Fail to Love by Maci Dillon

 

Flirting With Fire

 

“Sex deepens love and love deepens sex, so physical intimacy transforms everything and playing with it is playing with fire.” ~ Merle Shain

 

 

RAVEN

 

“Sean, this place is amazing.” I drooled as I swiveled around in my barstool and marveled at the surroundings. Chandeliers hung delicately from the ceiling, hand-crafted tables were covered in shiny silverware, and pure white linens with exquisite wall art surrounded them. The table centerpieces created with colorful peonies gave off a simple yet elegant French touch. 

We arrived early and were enjoying a drink together before the others showed up.

Sean raised his glass. “To friendship.”

I pursed my lips together, my gaze fixated on his. “To fake dates.”

We both chuckled quietly and touched our glasses before taking a sip.

An unexpected intimacy surrounded us at the moment and was hard to ignore.

Fifteen minutes and two drinks in, it was game on. Dinner guests started to arrive, and my focus was on being the best date Sean could ever hope for.

Pleasantries and greetings were passed around as I happily met five doctors and surgeons, all specialists in their fields, and their partners. Once we’d taken our seats at the table, it was Dr. Sampson and his wife, Lindy, who sat opposite us.

“Are you in the medical profession also, Raven?” Lindy flashed a genuine smile as she reached for her water. They were expecting their first child in three months, so she was the designated driver of the two.

“Oh, no. I’m an assistant manager at a local daycare center here on the coast. I’d love to branch out on my own in the next couple of years.”

“A goal-getter is better than a gold-digger, isn’t that right, Sean?”

I raised my eyes at Dr. Sampson’s distasteful remark and shot a look at Sean, who remained neutral. “A good woman is hard to find,” he added, flicking his gaze to me and snaking his arm around my shoulder. “I’m grateful to have found Raven.”

With that, Dr. Sampson returned to his perusal of the menu, and Lindy discreetly mouthed sorry. No harm done, Lindy, but your husband is an asshat.

Sean ordered from the menu for both of us in fluent French while I sat back mesmerized. I couldn’t help but imagine him whispering sweet French nothings in my ear as we worked up a sweat between the sheets.

His warm hand on my thigh pulled me from my fantasy. “I’m sorry, what were you saying?” I smiled sweetly, trying to recover from my daydream before my cheeks flushed.

It was Kaylee, a few seats up, the fiancée of the young cardiac surgeon, whose name I can’t remember, who’d been speaking to me. She repeated the question.

“Oh right, yes. We’re still in the get-to-know-you stage, I guess you could say. We met recently through a mutual friend.”

Sean squeezed my leg and whispered in my ear, “I can’t wait to get to know you more.”

I stifled a moan at the roughness of his whisper, the goosebumps scattering over my skin quickly.

“What about family, Sean?” Lindy was doing a great job with the conversation starters while her husband barely paid attention to anyone. At the opposite end of the table the rowdy, pretentious bunch talked dollars, fast cars, and swapped surgical mishaps. I felt sorry for their partners who all sat quietly, unable to get a word in.

Sean cleared his throat and lifted his wine glass to his lips. A confident man gulping down his wine like it was beer was a clear sign we weren’t going to be talking about this tonight.

“No siblings.” An icy chill emanated from his body, and his cold stare threatened to freeze over hell.

“Gregory says your father was the head of Cardiothoracic Surgery in his day. Did you ever contemplate moving into cardio yourself?”

Sean cleared his throat. Annoyance and something deeper flashed across his face. “Ah, no. Obstetrics has always been my passion.”

“Me, on the other hand…” I waffled on about my family in an effort to shift the focus from Sean, who was clearly uncomfortable speaking on the subject. “I only have one sibling, but being of Greek heritage, we have a large extended family, and all catch up regularly. What about yourself, Lindy? Do you have family close by to help with the baby when she arrives?”

“I wish,” she added wryly. “Only child and my parents live interstate. Gregory has older children, but I’m not sure what help he can offer since he spends more time at the hospital than at home.” She shrugged as if it meant nothing, but I could sense a trace of loneliness in the depths of her eyes.

“I imagine it can’t be easy living with a doctor, all the hours and on-call twenty-four-seven.”

