Into the Fire - Leslie Kelly [62]
She found his amusement incredibly annoying. "And you still really believe women trap men into unwanted commitments to justify the fact that they're every bit as horny as men?"
"Women are every bit as horny as men." His voice challenged her to deny it.
"Men do secretly want commitment and a life mate," she retorted.
They stared at each other over the food for several long seconds. Then Nate slowly raised his coffee mug to his lips and sipped from it. He murmured, "Well, I guess that's what you and I are going to find out, isn't it?"
"The article," she said, knowing immediately what he meant. "You're still approaching it from your original point of view? That commitment isn't necessary and true love is a fluke?"
"Isn't that what J.T. asked us to do?" His eyes stared intently into hers. "Besides, isn't that exactly what you're going to do, too—defend your views on love and relationships?"
Was she? After last night, after feeling wild, reckless abandon in this man's bed, what kind of hypocrite would she be to say women should hold out for true love and not settle for casual sex? Nate hadn't spoken one word of love to her, nor she to him.
She wasn't that much of a hypocrite. Still, Lacey's basic, deep-down beliefs remained unchanged. No, she hadn't held out for true love, but there was absolutely nothing casual about what she'd shared with Nate the night before. At least not on her part. Maybe he wasn't in love with her, maybe he didn't want to be her lifelong partner and soul mate, but he cared about her. She didn't doubt that. No way he could have made love to her the way he did if his feelings weren't involved somehow.
Besides, no matter what he felt, he'd still somehow managed to charm, flirt, cajole and seduce his way into her heart. Drat the man.
"True love is possible," she finally replied. "Tender romance can lead to a lifelong commitment and a happily ever after. Even in today's world." She silently challenged him to deny it.
"Sure it's possible, Lacey."
She breathed a sigh of relief.
"Like it's possible for an honest politician to move into the White House. It's just not the norm."
Nate saw her grit her teeth in frustration and hid a smile. Sometimes Lacey could be so easy to read. She was obviously fighting the urge to throw the last few bits of her egg into his face.
He didn't quite know what she had expected of their conversation, but if she was waiting for him to fall on his knees declaring his true love and proposing their own happily ever after, she'd be waiting a little longer. Nate wasn't that kind of fool.
Because she'd never believe it. Not in a million years would she believe he, Nate Logan, had lost his head over her Friday night on the trampoline, and his heart shortly thereafter. Even though that's exactly what had happened.
It was too soon. Last night had been a huge step for her, a leap in the right direction. But once she walked out the door, once the euphoria of what they'd shared receded, she'd be in her old world. The reality of her childhood and her parents' expectations would crash back in on her. In that reality, in that world, she'd doubt every word he said.
So now was not the time for declarations. Nate could afford patience. After all, his lifetime was at stake here. As he'd decided last night, he wasn't letting her go. Ever.
Plus, even though he had found someone he believed he could love for the rest of his life, he still had a story to write about all the other men on the planet. In his opinion and experience, guys did not go out to bars to find women to bear their children. The activity that produced children, well, sure, that was a given. But men searching for soul mates? Nah. It just didn't happen.
Yes, plenty of men settled down, got married, had the house in the burbs and a couple of kids. Considering sixty percent of them cheated and half ended up divorced, however, he had to believe most men really still pined for the caveman days of spreading their seed