Surrendering To His Mrs. Right (Soul Food Diner) (2 page)

“That settles it. We’ve got to pop that cherry,” she said.

Did she have to use all these sexual references? It was hard enough for him to keep his mind off sex with her without her throwaway innuendos. From the way she acted he expected she would take the lead in that matter. She liked being the boss, and he was comfortable with the woman being in charge in bed.

“We’re going to skip right to dessert.” She winked at him.

The woman had to know the way she talked left a man unable to concentrate on anything but sex. Was she like this with all her friends? He didn’t remember her talking like this when her daddy was around.

“I’m game.” It beat his dinner for one waiting at the house.

“I’m sure you are.” She quirked her eyebrow and looked him over head to toe.

The only way this topic was going away was if he made it. For his own protection, he would. “The car’s over here.”

“I thought you were trashing that midlife-crisis set of wheels your dad got for something more you.” She kept pace beside him as they stopped in front of the convertible Ferrari.

It was nice to know she remembered the conversation they’d had in the summer. “I am. I just need to find something I
’d like to replace it with. At first, I just thought it’s not my kind of vehicle but I haven’t given much thought to what my kind of car is.” As much as he hated to admit it, a man’s automobile said a lot about him to others.

“Men.” She shrugged. “You put way too much thought into the car thing.”

“So you just picked up any old motorcycle or is that a Ducati you’ve got, Indy?”

“Point taken.” She grinned. “As you
’re well aware, I’ve got exceptional taste in vehicles. I could help if you want…”

What was with the sudden ultra-friendliness? Not that he was about to turn her down. Any chance to be with her was one he’d take. Especially if it was going to be just the two of them.

“Sure.” Had he agreed too quickly? Shit, he couldn’t stop himself. “I’ve only been to a few dealers but I’ve got a bunch of flyers and was planning on hitting a few more.”

“How about tomorrow?” she asked.

Hard to believe she didn’t have other plans, but he’d take it. “That works for me.”

Picking her up from the airport had thus far given him dinner plans and help in picking a new car. He popped the trunk and put Indy’s bag inside. She walked, hips swaying, to the passenger side and got in. Her body was something else.

Brains and beauty. She would be the end of him.

Indy Kent sat in the notorious Boyd Ferrari and her hymen was still intact. Granted the nobler of the Boyds was her escort.

Tim drove
toward the coast. If her father had picked her up, he would’ve been in a rush to get home, to see to the clients who seemed to have a knack for doing a greater number of illegal things at Christmas. Or, they got caught more during the holidays. And he probably would have went on and on about the romantic plans he'd come up with to spoil Mum over the Holidays.

The ride
to The Diner was quiet. Pretty scenery passed by without a barrage of comments or questions. Liam would’ve drowned the drive with empty words. Was this what it was like to be around someone who didn’t constantly require the space around them to be filled? Part of her was bitter that Liam had gone and fallen in love. What right did he have when she’d been waiting for him? What a foolish girl she’d been, thinking that one day…

Tim pulled into a spot close to
The Diner. Liam never would have parked near the door. To afraid that someone would mess with his wheels. A light drizzle began to fall.

From the outside
The Diner didn’t look impressive. A highway-side diner like any other across the country. In the window, a neon pink sign flashed Soul Food. That said it all.

“I’ve got an umbrella.” Tim reached into the back. “Let me come around.”

A surge of excitement rushed through her. The guys she spent time with didn’t make that kind of effort. But Tim would shelter her from the rain. He was prepared for rain or shine. A thoughtful sort of man, the kind she could even get close to.

He opened the door and pulled her into the warm, dry cocoon of his body and umbrella. Even in the rain, home smelt like a mix of the beach and the mountains’
greenery.

Tim held open the diner door for her and shook off the umbrella.
The décor inside was retro 1950s. Festive decorations hung throughout. A sign read
Please wait to be seated
.

“Table for two?” a young woman yelled from behind the counter.

“Yes. Please,” they said in sync.

The
waitress grabbed two menus. “This way, please.”

He gestured for her to go ahead then followed a few steps behind
as the waitress led them past the few other occupied booths to a table by the window.

She sat down
in the large red leather seat, and Tim took the spot across from her. The panoramic window was covered in fake frost and the words
Merry Christmas
were painted like candy cane.

“I’m Dot, I’ll be your server. Can I start you off with anything to drink?” the young woman asked.

“Do you drink coffee?” Indy asked him drumming the white with black po.

“Yes, black.” He nodded.

“I’ll have black with two sweeteners. We’d like two peach cobblers with two scoops each of Bee’s homemade ice cream.”

“Got it.” She finished scrib
bling on her notepad. “Will this be on one or separate bills?”

Indy said
, “Separate,” at the same time as Tim said, “One.”

Umm that was
unexpected. Why would he pay for her? It wasn’t a date. Men like Tim dated a woman of high moral standards—the kind that wore pearl necklaces, only had sex three times a week and still wore a slip under her dress.

“My treat,” Tim insisted with a smile. “One bill please.”

In his own way, he had charm. An awkward one at that but charming all the same, yet there was no parade of women in and out of his life unlike Liam. Why? There were rumors he was gay but she ignored them. Liam would’ve told her if he was.

“Will you just be having desert?” Dot asked
and picked up Tim's menu.

“Tim here has never had peach cobbler so I want make sure we have room for every bite. If we’re still hungry after we’ll pick from the menu.” Indy could be territorial with her menu
and hated when it was removed from the table.

“You’re in luck then
. Aunt Bee is just finishing up a batch of fresh ones.” The young woman pointed to the kitchen.

“Great.” She tapped Tim’s forearm.

He glanced down.

