“How come when you show up to these things without a date it’s seen as sexy, but when I do it, it’s pathetic?” she asked as his hand slid around her waist. She forced her body not to respond. She managed to keep herself from pressing closer and soaking in his warmth, inch by inch. Instead, she draped her arms loosely over his shoulders, leaving plenty of room for the Lord. He seemed to catch her drift, but that didn’t stop a devilish grin from touching his lips.

“Nah, nah, I didn’t come here without a date. I came here with my grandmother. I’m sure that sent my stock through the roof.”

“That’s sick,” Amanda teased. “Using thee Leona Lovell like that. She’s royalty. Show her some respect.”

Sam let out a low chuckle as his tongue swept out and wet his lower lip. “Do you want me to prove a point?”

Amanda’s eye sprang wide with shock. She glanced around and caught the handful of people still watching them, including Loud Mouth and her friend. “Absolutely not. No.”

“You mean you don’t want me to pull you close and kiss the hell out of you in front of all of these people? Let them know if I had the choice I would have spent the whole day by your side?”

“What about your grandmother?”

“I have two brothers and two cousins who would have been happy to escort her.”

Amanda fought the urge to rest her head on his shoulder and finally said the thing she had a feeling she’d regret one day. “I don’t think you should come to my room tonight.”

“Oh yeah?”

“Yeah. I—uh, I don’t think this is a good idea.”

“Was it something I said?” he teased even though a sad smile crept across his face.

“No. This is a textbook ‘it’s me, not you’ situation. You’re—well, so far so good.”

“What does that mean?” Sam laughed.

“I’m trying not to gush over you. We’re not there yet.”

“And we won’t get there, is what you’re saying.”

“I keep running into you by accident and I know you’re not trying to boo me up or anything, but if you come to my room tonight? I just know me. I’ll want to run into you again on purpose and I just can’t.”

“I see.”

“My life’s kinda full right now and not in a fun way. When I do start running into someone on purpose, I don’t want my life to get in the way.”

“So we part as friends,” Sam replied. “Friends who desperately wished they had slept together at least a dozen more times.”

Amanda let out a hideous snort. “You have a lot of friends like that?”

“Nah, Cha-Cha. Just the one.”

“Mr. Pleasant. I’ve had a wonderful time.”

“If you change your mind—”