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Distracted momentarily, Damaris asked, “You never did say anything about that date. But you two never went out again.”

“I would have. But he never called. He’s nice, he’s fun. Lord knows he’s hot. I think he had a good time, but when we got home he kissed me good night and that was that.”

That was news she shouldn’t have been happy to hear, but she was. She was a fool. A completely irrational fool about Nate. “That’s not his rep, though.”

“Well,” Hazel said a bit mischievously, “he is a really good kisser.”

“I know.”

Hazel grinned. “Maybe he’s changed. I haven’t heard about him being involved with anyone in quite a while.”

“You don’t need to be involved to sleep with someone,” Damaris said dryly.

“No, but I’ve heard some of the women he’s dated being disappointed that nothing happened on their date either.” She paused a moment and said, “And that little fact seems to please you.”

Might as well admit it, given what she wanted to talk to Hazel about. “Yes, damn it, it does.”

Hazel laughed. “Now we’re getting somewhere.”

“This would be my problem. Nate and I went out a couple of times when I first got to know him. I knew his reputation so I decided we should just be friends, which worked. Until now.” No need to bring up her past. That was something only Jaclyn knew about.

“Don’t you believe people can change?”

“Maybe, but they have to want to change. And I have a problem with players.”

“Don’t we all. But I assume you’re talking about Nate specifically.”

“Yeah. The problem is now that we’re ‘dating’ we’ve gotten…closer.”

“Define closer.”

She rubbed the back of her neck. “We haven’t slept together.”

“But you’re thinking about it.”

“Yes. Damn it. I can’t stop thinking about it. We talked—very briefly—about being friends with benefits.”

“Is that what you want?”

Was it? “Yes. And no. What if I fall in love with him? What if it’s not just sex? For me, anyway.”

“Maybe it won’t be just sex for him either.”

“I doubt that.”

“You know him better than I do but people do change. He obviously trusts you, or he wouldn’t have asked you to help him. Did he say why he asked you?”

“He said his grandma knows me and knows we’ve been friends for a long time. And also that it wouldn’t be fair to ask someone who might fall for him.”

“Hmm. Would it be so bad if you did fall for him?”

“I don’t know. Probably. But the big problem is, I told him I have sexual thoughts about him, which is when he brought up the friends with benefits idea.”

Hazel tilted her head and looked at her quizzically. “Hell, Damaris, what did you expect him to do? Why did you tell him if you weren’t sure?”

“I don’t know. Because I’m an idiot?”

Hazel laughed. “Maybe. Or maybe it’s because you want Nate to convince you that the two of you having sex is a good idea.”