Tempting Adam. Dorie Graham

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СКАЧАТЬ have we got ice cream for dessert?” Kamira left the table to pillage the freezer. “Death by Chocolate, my fave. Why don’t I dish some up, and we’ll eat it on the deck.”

      “Just a little for me,” Lauren said.

      “Adam…” Kamira ushered him toward the sliding door that led to the deck. “Can you light the citronella torch? We’ll be right out.”

      “Sure. Make mine two scoops?”

      “You’ve got it.” With a smile, she slid the door shut behind him. Then she turned to Lauren, her eyes shining.

      “You know the mosquitoes don’t seem to notice that torch, Kamira. What are you up to?” Bending low, Lauren rummaged through a drawer for the ice-cream scooper.

      “When did you and Adam have this conversation?”

      “About his settling down?”

      “About his wanting to have a serious sexual relationship involving friendship and mutual respect.”

      “Around lunchtime.”

      “And you suggested he woo the woman of his choice?”

      “I hardly think his tactic of wham, bam, thank you ma’am will work toward establishing anything long-term.”

      “Don’t you find it interesting that he’s opening himself to the possibility, but that he isn’t actively searching for this woman?”

      Lauren shrugged. “He’s not going to find her in his usual haunts. Do you see a woman like that patronizing Charlie’s Corner Bar?”

      “Of course not. But what about the fact that you received those roses anonymously after your conversation?”

      “What does that have to do with Adam? There’s still the chance Todd sent them.”

      And you think I’ve never thought of you in that way?

      “Todd, the man you’re no longer seeing? The man who gave you a new calculator for your two-year anniversary?”

      “Point taken, but I still don’t see how Adam figures.” Blood rushed through Lauren’s ears.

      And you think I’ve never thought of you in that way?

      Kamira glanced out the window to where he’d anchored the torch into its stand. “I’ve always had a feeling about you two. I just think it’s odd—the timing, the fact that he’s against what he calls blatant gift giving. Seems he would be the anonymous type.”

      Lauren’s breath caught. “Tell me you’re not suggesting what I think you are.”

      “Don’t you see? It makes sense. He isn’t looking for a woman, because he’s already found one. You.”

      2

      “ARE YOU NUTS?” Lauren stared at her housemate.

      “Don’t you see? It all adds up.”

      “I hardly think a couple of random coincidences add up to anything.”

      Kamira took the forgotten scooper from Lauren’s hand, then dished up the ice cream. “Let’s ask him.”

      “No!”

      “Why not?”

      “Do you know how insane that sounds? He’ll have us locked up.”

      After handing Lauren one of the bowls, Kamira carried the other two toward the sliding glass door. “What are you afraid of?”

      “I’m not afraid. I just don’t see any point in pursuing this line of thought. Okay?”

      With a heavy sigh, Kamira nodded. “Think about it, though.”

      Lauren opened the door, shaking her head. The torch glowed and night insects chirped and whirred around them. Above, stars glittered in the darkening sky. Adam sat at the patio table that dominated one end of the deck.

      She perched on a chair beside him. “It’s nice out here.”

      Thanking Kamira, he took the bowl, then savored a bite of ice cream. “It’s these simple things that make life worthwhile—a hearty meal, pleasant environment and good friends.”

      “Yes, good friends.” Lauren cocked her head at Kamira, sending her a smug I-told-you-so grin.

      “He sounds like a commercial,” Kamira laughed.

      Adam grinned. “Lauren’s cooking makes me want to endorse the good times.”

      Reaching over, he clasped Lauren’s hand. “You are a remarkable cook. I hope the woman I marry knows her way around the kitchen.”

      Lauren’s grin faltered as the warmth of his hand enveloped hers. She wiggled her fingers in an effort to free herself from his grip, but he didn’t seem to notice. Instead, he carried her hand to his lips for a quick kiss.

      “Now that you’ve gotten rid of Jeffries, maybe you should find a real man.” He released her.

      Kamira leaned forward. “You could both be open to a serious relationship.”

      Lauren stared at her, speechless. How could she say such a thing?

      “Right.” Adam swatted away a mosquito. “We learned to swim, ride bikes and drive together. Why not learn about love together?”

      He dropped his hand to Lauren’s knee. “You’ve worked so hard, Lauren. You deserve a little happiness.”

      Her gaze swept from his hand to Kamira, who waved her spoon enthusiastically. “She sure does.”

      Heat crept up Lauren’s neck and along her knee beneath his hand. He gave her leg a squeeze, then busied himself again with his dessert. What was wrong with her? He’d touched her a million times in the past and she’d never thought twice about it. Kamira’s wild speculations had her reading more into his friendly gestures than was there.

      Of course Adam wasn’t her secret admirer.

      “So, Adam…” Kamira licked a drip of chocolate off her spoon. “Tell us what kind of woman you’re looking for. Maybe we can help. I see a lot of women in the course of the day.”

      He pushed his bowl away, then sat back, gazing into the distance. “I think for a substantial relationship, I want a substantial woman. Substantial in spirit and body, too. Not a big woman, necessarily, but one with a little more meat on her bones.”

      Lauren raised her eyebrows. “You mean you’re done with all those ultrathin model types?”

      He grinned. “Well, I wouldn’t object, as long as she didn’t mind getting pregnant.”

      His head bobbed as he continued to stare into the night, as though the woman of his dreams might materialize if he looked hard СКАЧАТЬ