When they were alone again, she turned back to him. “So, you seem to know how old I am, but I don’t know about you.”

“I’m thirty-five,” he replied. “Or I will be in August.”

“Umm, wow.”

“Not expecting an old guy, were you?” He winked, pleased with the blush that spread across her face.

“I hadn’t actually given an age, just looking for someone with experience,” she replied.

“Experience?”

She bit her lip and looked away, the blush deepening. “I just wanted someone who knows what he’s doing and that probably eliminates guys even remotely close to my own age.”

His grin broadened. He didn’t like to get conceited, but he knew he had good skills in bed. At least, there hadn’t been any complaints from previous lovers, but his grin faded a bit as he remembered that ultimately, none of those relationships had resulted in a more permanent commitment. As he grew older, he found himself wanting to settle down. So why did you sign up for a one night stand, exactly? He gave his head a shake.

Bruce found Rowan easy to talk to, and dinner progressed well, both of them laughing and getting along. But when the waiter brought the check and Bruce set down his credit card, he realized that the time had arrived to make a decision: say good-bye here or continue the evening upstairs. The silence lengthened, and Rowan stared into the candle, playing absently with her bracelet. She was pretty, sweet, and funny, and though she wasn’t like anyone he’d ever been with, he found himself attracted to her curves. What would it feel like to grasp onto those hips while he took her from behind? Or to hold those spectacular tits in his hands?

How could he say no?

After signing the receipt, he stood and held out his hand for Rowan’s, admiring her shapely legs as she got to her feet. “Let me walk you to your room.”

With a wistful smile, she took his hand, and though conversation had come easily during dinner, he now found himself struggling for something to say. But nothing came, and they rode up to her floor in awkward silence. At her door, she stopped and looked up at him.

“Thank you for the lovely dinner, and the beautiful bracelet,” she said, and then turned to open the door to her room.

“Rowan, wait,” he said. She turned back to him, and he saw the spark of hope in her eyes. He couldn’t deny her this. Shit, who was he kidding? He couldn’t deny himself. Pulling her into his arms, he bent his head down and pressed his lips to hers.