Bachelor Unleashed - Brenda Jackson [45]
Xavier stood and placed his wine glass on the counter. She couldn’t help the way her gaze followed his movement, especially the muscles in his thighs when they stretched. He was definitely a man who could wear a pair of jeans. But then he looked damn good in a business suit as well. And Lordy, she didn’t want to think about how good he looked naked.
She blinked again, noticing his lips move. He was saying something. “Excuse me?”
He smiled, and she felt a tingle that seemed to take life in her stomach. Why did he have to have such a luscious mouth? And why did she have to remember all the things that mouth could do?
“I asked if you were ready for dinner.”
She was ready for whatever he had in mind. Holding back that thought, she cleared her throat and said instead, “Yes, just lead the way.”
She followed him, appreciating another chance to check out his broad shoulders and the best backside a man could possess.
Xavier glanced across the table at Farrah and decided he was going to enjoy every single plan he put into action to win her over. They were almost finished with dinner, and just in case she planned to leave any time soon, he would suggest that she stick around to help with kitchen cleanup. He glanced back down at his plate thinking she didn’t have to know Ms. Blackburn had instructed him to leave everything for her to take care of in the morning.
“You should have warned me, Xavier.”
He glanced back up and met her gaze. The eyes staring back at him were a serious brown. He wondered if she’d figured out his action plan for tonight. “Warned you about what?”
“That I would be so full after this meal that you’d probably have to roll me out the door.”
A relieved smile touched his lips. “I did warn you. I told you how I felt after eating her apple pie.”
“I thought you were exaggerating. Now I see that you weren’t. I’ve never eaten pork chops that all but melt in your mouth. They are so tender.”
He had to agree, Ms. Blackburn had done a great job with dinner. And Farrah, he thought, had done a great job with dressing. She looked good tonight. When she’d taken off her coat, his tongue had almost wrapped around his head. That was one sexy purple dress she was wearing. It was short, which showed off her legs that were encased in tights and another pair of black leather knee-high boots. He had invited her over for dinner, not to give him heart failure.
“You look nice tonight, by the way.”
She smiled at his compliment. “Thanks. You look good yourself.”
He pushed his empty plate aside to lean back in his chair. “Glad you think so.”
“I do. Always.”
She was flirting with him, and as a man, he could only appreciate it. “Would you like some dessert now?” He watched her lick her lips, and he couldn’t help but shift in the chair to ease the pressure behind his zipper.
“Sounds tempting but I’ll wait for a while. I’d like to talk to you about something.”
He wondered what she wanted to talk about. “Sure. Let’s go in the family room and sit in front of the fireplace.”
“But what about the dinner dishes?”
He smiled. “We can leave them for now and you can help me clean up the kitchen later.”
“All right. That’s the least I can do after such a wonderful meal.”
No, that wasn’t the least she could do, but he would keep that little tidbit to himself.
He rounded the table to pull the chair back for her. One thing he’d liked about Farrah from the first was that she never got offended when he did gentlemanly things for her. No matter how raw and raunchy they got in the bedroom, he totally enjoyed treating her like the lady he knew she was.
And she was a downright sexy lady at that, he thought as his gaze swept over her, up and down her body. Just looking at her almost derailed any thoughts about what was the best way to handle her. He wanted to get out of her the one thing he deemed most important. For her to return his love.
He knew that was a tall order, one that would take measured, strategic planning. His goal was to convince her that he was a viable candidate for her affections, and that