A Taste of Spring

DEZMOND

Dez couldn't take his eyes off the vision that had him pushing aside all the damn crap that was suffocating him over the past few months. Anna was an instant balm on his scattered mind from the moment he laid eyes on her.

(Anna.)

Dez repeated the name in his head a few times as he unpacked their food. It was a fitting name and it was climbing up on his favorite names list.

"Do you live in this huge loft alone?"

Her voice slid over him like a soft caress, causing Dez to shiver. That sort of response to a woman's voice was peculiar and it took Dez a full minute to shake off the unusual sensation. Once he did, he realized he hadn't answered Anna's question. When he looked up, she was watching him.

"Uh, yeah, I live here alone."

"Hmmm," Anna said. She turned around and looked at his bookcase.

food on the plates he took from the drawer. He kept looking up, watching Anna glide around looking at this and that. With Anna inspecting his books, movies, and décor, he felt strangely inadequate. Like he hadn't

were filled, Dez carried them to the table. He went back to the kitchen and grabbed the wine and two

(What the hell?)

them from falling as he rushed to the dining room to peer into the open space of his common area. His heart raced

she stood in front of one of his full-sized arcade games. She whipped around, excitement gleaming from

The smile on her face was mesmerizing.

he was ready to kill to protect her. He smiled as

woman is sexy, cute, and

asked then turned back to the game and inspected the front. "Do

him he laughed again at the hopeful look in her eyes. "I rigged it to just start but it's unplugged. Damn thing is an energy drain." He turned and walked back to the dining area, avoiding the pillar he almost plowed into when he heard her scream. Dez glanced over his shoulder and said, "Food is ready. Come eat, we

the table, Dez was there to

don't have to do that you know? Pulling chairs out and opening doors." She had a scowl on her face

her for several seconds. He loved that she didn't look away; it showed she was confident. "The men you date, they don't hold doors