Page 59 of Instigator

“Ceci?”

My brown-haired beauty gives me a nervous smile. “Hey.”

“You’re my date?”

She swallows. “Your sister thought it would be a good idea.”

I blink. Twice.

“Don’t hate me,” she hurries to add. “I thought we could have dinner and just… I don’t know. I’m sorry. This was a stupid idea.”

I step closer, my hand finding the small of her back as I move into her space.

“Not a stupid idea at all.” I drop a soft kiss on her cheek, her smoky perfume wafting over me. “I’m glad.”

“You are?” She retakes her seat, and I take the one opposite.

For once, I’m glad these tables are small so I can sit here and stare into her eyes. I take her hands in mine.

“She told you who you were meeting, right? She didn’t spring it on you?”

“I knew it would be you.” Ceci can’t hold my gaze. “I’m sorry to deceive you.”

“Your text…”

“Really. Don’t overthink this,” she repeats. “If you just want to have dinner, we can. But…”

My eyebrows dart up into my hairline. “But?”

The prettiest shade of pink blooms across her cheeks. “She said you needed to get laid.”

I choke.

“And, well, if you’re interested…” She swallows, then goes to pull her hands from mine. I hold them tighter until she finally makes eye contact. “I mean, I’m game if you are.”

Am I game? This is only what I’ve wanted for—years, maybe. Her sultry voice in my ear has fueled my fantasies for so long, I can’t remember a time I didn’t want to get to know her. I never thought it would be possible.

And now that it’s on the table…

“You want to sleep with me.” It’s a statement, not a question.

She winces. “You make it sound so clinical. You’re hot, and I’m interested. That’s all there is to it.”

“What would this be?” I chance.

“Whatever you want it to be,” Ceci says without hesitation. “If all you want is one night…”

I inhale sharply. One night with the woman of my literal dreams?

“And if I want… more?”

I’m still seriously messed up over my ex. She’s mentioned that her shit-stain ex-husband did a number on her. It’s obvious we both have some monumental baggage. But that doesn’t mean we need to let it keep us from living our lives. It doesn’t have to hold us back.

Maybe it’s time to finally free ourselves.

She cocks her head. “Like, a fuck-buddies situation?”

Hell no. I don’t think I could sleep with her without wanting more. Needing more. I’m quickly growing obsessed with this woman, and we’re not even dating.