Dating A Saint

Lauren narrowed her eyes at Chad’s disappearing back before awarding Jim a defiant glare. “Well, that was fast work. Was it your intention to scare my date away?”

“I’m sure Chad will be back,” Jim answered. “If not, I’m sure you’ll find another one just like him in the next couple of days.”

The idea that Jim might be jealous made Lauren’s heart flutter for a moment, but foolish hope was soon followed by anger. He had created this situation by refusing to get to know her. What right did he have to say anything about whom or how often she dated?

“You have no right to take that tone with me,” Lauren said, crossing her arms and sending the cleavage pushing up and out of her dress. It pleased her when Jim’s gaze darkened as it fell to the ample amount of skin being revealed. “I’m only doing what you told me to do, Jim.”

“Well, stop,” Jim said, sitting down across from her. “Forget what I said and go back to the way you were.”

“No,” Lauren said firmly. “I like dating and I’m not finished yet. There are still plenty of frogs left in Falls Church.”

“Frogs? What the hell are you talking about?” Jim asked impatiently, irritated to be so distracted by her cleavage. The woman was lush. His sexual desire for her was playing hell with his already overwrought libido.

Lauren bit her lip, angry at herself as much as at Jim. He didn’t deserve even angry emotion points for irritating her. He deserved nothing—no emotion at all.

“Never mind what I said, it’s none of your business anyway,” she said cautiously, covering her nervous analogy with babbling. “Just like my dates are none of your business. Leave me alone, Jim.”

“I am trying to leave you alone,” Jim exclaimed, running a hand through his hair. “It would be easier if you’d stop serial dating and go back to your normal life.”

He sounded so much like her mother, Lauren wanted to hit him. To calm herself, she closed her eyes, but still not could stop her blood pressure rising to shoot an angry red flush over all her skin.

“I am not serial dating. I am just dating,” she hissed. “This is what normal people do.”

“Why do you have to date at all?” Jim asked, irritated and feeling childish for not having a better argument. “You didn’t date before and you were fine.”

She picked up her glass of wine, took a sip, and put it back on the table. The wine wasn’t strong enough to calm her. Lauren closed her eyes again and counted to ten before answering.

“I wanted you, but you declined, remember? What other choice is there now?” Lauren asked more quietly. “Dating other men is certainly better than being some pathetic shriveled up old maid pining away for a man I can never have. There’s no damn way I’m living like that.”

“And just when did you start swearing so much? It doesn’t suit you, Lauren. Stop being so melodramatic,” Jim ordered.

Again, Lauren heard the echo of her mother’s advice in Jim’s tone. And again, the urge to be violent moved through her.

God knew, she had often seen Alexa and Regina angry to the point of not caring about appearances or politeness. It seemed like every time she was with Jim lately, she got furious within minutes. He had somehow developed a knack for reaching inside her and poking a sharp stick at the fearful woman cowering in her soul.

And just who the hell did he think he was, anyway?

It was damn lucky for Jim they were in public, surrounded by people who both knew and liked her. The good woman in her had had just about enough of being poked. One day soon she was going to yank the damn stick out of his hand and ram it through his heart. He had no idea who he was dealing with.

Lauren lifted her chin, narrowed her eyes, and glared.

“Since you and I are not romantically involved in any way, I don’t really give a damn what you think about what I say or do. Call it melodrama, or whatever else you want, but the bald truth is I’m finally being honest with myself. I want a man in my life. Your refusal forced me to move on to more willing possibilities,” Lauren said meanly. “And what do you know? There are other men in this town besides you, Jim.”

Jim gritted his teeth at her lifted chin. His temper ratcheted up a notch, tightening his muscles. Other men? The thought made him crazy. As irrational as it was, all he could think sitting across from Lauren in her silver dress was that there were no other men for her.

Not only no, but hell no, not while he was still breathing.

Jealousy didn’t begin to describe what he felt about Lauren’s dates, especially now that he’d personally seen her on one. She was dressed to impress, but it was worse to see the effort she was making to be pleasant company. Watching her, his thoughts ran along the lines of breaking Chad’s fingers for daring to touch her, even if innocently.

It also didn’t help that under the table Jim could see the hemline of Lauren’s dress inching further up her thighs as she squirmed in her seat. Every movement revealed her agitation, which made Jim more and more frustrated in return.

Looking like she did, being as nice as she was, sooner or later Lauren might actually find a guy she liked better than him.

He drummed hard fingertips on the table. There had to be a rational way to explain his complicated feelings and convince her to—what, he demanded of himself? Convince her to stop dating other men? The hypocrisy of it all bothered him, but despite his earlier recommendation she date other men, he was now just as determined to stop her. His sanity was at stake.

No use lying to yourself, a voice inside him taunted. You already think of her as yours.

“This was your idea,” Lauren said quietly. “You have no right to insult me.”

“Fine, no more insults. I just have a question. Have you found anyone you like more than me yet?” Jim asked, pleased to see hurt flashing across her gaze.

She shrugged to cover the hurt.

“I’ve put a few on my short list,” Lauren replied quickly, unwilling to give Jim the satisfaction of knowing how his words stabbed her. “But I have definitely figured out I’m only sleeping alone because I choose to be.”

“Don’t even go there,” Jim warned. “I don’t want to hear how great your dates are in bed.”

Lauren wasn’t planning to go there, and she wouldn’t lie to hurt him even though it would serve him right if she did. Alexa and Regina would have made him suffer, taunted him with half truths. Playing obvious head games just wasn’t her way.

“Fine. There’s a very simple way to stop me from dating,” she told him firmly. “Spend some real time with me. Tell me the truth about your invisible wife. Tell me why you’re suddenly so concerned about me dating.”