Bachelor Unleashed - Brenda Jackson [62]
She took another sip of her coffee as she moved her gaze from the window to the man standing at the stove preparing pancakes. He hadn’t bothered to snap up his jeans that hung low on lean hips, and they looked so darn good on his hard masculine thighs and fine-asa-dime backside. Her gaze traveled upward and did a wide sweep of his hairy chest, tight abs, well-defined arm muscles and wide shoulders.
She moved her gaze upward, past his broad shoulders to his face. He had long lashes, the kind most women would kill for. And the shadow darkening his jaw indicated he hadn’t bothered to shave. Then there were his lips, full and inviting. She felt heat flood her stomach when she remembered all the things those lips and his mouth had done to her.
She released a deep breath, suddenly feeling the effect of the caffeine. The effect of Xavier Kane. The man had a gorgeous body, and he most certainly knew how to use it.
“You like what you see, Farrah?”
She blinked, wondering how he’d known she was staring at him when he was supposed to be concentrating on fixing breakfast. He looked up and smiled before turning around to face her while leaning his hip against the kitchen counter.
“How could I not like what I see? You’re a straight guy, pretty well-off and you look pretty darn good in a pair of jeans. And you can make me purr in the bedroom. According to some women, a man with those qualities is a rarity these days.”
He lifted a brow. “Some women?”
“Yes, those looking for a mate.”
“Oh, I see.” He didn’t say anything for a minute and then asked, “What are you doing next Saturday night?”
She blinked. His question had caught her off guard. She hesitated for a second and then said, “I don’t recall having any plans. Why?”
“I’d like you to go to a party with me.”
She placed her coffee cup down, feeling anxiety set in. “A party?”
“Yes.”
Her anxiety increased. Although he had mentioned attending parties with him, she wasn’t prepared to do so this soon.
“It’s being given by Donovan’s brother Morgan and his wife, Lena. A holiday fundraiser to benefit under-privileged kids.”
Instead of saying anything, Farrah picked up her cup to take a sip of her coffee. She needed to think about that. She didn’t know Morgan Steele that well, but she had known Lena for years. As a real estate agent, Lena had been the one to sell her and Dustin their first home, and four years later she had sought out Lena’s services to find her another place after their divorce. “Farrah?”
She glanced up and met Xavier’s gaze. His expression didn’t give anything away, but she had a feeling he fully expected her to turn him down, although she had agreed to the affair without limitations. In a way, she felt foolish for letting past pain dictate how she lived her life.
She forced her eyes away from his to glance out the window, knowing she couldn’t hide behind her pain forever. Maybe it was time to take a stand and finally move on. Something she hadn’t done and something it seemed Xavier was hell-bent on forcing her to do.
She glanced back at him and swallowed deeply before saying, “Yes. I’ll go to the party with you.”
Chapter 15
Farrah stared at herself in the full-length mirror. When was the last time she had dressed to please a man? And as much as she’d tried convincing herself she’d purchased this dress because she’d liked it, deep down she’d bought it because she figured Xavier would like it. It was blue, his favorite color, and the style of the dress showed off her figure. Even Natalie had said so when the two had gone shopping.
At least there would be people at the party she would know besides the host and hostess. Donovan and Natalie