“How about we skip the family history and all work-related stuff and get on to the sports. Are you fond of golf, Greg, or do you prefer racquet ball?” Sean asked, attempting to lighten the conversation.

“Don’t mind a day on the course, though I rarely make time for it these days.”

Sean gestured at Lindy. “Maybe we should schedule a few holes in before the baby arrives.”

“Great idea, let’s do it.” The guy offered a half-smirk and made my skin crawl.

Dinner was sensational—five courses of French delicacies and the finest wine with some lovely wives and arrogant doctors. My fake date wasn’t only the best dressed but the hottest damn man in the restaurant.

In the city.

Those bitches only gawked at me out of jealousy, not because my general shopping mall dress was on full display amongst an array of designer fashions. I smiled to myself and took another sip of wine.

The rest of the group had called it a night, and Sean suggested we stay behind for a nightcap, mainly because we still had a half bottle of wine to finish.

“What’s that cheeky smirk for?” Sean asked from across the table, his heated glare warming my insides in places the wine didn’t reach.

“Oh, I’m just thinking how lucky you are that I accepted your invitation.” I laughed at the incredulous look on his face as he, too, broke out in a sexy grin.

“Plus, I may have been wondering how I landed the hottest date in town tonight.” I smirked, eyeing him seductively over the rim of my wine glass.

Damn this expensive wine. My brain had no filter. I couldn’t be flirting with him since I wanted to hate him. I need to despise his existence, at least, to keep myself from falling into bed with him. It was a simple plan, and I was failing miserably.

I’m flirting with fire, and without a doubt, one of us would get burned.

The waiter appeared to clear away the expensive silver cutlery and china and the remainder of our dessert—a rhubarb clafoutis.

“The hottest, huh?”

“You know, I think I’ve stroked your ego enough tonight. I don’t want to run out of things to say on our next date.”

“Ah, the next date. How would you feel about me cooking you breakfast and serving it on your balcony in the morning?”

“That’s very presumptive of you, Dr. Mathers.” My smile grew, and my eyes fluttered at the thought of Sean staying the night. My heart tried to fight its way right out of my chest, but my lady bits tingled in all the right places.

“Not too presumptive, I hope?” The question was casual, no doubt on his mind. I kind of resented for a moment that he thought he had this in the bag so easily.

“What do you take me for? I’m not about to get naked on the first date.”

Again.

Not that New Year’s Eve was a date, so I guess I’m safe there.

Sean scoffed. “I believe I have already seen your naked beauty, and I want more. And I’m not counting on it taking that long to seduce you again.”

Oh.

“I do enjoy a challenge.”

“I’m counting on it. And I don’t lose.” Sean stared me down, and my body simmered from the heat in his gaze.

“Ever.”

Damn him. I can’t let him seduce me tonight. He raised a challenge, and I won’t go down without a fight.

 

 

SEAN

 

We stepped off the elevator on the seventh floor after riding in an awkward silence from the restaurant. It took everything I had to stop from mauling Raven in the car, not to mention the insanely slow ride in the elevator. But she deserved more than that. When I finally got my hands on her again, I wanted to take my time.

I was quietly concerned I had challenged the wrong woman tonight. The chemistry between us was undeniable, but was Raven’s desire to be with me greater than her need to win? I wasn’t so sure. There was no denying she was a strong woman, and I’d certainly met my match.

“Well, this is me,” she said, turning to me as we reached her door as if I wasn’t aware of which entrance was hers. She stood before me, both hands tight around her clutch in front of her, her knuckles turning white from her stronghold grip.

“Thank you, Dr. Judgy. Tonight was the best non-date I’ve ever had.”

Waiting to make my move, I held her stare. She scrambled through her clutch for her keys and unlocked the door. Stepping past me into her apartment, she turned around, ensuring I couldn’t follow her in.

“I appreciate you walking me to the door,” she said, less than confident. I had to give it to her, she was trying her damnedest to see that I left.

“You’re not going to invite me in, then?” I asked, full of hope but was shot down with a stunning smile and a challenge in her eyes.

“Okay, maybe next time,” I conceded with a lingering kiss on her cheek.

Her breath caught in her throat as I stroked her other cheek with my thumb before I turned to leave.