Fire & Desire (Hero Series) by Yvette Hines, Monique Lamont Page B

“I
don’t think dinner would be appropriate.”
    “And why not? Don’t you think it’s time we got to know each
other…wife?”
    “No, Trevor, I don’t. And stop calling me that,” she whispered.
“Too many people know you and me. It would be in the papers before we could
order dessert.” Tiffany could imagine the headlines: Stripper Dates Governor’s
Daughter.
    “We’ll go out of town. The Harbor is nice this time of year, and I
don’t think your face is that well known in Baltimore.”
    Tiffany could tell he wouldn’t give up. “ Fine . When?”
    “What are you doing this Friday at six?”
    “Friday at six is fine. Where do you want to meet, the
courthouse?” Tiffany made sure he understood he couldn’t drive up to her house
to pick her up for a date, nor had she forgotten they still needed to get the
divorce taken care of and soon.
    “Howard is having their homecoming,” he said. “There’ll be so many
people around no one would be able to pick you out from the celebrators. I’ll
be in front of the Mordecai Wyatt Johnson, the admissions building.”
    “Friday at six, in front of Admissions,” Tiffany reluctantly
confirmed the place and time.
    Tiffany gathered her things, paid her bill and left without
another word, believing her agreement to have dinner with Trevor only confirmed
she was past the verge of losing her mind.

Seven
     
    “Hmmm,” he moaned, eyes closed.
    “Is it really that good?” she asked.
    “Yes.” Trevor could hear the hissing sound of the word as it
exited.
    “Honestly, Trevor, you sound like it’s the best thing in life.”
    He opened his eyes and looked directly into Tiffany’s. “Very few
things can compare.”
    “I’ve had it before, and I don’t remember it being that great,”
she said with disbelief.
    “Maybe it was who did it. It takes time to learn how to get it
just right.” Trevor moved closer and set the speared meat before her. “Here,
taste.” Waiting patiently until she parted her lips, he slowly slid the
delectable morsel into her mouth.
    He watched Tiffany’s eyes close instantly. “Hmmm.”
    The sound of Tiffany’s enjoyment caused his heart to race.
Everything within him wanted to reach out and brush his thumb across her juice
glistened lips. “I told you it was good.”
    She opened her eyes. The candlelight flickered in her gaze as she
smiled. “I have to admit you are right. That is the best piece of steak I’ve
ever tasted.”
    Moving his seat back around the table, he gestured toward
Tiffany’s plate. “How do you come to a place called Hoof and Claw and get a chicken
salad?”
    “I try to eat healthy, my days are so busy most of the time I miss
a lot of meals. It’s my way of not doing any further harm to my body.”
    “That only counts at home. When you’re out, you’re supposed to
indulge.” He finished his steak and began on his lobster tail.
    “Not when you’re out as much as I am.” Her forehead creased as she
spoke, and he heard a trace of discontent in her voice. No matter the façade
she put on, Tiffany wasn’t completely happy with her life.
    “If you don’t enjoy what you’re doing, do something else.”
    “I enjoy working with my father. It just gets taxing juggling time
between him and my own business.” Tiffany began picking through her salad.
    “What’s your business?”
    She propped her fork against the salad bowl. “Consulting. I plan
and coordinate parties and events.”
    Trevor didn’t miss the gleam of excitement that lit her eyes as
she spoke.
    “You’re a busy lady.”
    She leaned back in her chair and rotated her shoulders to maintain
her posture.
    Years of etiquette school , Trevor thought, watching her settle herself in the seat.
    “The consulting business is run heavily by my business partner,
Josephine. You may remember her from the party. Sometimes I feel guilty because
I do a lot of the preliminary, but she does all of the hard work. I guess it’s
more important that in the end