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My jaw sags. My brain has gone blank. “What… what would your father say?”
He gives me an impatient look. “I don’t give a fuck. The sooner he gets used to us dating, the better.”
“Dating?”
Gina gives him an amused look. He meets her gaze and rolls his eyes. “Help me, for the love of God.”
She grins and winks at me. “He’s very stubborn,” she informs me. “I wouldn’t bother trying to fight him.”
“I want you to be my girlfriend,” he says.
“What if I don’t want that?” I say sassily, while my heart bangs on my ribs.
He shrugs. “I’ll just kidnap you and handcuff you to the bed.” He eats a forkful of pancake, then chuckles as Gina snorts.
My face flames. “Orson!”
He laughs, hooks a foot under my stool, and pulls it toward him. Then he slides a hand to the back of my neck and holds me there while he kisses me. Our lips are all sticky from the maple syrup, but he refuses to let me go, and in the end I have no choice but to give in and let him kiss me.
When he finally lets me go, I sit there, stunned, while he sips his coffee. “Finish your pancakes,” he instructs.
“I can’t date you,” I tell him.
Gina pulls an eek face at him, then says, “I’m going to put some washing on,” and leaves the room.
Orson watches her go, then looks at me. “Why not?”
“Seriously? We’re from completely different worlds. Our lifestyles, our views, our principles… everything is diametrically opposed.”
“We both like sex,” he points out.
“There’s more to a successful relationship than sex. And no, don’t give me that look, you know I’m right. You believe that money is king, and I believe that being part of a community is more important than anything.”
“So do I,” he protests. “Sort of. The club is a kind of community.”
“You said you despise humanity.”
“Yeah, okay, I did say that… But I was joking.”
“Really?”
“Well, no, but I don’t mean my friends and family. I was referring to the man on the street.”
“People who aren’t part of your elite inner circle, you mean?”
“Yes! Oh, you were being sarcastic.”
I glare at him. “Don’t tease me.”
“But it’s such fun.” He pulls me into his arms and nuzzles my neck. “You smell so good.”
But I push him away. “I’m serious.” Tears prick my eyes. “There’s no point in us dating. It would never work out.”
“You don’t know that.” He looks puzzled. I bet it’s the first time he’s ever had a girl refuse to date him. I guess most would say yes because of the money, if nothing else.
“Look, I’m sure the last thing guys want to talk about is Where This is Going on the first date. But honestly, what do you envisage happening if things go well? Would you come and live on the commune with me?” He lifts an eyebrow, and I say, “I didn’t think so. So you’d expect me to leave Kahukura and live in the city? Wear a suit, work in an office, eat at fancy restaurants, have my hair styled, my nails done?”
His smile fades slowly, and he looks down at his coffee cup.