A Fighting Man by Sandrine Gasq-DIon Read Free Book Online

admitted.
    “It’s just dinner, Casper. Nothing more.”
    Casper smiled at me and my insides melted. God, I had turned into a teenage girl. I asked Casper all about his family and childhood. Turned out that when he’d come out to his parents, they hadn’t taken it well. As soon as he could, Casper had moved out and come to New York City. I thought of my own parents in comparison. Yeah, they could be a pain, but they loved me and Spencer. I never had to worry whether my mom would still love me when I told her I was bisexual. She had just smiled at me and said, ‘I know.’
    “Slater?”
    I snapped back to the conversation and smiled. “Yes?”
    “I asked about you.”
    “If you don’t mind, I’d rather hear all about you. I think we talk about me way too much.”
    Casper snorted. I narrowed my eyes at him.
    “Something to add?”
    “Nope.” Casper shook his head with a grin.
    The waiter came back with our food. I studied Casper as he squirmed in his chair. I didn’t think he was virgin, or at least I hoped he wasn’t. I’d had my share and it wasn’t something I sought out. I was never one to hide what I was thinking—or what my motives were. Anyone who’d ever been with me knew from the get-go that I wasn’t the long haul type. I was the small hitch. I knew what it felt like to be played, and that was the rule I stuck by in my encounters. I always told the truth. Casper seemed to notice I was staring at him because in the next instant, he was staring back.
    “What?” he asked.
    “Nothing. Maybe I just like looking at you.”
    “I hate to repeat myself—”
    “But you’re going to?”
    “Look, the stripper was cute, but you should know I could have gotten fired for that.”
    I shook my head.
    “What?” Casper asked.
    “Okay, don’t be mad—”
    “That means I’m going to get mad,” Casper sighed in irritation.
    “First off,” I held up a finger. “I would never do anything that would threaten your job. I was told that you were free the day I showed up at your job. I had no idea you were in a meeting. Second,” I put up a second finger. “I had permission for the stripper.”
    “You what?”
    “I asked your boss man.”
    “Blaine?”
    “No, Hawke.”
    Casper’s mouth dropped open in surprise and I winked.
    “You…you asked Mr. Hawke if you could send me a stripper?”
    I nodded. “Yup. He said he wanted a video of it. He was also the one who said you were free the day I walked into the boardroom.”
    Casper’s face reddened and I smiled. He set his fork down and eyed me.
    “Matthew Hawke sent you to the conference room.”
    “Yep,” I nodded. “You can ask him.”
    “You are unlike anyone I’ve ever known, Slater Cassidy.”
    “Yeah? Like how? My charm? My charisma? My utterly clean-shaven face? Is that a good thing?”
    Casper laughed. “Jury’s still out.”
    We finished dinner, still talking about my escapades. I knew if I kept at Casper, eventually he would cave. Maybe that was why the four no’s had eventually brought us here, to dinner. I could tell Casper found me attractive and that was half the battle conquered.
    He was definitely a type I hadn’t dated before. Quiet, almost shy, but beautiful in a manly kind of way. His black hair complemented his smooth complexion and his eyes. I found myself staring into them on more than one occasion. I’d never seen eyes that color of green before. It really was beautiful.
    “Slater?”
    I snapped back to the sound of Casper’s voice.
    “Yes?”
    “Did you want dessert?”
    Oh, how I wanted to blurt out some sexual innuendo, but I bit my tongue and nodded instead.
    “How about the tiramisu with two glasses of Amaretto Disaronno?” I suggested.
    Casper licked his lips and I inwardly groaned.
    “That actually sounds good,” he said.
    I smiled at the waiter I hadn’t noticed and gave him our dessert order. I really needed to pay better attention.
    “Am I boring you?” Casper asked.
    And that was why. I’d been