He peeked at her through his fingers. “That depends.”

She narrowed her eyes at him, her curiosity properly piqued. “On what?”

“That we try it your way for only one week. I’m pretty sure I can convince you that this is unsustainable. You can’t schedule fucking.”

A soft gasp escaped her lips. “Do you have to be so crude, Mr. Donovan?”

John shrugged. “But you can’t,” he said. “If we’re going to start dating, there has to be some spontaneity.”

Victoria cocked her head to the side. “But we’re not dating, we’re having an affair. And a fairly short one at that.”

Her words punched him in the gut. He masked his disappointment and cleared his throat. “Maybe I don’t understand your terms.”

“When you suggested this, I assumed you only wanted something quick and physical. I thought this would be more interesting if we skipped all the awkward first date stuff.”

John clenched his jaw. He was well aware that he suggested the affair, but the thought of Victoria dismissing him as a quick and physical man who wanted to skip wooing her, offended him. “Have you ever done anything like this before?”

“No,” she admitted. “But there’s something exhilarating about jumping straight to the dessert. Based on our kiss, I think we have chemistry, right? I’m attracted to you and I’m certain you find me attractive.”

She wasn’t wrong there. “Of course I find you attractive. You’re a gorgeous woman who I wouldn’t hesitate to...” he trailed off, looking at his desk. “But I’m not like these books. I’m not a cock to lend out for a few weeks.”

Victoria flinched. “I’ve offended you.”

“No, no,” he said, glancing back to the planner. “You’re just being efficient.”

“I knew it,” she sighed. “When I drew this up last night, there was a part of me that wondered how crazy I would sound.”

Her smile had dropped as she admitted her nighttime plotting, and John had a desperate desire to bring it back. From what little John knew of her, Victoria had a personality that made it difficult to give in to her own impulses. He found himself not wanting to disappoint her.

“I commend your boldness,” he offered as he looked down at his papers. He tried to move them around again to avoid her eyes. This agreement was quite different from John’s usual romantic pursuits. He actually liked eating his dinner before getting to dessert. Things like funny text messages, meeting up at a coffeehouse, making pasta for a lady were all in his Rolodex of moves. He liked making a connection with a woman.