Right Guy, Wrong Word

by Jewel E. Ann

“It’s just an opinion about a book. I’m not judging anyone. Diversity is beautiful. If everyone had the same taste, life would be boring.”

I’m getting from our conversation—from him—I sigh. “Compassion should trump honesty when supposed honesty is an opinion and not a fact, like a doctor delivering a cancer diagnosis. They can infuse as much compassion as possible, but the truth will hurt, and it’s also necessary. Book club should not feel like a cancer diagnosis.”

“He’s hot and generous.” Freya fans herself. “He’s obnoxious.” And sweet. And funny. And sexy. And a bunch of other annoying things.

Why? Why must he say that? It’s impossible to maintain a straight face when he says mating dance. “Please stop saying that.” I bite my lips together. He saunters toward me, backing me into the corner of the room. “Mating dance?” Mr. Arrogant cocks his head a fraction, lips turning to a wolfish grin.

“Don’t ever surrender.” He hands me a menu. “Promise me you’ll always make me work for it.”

“Work for what?” I hide behind the menu before he melts me into a puddle of mush with one look. Fucking mating dance … “You.”