riend last night?"

he frowned and lifted his mug to his lips. after he took a deep sip, he cocked an eyebrow. "so you're allowed to keep secrets, but i can't?"

she shrugged and thought, damn it, she needed to keep her mouth shut. "you're right. that's not fair."

"yes, she's my girlfriend. at least...well, she was last night."

marie-terese actually bit her own lip to keep from pressing him for details. had the pair of them broken up? and if so, why?

vin resumed eating, but his broad shoulders did not relax. "can i say something i shouldn't?"

she stiffened as he stared over at her. "okay."

"last night i fantasized about being with you."

marie-terese slowly lowered her mug. yeah, okay...and there were some things a man could say that made you hotter than hell. and some looks that were as tangible as touches. and both of those together, coming from the man across from her...

in a stunning rush, her body responded, her breasts tingling at the tips, her thighs tightening, her blood racing...and the effect shocked her. it had been so long - forever, actually - since she'd felt anything remotely sexual toward a man. and yet here she was in this diner, sitting across from a huge no-no in a cashmere sweater, experiencing for real something she'd been faking every night with strangers.

she blinked quickly.

"shit, i shouldn't have said anything," he muttered.

"oh, it's not you. honest." it was her life. "and i don't mind."

"you don't?"

"no." her voice was a little too deep.

"well, it wasn't right."

her heart stopped in her chest. okay, that little comment was better than a gallon of ice to get rid of those warm fuzzies.

"well, if you're feeling guilty," she said roughly, "i think you're confessing to the wrong woman."

maybe that was why he'd hit a bad patch with the girlfriend.

except vin shook his head. "it wasn't right because i imagined paying for you and i., didn't like how that felt at all."

marie-terese put her mug down on the table. "and why is that."

although she knew the answer: because someone like him could never be with somebody like her.

as vin opened his mouth, she held up one palm and reached for her purse at the same time. "actually, i already know. and i think i'd better get go - "

"because if i were with you, i would want you to pick me." his eyes flashed up to hers and held on. "i would want you to choose me. not be with me because i paid for it. i would want you...to want me and want to be with me."

marie-terese froze with her body halfway out of the booth.

he continued softly. "and i'd want you to enjoy it as much as i know i would."

after a long moment, marie-terese eased back down into her seat. picking up her mug again, she swallowed hard and heard herself talking - although it wasn't until after she'd spoken that she realized what she'd said: "do you like redheads?"

he frowned a little and shrugged. "yeah. sure. why?"

"no reason," she murmured from behind her coffee.