Lover Beware 04 - Only Human

with tradition."
    "I can't wait much longer, Rule."
    "I know. I have a suggestion. Why don't we talk about something other than the investigation tonight?"
    "Such as?"
    "What do you usually talk about on a date?"
    "The usual—his work, his hobbies, his ex-wives."
    He clucked his tongue. "Sexism rears its ugly head. Surely there are a few men who don't just discuss themselves?"
    "Well, they mostly don't want to talk about my work, unless I date a cop. And I don't date cops."

    Only Human
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    "I'm glad to hear that. Of course, I'd rather you didn't date anyone except me."
    Her mouth went dry. "You don't have any right to say that.
    You're moving too fast."
    "I'm being honest. Why don't you date cops?"
    "They're lousy bets for anything long-term. Besides, it would be icky."
    He grinned. "Icky?"
    "You know—the way it would feel to work with someone you've ... someone who ... never mind."
    "Do you 'never mind' with every man you date?" He slowed for the turn. "I ask not to condemn, you understand, but in hope."
    She shook her head. "There you go, jumping to conclusions. I was talking about kissing, not grappling under the covers. And how uncomfortable it would be to work with someone I've had carnal thoughts about, or who I know has had those thoughts about me."
    "If you think that only the men you've dated have carnal thoughts about you, you're far more naive than I would have believed."
    The husky note in his voice turned the banter personal.
    Intimate. She licked her lips and tried to keep things light. "Of course not. According to studies, men have carnal thoughts every ten seconds or so. Women know this. We just prefer to ignore it."
    "I wasn't talking about the occasional random hard-on. I was talking about the way men react to you. You're an intensely desirable woman, Lily."
    Suddenly the air burned in her lungs, thick and sweet, and she was overwhelmingly conscious of her hands. Of the need to touch him—and the need to keep herself from doing any such thing. Lily looked down at her lap, smoothed the silk of her dress, and listened to her heartbeat pounding and pounding in her throat. She couldn't think of a thing to say.
    After a moment he sighed. "And now I've made you uncomfortable. Too much honesty too soon. What do you do when you aren't arresting lawbreakers?"
    "I like to run, hike, paddle around in the ocean. I've done some rock climbing. What do you do when you aren't jet-setting around or turning hairy?"

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    EILEEN WILKS
    He chuckled. "Hairy or smooth, I like to run, hike, and paddle around in the ocean, too. Climbing, though, is better done with hands."
    "That makes sense. Um.. . I should probably warn you about my family. My grandmother knows who you are. I'm not sure my mother does—I left a message with your name—
    but she'll figure it out pretty quickly."
    "Will that be a problem?"
    "Probably," she said gloomily. "You're certainly not Chinese. If you were a surgeon, that might not matter. Or a lawyer, as long as you worked for a prestigious firm. She's very big on personal achievement. About my grandmother, though ..."
    Her voice trailed off.
    "The one you call Tiger Lady?"
    "For heaven's sake, don't call her that tonight. The closest Chinese translation is, uh, not respectful." She sighed. There was no way to explain Grandmother. One had to experience her. "Just treat her as if she were royalty."
    HE WAS MAKING mistakes with her. Rule knew that, but he couldn't seem to stop. He wanted to claim her, and he didn't want to wait. But whenever he let his urgency slip out, she retreated.
    Lily wasn't sure about him. That was only natural. Even if he hadn't been what he was, she would have wanted time to know him, to know her own mind. He understood. He even agreed. But his blood was up, and the discipline of years was stretched taut just by being with her.
    It didn't help to know she was as attracted as he, however she tried to hide it.
    Tonight's date was about as safe as a first date could be, he thought wryly as they entered the restaurant. They were on her turf, surrounded by her family. He would rather have taken her someplace quiet and private, someplace where he could look at her as much as he liked. Touching would have been nice, too. But it eased something inside him to look at the curve of her throat or the slightly crooked incisor that only showed when she grinned. "You have a lot of relatives," he murmured.
    The restaurant itself was less obviously oriental than he'd expected. The