“I’m sorry.” She brought her hand to her face.
Don’t fondle the man.
“Liam and I are always up on each other. I don’t mean anything by it.” Okay, Liam didn’t mean anything by it. She, on the other hand, couldn’t help but touch Liam. Now she was invading Tim’s personal space and making him feel weird. Why else wouldn’t he meet her gaze?

“I live in a reality of patients in pain.” He shrugged. “Touch is not often wanted
in my line of work so please excuse my reaction.” He gazed off into the distance then back at her.

That had to be hard. She hadn’t given much thought to what being an anesthesiologist was like. She always just thought of him as a doctor but not the type of medicine he practiced. A life surrounded by people hurting from illness or injury. Agony. Not much room for touch, even the comforting kind.

“Have you let your father know you’ve landed safely and we’ve stopped for something to eat?” Tim's dark blue gaze lifted to meet hers. The corner of his pink mouth cured up with hint of something playful. Shit, he was hot. Last time she'd seen him was this past summer poolside and he had a built body. Not that he’d be into her. He probably had his pick of nurses and the uptight ladies he crossed paths with. Somehow she pegged him as the type into a librarian.

“You’re so responsible.” She pulled out her phone and texted her Daddy that her flight had landed, she was safe and that she and Tim had stopped for food. Yale had been Daddy’s dream. Indy just didn’t fit in with hard
-edged east coasters. Whenever anyone gave her a hard time about the way she spoke she went into total surfer talk with over the top valley girl.

“I don’t want him to worry since he charged me with picking you up,” Tim explained.

Her father charged him. Who talked like that? Oh right, Tim did. As if St. Tim wouldn’t have everything in order. Shit. Those were Liam’s words. Come to think of it, everything she knew about Tim was from Liam. Aside from seeing Tim over at the Boyd house and him being a little fatherly with Liam and stiff… She looked down at his package. The table obstructed the view. Maybe formal was better word to describe him, she barely knew the man. Liam acted like a moron at times so she didn’t blame Tim. Actually Liam was an ass most of the time.

Her father texted back
:
Of course you’re safe. Tim picked you up, not Liam.

She laughed. Daddy didn’t like Liam and didn’t try to hide it. The only saving grace
, in his eyes, was that Liam hadn’t put the moves on Indy. Yet she’d hoped Liam would realize she was the one up until two weeks ago when he’d said he was staying with Brenda’s family for Christmas.

“Is everything all right?” Tim’s brow creased.

“Yeah, Daddy just thinks he’s a comedian.” She flipped her cell closed. “I’ve told him lawyers don’t have a sense of humor.”

Tim half
-smiled and his blue eyes sparkled. “Anything I should be aware of?”

“Daddy isn’t a fan of Liam. No surprise there.” She shoved her cellphone back in her purse.

“Ah, yes. Well, not many parents are. But the two of you have been best friends since your family moved in next door.” Tim flipped his palms up on the table.

“Sometimes, I think I need
a better best friend.” Not ones who didn’t
see
her when it didn’t stroke his ego. Not one who tossed a few compliments at her here and there to keep her following along. In all fairness to Liam, maybe he didn’t know how she felt about him. He’d been the very first friend she’d made in Malibu, and he’d looked out for her at school. Until they went off to school in different states, they’d done everything together—aside from having sex.

Dot arrived with a tray. “When I explained to
Aunty Bee that your date here had never had cobbler, she made me wait for a fresh one.” Removing the utensils, pie slices covered in ice-cream and cups of coffee items, she arranged them in front of them.

A man seated at the counter
gaze travelled over Indy and then shot Tim a glare. He shook his head and looked away.

Her date? Tim made eye contact but didn’t correct the woman. Did it matter what other people thought? Perhaps it was a compliment that the women thought she could snag Dr. Tim Boyd.

“Enjoy,” Dot said.

“Thanks. We will.” Indy opened two packets of sweetener and emptied them into her black coffee. “There
’s a technique to eating peach cobbler. You need to get the right ratio of crust, peach and ice-cream on the spoon.”

“And what’s the right ratio?” Tim asked.

“It’s different for everyone. I like to make sure part of my ice-cream has melted into the peaches and crust before I start. By the end, the melted ice-cream is filled with brown sugar, peach juices and a few rogue oats.”

“Do you mind doing a spoon up to give me an example
?” He held out his utensil for her. “I’d hate to miss out on this experience.”

The idea was intriguing. Set up a blend of the tastes for hi
m experience the time to pop his cherry, so to speak. She picked up his spoon, scooped a thin amount of crust, some peaches and ice-cream. When she lifted it and brought it forward, Tim opened his mouth and his full lips covered the spoon. His gaze locked with hers as she pulled the spoon out.

A broad smile spread
across his lips and a thrill shot through to her toes. Tim was so freaking hot. Was it wrong for her to be checking him out? She was a virgin, not a nun. Granted, she’d gotten off to the thought of him, but that was no biggy. Except that being a yard away, in her own bedroom, felt distant and safe. This was up close.

She put his spoon down on his plate and waited for him to finish the
bite she’d created for him. Not once in all the time she’d know Liam had Tim ever brought a woman home. Surely he dated? He was a Boyd, after all, and between Liam and his father there wasn’t a woman in Malibu they hadn’t conquered—other than the ones in her house.

“That is incredible.” Tim smiled and picked up his spoon. “Liam definitely hadn’t given me the impression I was missing out on much.”

She let out a little laugh. The man at the counter looked her over a second time.

Tim must
’ve noticed her quick retreat and glanced at the man. “I can’t really blame him.”

The top of her cheeks felt warm. That was a compliment. Wasn’t it? Dr. Tim Boyd
had praised her. She hadn’t known he was aware she was alive until the week before summer holiday was over.