realize I should be honest from the start. I like mylife as it is, Paul. I’ve worked very hard to establish the right kind of routine, environment, for my son. I won’t risk that, not for anyone or anything.”
    “I can’t see how a relationship with me would endanger Brandon.”
    “Maybe it wouldn’t. That’s something I’d have to be sure of. I’ve balanced my life very carefully, very deliberately. Casual sex isn’t on my list.”
    He was up quickly, dragging her into his arms. By the time he jerked her back, she was weak and staggering. “Does that strike you as casual, Julia?” he asked, giving her a quick shake. “Is that something you can add to a scale or jot down