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“Maybe it will be our evening,” she put him in his place, which shot another arrow of appreciation through him. “A little bit sexist,” she said. “I wonder if that beats out listening on your list.”

So now she was developing his list. This was going to be interesting.

“Only one way to find out.” He angled a little closer because she was garnering even more attention after her skillful and subtle slap-down of Jason, and Bodhi wanted no mistakes. She was off-limits. Taken.

Mine.

The thought was primal.

Not his style.

He’d never felt territorial over a woman. He’d meet them at the rodeo, the sponsor events, the bar, the hotel lobby. They’d talk, drink, dance, eat, whatever, and then get naked. Or not. That was it. Over. Nothing more than a bit of fun and indulging primal urges. He made sure the woman had the romp of her life because he was competitive—he wanted to be her best. He paid attention to detail and loved sex. But that was it. No exchange of phone numbers or empty promises.

“Let’s be clear,” he said. “I will be paying this evening, and I’m hoping to indulge in some listening.”

“So that’s what you call it.” Her lips teased into a smile that lingered long enough to make his heart skip a beat.

“You still haven’t told me where listening falls on your list.”

“I haven’t decided.” Her hair fell forward a little and hid her expression, and Bodhi had to fight the urge to let the long vibrant strands tumble through his fingers as he moved her hair away. “I’m not clear. Is this my list for my future man or of my own attributes, or is it an aspirational list for myself?”

Definitely a thinker. Better and better.

“Your choice. Top ten.”

“Top ten things I’d love about a man,” she decided and perused him openly, more with curiosity than sexual appraisal, which was shockingly different for him.

Bodhi felt the pressure behind his zipper dig in something fierce, and for the first time wished his cock would stop wanting in on the conversation. The little bastard needed to shut up for once.

“And top ten things you’d love in a woman.”

“Only ten?”

“It’s important to prioritize.”

Wasn’t that the damn truth.

Jason arrived with an unopened bottle and two squat glasses.

“Knock yourselves out,” he said and walked off.

*

Nico couldn’t believeshe was flirting. And holding her own—at least she thought so. It helped to think of it as a performance. Her game face. Her court face.

A top-ten list. It was probably a silly suggestion, but he smiled at her, trying to read her. Good luck. Plenty of people, including her family and Ivy-League-educated lawyers, had tried.

But playing a harmless game with him tonight could be fun. A distraction. And maybe useful if she’d ever let her guard down enough to have a real relationship. One of the heart, not the head.

He was perfect for that. Total player.

“Listening,” he prompted. “You were going to tell me where that trait falls on your list.”

“Am I ranking them so soon?”

“Why wait?”

“I’m not sure I know what things I love about men,” she answered honestly, keeping the conversational ball in play whereas normally she would have instantly shut him down.