"Have you?" she asked.
"No," I said. "Not really."
"Ask me something else."
"What does love mean to you?" I wasn't sure why I asked her that question. It just kind of popped out.
She seemed surprised by my question. She looked down at her hands for a second and then back up at me. "It's about patience and taking the time to truly know someone. And when the right person comes along, it will be totally worth the wait." There was something sad in her eyes. Like she didn't even believe what she was saying. Maybe because she hadn't found it yet. Maybe because she had tried and failed. Maybe because what she just said was complete bullshit.
I had never really tried to find love. I constantly pushed women away, preferring the tidiness of one night stands. But I knew what love was. Daphne, however, didn't understand it at all.
"Patience? Really?" I said. "That isn't love. Patience is something you have for a toddler that won't stop crying." I barely had any patience.
She laughed. "It's a waiting game. And I'm being patient until the right guy comes along and then I'll be patient as I learn all about him and see if we truly are compatible. It's all about patience."
"It's not about patience. It's about passion."
She stared at me for a second. There was something in her eyes that I couldn't quite read. She laughed awkwardly. "You're wrong."
I raised my eyebrow. "I don't think so, beautiful."
"Passion can build. It can be one of the things that patience brings. You have to get to know each other first. That's the whole point of building a relationship."
"Passion like we have doesn't build. It's instantaneous."
"And that's what love is to you? Just passion? Like what we have? Does that mean you're in love with me, Rob?" She batted her eyelashes at me.
Damn. She was good. But I was better. "It means I have the potential to fall in love with you because of said passion."
She rolled her eyes.
Oh God I wanted to spank her. I wanted to do more than spank her, but right now I just craved my palm on her bare ass. She was so incredibly naive. And charming. And sexy as hell. I put my hand back on her thigh. Now that I knew she felt the heat between us, it was even harder to control myself.
Patience? Screw patience. I trailed my fingers up her thigh, relishing the softness of her skin. "Patience isn't fun, Daphne. Patience is torture. Patience is something you hold onto when there is no spark. Wouldn't you agree?" My fingers stopped at the top of her thigh. She hadn't resisted at all as my hand slid under her skirt. I wasn't going to touch her. No matter how much I wanted to. I just wanted her to admit that I was right.
She shook her head. Apparently she wouldn't abandon her horrible belief about love in order to experience the most mind blowing orgasm of her life. Yes, with just my fingers.
"You can't deny that we have chemistry," I said.
"It's not about a physical connection." Her words were slow. She was clearly consumed by lust. Consumed by me. "It's about an emotional one."
"Yet, you've only known me for a day and you want me to touch you. That's passion. That's the key. This undeniable heat." I ran my fingers along the edge of her thong and her body trembled. That's right.
She shook her head. "You're wrong." Her voice wasn't as determined this time.
"And you're stubborn." I stopped my ascent and removed my hand.
"I'm stubborn? What about you?"
"I'm not stubborn, I'm just right."
She scoffed. "That's something a stubborn person would say."
"Is stubbornness a quality on your list?" I lifted up the drink the waiter had just set down in front of me.
She didn't deem my question with an answer. Instead she looked down at the drink the waiter put in front of her. "I don't drink margaritas."
"You'll like this one." I had ordered it for her while she was fantasizing about me.
"You don't know what I like." She picked up her menu.
"I think I do."
She lifted the menu slightly to cover her face. Yeah, I know her better than she thinks.
"I'll be right back to take your order," the waiter said and walked away.
I wanted to be alone with Daphne. I'd take whatever opportunity I could get. I quickly stood up and put my hand out. "May I have this dance?"
She slowly lowered her menu. Her cheeks were still rosy. "He said he'd be right back."
"I'll keep an eye out for him." I moved my hand closer to her. "Just one dance."
She bit her lip. I wanted to be the one doing that.
"Go, Momma Bear," Kristen said from across the table.
Daphne immediately put her hand in mine and I pulled her to her feet. I interlaced my fingers with hers as I escorted her to the veranda. The air was much cooler at night. The warmth of her hand was surprisingly comforting. I spun her around as we walked toward the other dancers. My eyes fixed on the twirl of her hair and the smile on her face.
She laughed and put her hand on my chest as I spun her back toward me.
"What, you didn't think I knew how to dance?" I gave her my most charming smile.
"I just wasn't sure what you meant by dancing. I thought this might be more of a bumping and grinding kind of dance. I'm glad it isn't."
"You're very up on the lingo for a teacher." I moved my hands to her hips and made sure our torsos were pressed together.
She laughed again. "Maybe." Her hands clasped behind my neck. She didn't seem at all upset that the song was a slow one.
I couldn't pull my eyes away from hers. She looked even prettier in the glow of the lanterns. I wanted to be alone with her. I wanted to explore how good this electricity between us really could be. I had a feeling it was going to be mind-blowing.
"What?" she said shyly as she looked up at me.
"I'm not sure I've ever danced with someone as stunning as you."
She laughed. "Stop."
"I'm serious."
"Mhm." She shook her head and looked over toward our table.
"So, why do your friends call you Momma Bear?"
Her fingers seemed to stiffen on the back of my neck. She looked up at me again. "I have no idea."
"Come on, tell me."
She sighed. "I don't know. I'm responsible. I don't take risks. I'm good at taking care of people."
"Good at taking care of your friends?"
She tilted her head away from me again. "Yeah, I guess." Her voice suddenly sounded sad and I didn't know why. The angle of her head exposed her neck to me. There was a mark that she had poorly tried to cover up with makeup.
I reached out and ran my index finger down her slender neck and over the hickey.
She looked back up at me. "You look happy with yourself."
I smiled. "I kind of am. Now everyone knows you're taken."
"Taken? Have you ever even been in a relationship, Rob?"
Relationship? That was jumping the gun a little. But for some reason I didn't want to run. I wanted to hold her like this for as long as I could. Her hips fit perfectly in my hands. And her hands fit perfectly behind my neck. This felt right. "That depends on what you mean by a relationship."