“Because I want you to like me afterwards,” he said, teasing her.
Laughing, Lana slapped him on the arm. “I like you, Kent. Your friends won’t make a difference.”
“You haven’t met them.”
“Then introduce me, or are you embarrassed by me?” she asked.
Cupping her cheeks in his palm, Kent forced her to look at him. “Never think that. I’m not embarrassed by you at all.” Taking her hand in his Kent took her over to where his friends stood. Their eyes were wide as they stared at her.
Lana didn’t look anything like his other women. For one, she was a cleaner. Most of the women he dated were models, actresses, or heiresses of some kind. Next, he dated slender women. Lana wasn’t slender. Lana was all woman with curves, br**sts, and hips. They all gazed down the length of her body. The skirt and jumper she wore only highlighted her plentiful curves.
Kent introduced her to his friends. For several seconds none of them spoke until Kent cleared his throat.
They all stumbled over themselves, smiling and laughing. Samantha pulled her in tight. Lana looked a little freaked at first before she wrapped her arms around each of them.
“I’m going to take her to have a look at some of the art work,” Kent said.
They said their goodbyes and then moved toward the first landscape.
“How was that?” Kent asked, suddenly nervous about what she thought of his friends.
“Your friends are very affectionate people,” she said.
He’d sensed her nerves around them. “They’re great. I love them.” He’d never admitted his affectionate feelings toward his friends before.
Taking her hand, they walked around the exhibition together. There was nothing outstanding about any of the artwork. Kent held zero interest in the art. He preferred the beautiful fresh-faced woman in front of him. Kent tugged her in front of him. Resting his hands on her h*ps and his head on top of hers he looked at the art work. She was tense to start but slowly relaxed against him.
No other woman left him feeling so calm and relaxed. Part of him wanted to f**k her while another never wanted to spoil their moments together.
Chapter Eight
The day at the art exhibition was fantastic. Lana couldn’t imagine a better way of spending her time than with Kent. He was sweet, and his friends were great. She saw how relaxed he was around his them. Lana wished she had her own set of friends she was as comfortable around as Kent was with his friends. Afterward at the Italian restaurant she’d sensed a lot of people paying attention to them. The restaurant made her nervous. Everything about Kent’s richer way of life made her nervous. She didn’t like feeling less than he was. When he started with his money and being able to pay for certain things she could never afford, it put her on edge.
His money meant nothing to her, but the way his friends stared at her made her think they were assuming the worst. She’d never be a gold-digger. The concept of using a man for money disgusted her. Lana was more than happy making her own living. She earned enough to keep her going. The bills she kept in the safe would be paid without concern. The two jobs paid for everything she needed.
When he’d paid the waiter she’d nibbled her lip with unease. Kent simply placed a credit card on the tray and that was all. There was no money, and she hadn’t been given a menu with the prices. The place must have been expensive, and there was no way to find out how much dinner actually cost.
Twirling the spoon in her cup of coffee, Lana sat down at the kitchen table. Her hair was bunched up on top of her head. She’d been awake for twenty minutes before rising, simply lying in bed waiting for the time to go by.
Sipping the hot liquid, Lana took her time thinking over the last day with Kent. After the meal he’d brought her home and sat with her watching a movie and eating popcorn.
Blowing out a breath, she stared at the clock. He’d be knocking on her door soon. Should she cancel? She didn’t have his phone number to cancel. As she was about to get changed a knock sounded at her door.
She opened the door wide enough to see Kent stood waiting. “How do you get inside my apartment building? You never beep for permission,” she said
He lifted up a spare key. “I asked the manager to give me a key.”
“That’s not fair. He shouldn’t have given you one.”
“I’ve found money can be a great incentive, along with telling him I was your boyfriend.”
Lana glared at him. “That’s not fair.”
“Are you going to let me in?”
She sighed then unlatched the lock. Opening the door, she stepped back then wrapped the robe around her. “I was going to get dressed.”
“I see your indecision, Lana. What’s wrong?” he asked, stroking her cheek.
“I don’t think I should be the one to go with you to your parents’ house for dinner.”
“Where is this coming from?” Kent asked.
Lana moved away from him. “I’m nowhere in your league. We’re friends, and your family might think I’m something I’m not. I don’t know if I can live with that.”
Her excuses were ridiculous. There was nothing she’d like more than being with him.
“My family will know you’re my friend. Nothing is going to happen, Lana.” He stroked her arms before leaning down to kiss her lips. She kissed him back, and they both froze. Their breaths mingled. She stared up into his eyes. He was so close. This shouldn’t be happening. Her heart pounded as he brushed her lips once again.
“Lana?”
She licked her lips tasting him on her tongue. The tension in the room terrified her. What was happening? There was an underlying attraction between them. She’d sensed their attraction, and she’d be stupid not to have recognised it.
“I’ll go and get dressed.”
Kent pulled away. “I’ll be waiting here for you. Just be yourself. My family are not expecting anything else from you. Please be yourself.”
“I can’t be anything else but myself.” She smiled at him and then closed her bedroom door behind her. Lana rested against the door.
What the hell just happened?
She couldn’t even comprehend what happened. One moment they’d been talking about his family, and then he was brushing his lips against hers. Neither of them had crossed that line before. Biting her lip she moved to her wardrobe. Most of her clothes were jeans and shirts with a few skirts mixed in. The two summer dresses she owned were stored away to preserve them.