“I’ll wear you down eventually,” he teased.
***
An hour later, they were down at a tiny coffee shop near Taylor’s place. The neighborhood itself was a bit rundown for his tastes, and he’d seen a homeless man on the street, which had shocked him. Such things didn’t exist in Bellissime, nor did people just walk past as if they didn’t exist. Taylor had tucked a few dollars into the man’s cup but hadn’t stopped. No one did.
It felt oddly wrong, but he didn’t know what to do about it. He still didn’t, even as he finished off his toast and drank his coffee. Taylor had eaten nothing but a bowl of cereal and was now sipping her own coffee and doing her best to avoid eye contact with him.
“Something wrong?” he asked, because she seemed uncomfortable. Was she as upset about the homeless man outside as he was?
She toyed with her mug. “This is more complicated than I thought. You’re really hot and all, Loch, and last night was fantastic, but . . .” She paused and gave him a soulful look. “I’m not looking for a relationship right now. My life’s a little complicated.”
Was that what she was worried about? “I’m not looking for a relationship, either, actually.”
Her face brightened. “Oh good. I was worried that ‘going jogging’ was some sort of euphemism I wasn’t grasping.”
He laughed again. That was the great thing about Taylor. She always made him laugh, no matter his thoughts. “No, I just enjoy staying active. And I’m bored most days.”
“I’m not,” she said bluntly, then put her coffee cup down. “And you were great. Really great. But I do mean it when I say my life is complicated.” A sad look flashed in her eyes. “If it wasn’t such a mess, I’d be chasing your hot ass like there was no tomorrow. Hell, I’d even go jogging if it meant more sex. But my job is a strain right now, and I have a lot more going on than I’d like, so I need to get back and go to work before I get written up again.”
He didn’t know what that meant, but judging from the expression on her face, it wasn’t good. “Is there anything I can help with? I’ve got a lot of time on my hands.”
“What, exactly, can you do with a computer?”
“I can turn them on and check my email. That’s about it.”
Her mouth twitched. “Then no, you can’t really help me with it. Thanks for offering, though.”
“Want to get together later tonight after you work, then?” He was up for some entertainment, and if it came bundled with Taylor’s sexual energy? All the better.
She pulled a few dollars out of a colorful pink wallet and put them on the table. “I’m probably going to be busy. I have to work late to make up for some of the time I’ve spent away. Plus, guild stuff.” The look she gave him was wry. “I need to catch up with them, too.”
“Your team and all. I remember.”
Her smile broadened. “That’s right.”
Loch was feeling bizarrely irritated at her brush-off. She wasn’t his type, so why was it that she was the one desperate to call it a day and get rid of him? Most women couldn’t wait to get his attention. “Tomorrow, then?”
“Busy tomorrow, too.” She bit her lip.
He sat back, a little frustrated. “Not much of a tour guide, are you?”
Her cheeks pinked and he immediately felt like an ass. Well, an aroused ass, because that flush reminded him of her under him last night. And now she was giving him the brush-off? He’d thought last night was pretty damn spectacular, himself.
“I guess I suck as far as being your guide to the city.” Her shoulders slumped.
Damn. Now he was really feeling like an ass. Loch reached across the table and caressed her hand. “It’s not you. I’m just bored. If you have time this week, let me know, all right?”
Her smile brightened, and she squeezed his hand. “Is that code for booty call? I kind of like the idea of me being the one to booty call you.”
“I was thinking more like just hanging out, but my booty is open to calling.” He grinned.
***
Taylor hurried back to her apartment, hating how out of sorts she felt. There was a pleasant soreness between her thighs and the faint full-body muscle ache that came from really great sex. She hadn’t felt like that in forever, and she was enjoying the feeling. Less enjoyable was the guilt, though. It was clear Loch—gorgeous, sexy European playboy Loch—was bored and wanted company, and all she could think about was herself.
It wasn’t that she didn’t want to spend time with him. If she’d have had two weeks of vacation time and zero responsibilities? She’d have been tapping that twenty-four-seven. As it was, she was already filled with guilt at spending nearly two days away from her computer. Even worse, she was supposed to be on-call for work for the next two days. Ugh. That meant letting all “emergency” tech calls forward to her phone day and night. Everyone had to do their turn and hers just happened to fall at the most inconvenient of times.
Work sucked, but work always sucked. Her boss was always onto her lately, but they needed her. She’d be fine. She’d be written up for not being available, maybe, and get lectured, but she’d skate through. She always did.
The part that was causing the real pit in her stomach was Excelsior, and Sigmund.
Most of her guild wouldn’t care that she hadn’t been on. It wasn’t like she was forced to be online all the time. If she was, great. She could help them run dungeons. If she wasn’t, no big deal.