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“No thanks,” both he and Joe declined at the same time.
“Just the check,” Mike added.
Once there was no longer a third set of ears listening, Mike waited impatiently for Joe’s response.
Instead of backing off—like he expected her to do after hitting her with a broadside—Joe’s green eyes warmed to a deep, forest-y color as she regarded him.
“Let me get this straight. You’re attracted to my abrasive personality?” she questioned cheekily, but Mike heard the hint of self-doubt in her voice, and it nearly broke his heart.
“Yup.” Mike didn’t hesitate. He was all-in, now.
Before she could come up with her next retort, Mike continued, raising his hand and ticking things off on his fingers. “I like your personality, your kick-ass demeanor, the way you fit in with my friends, and the fact that you’re able to swallow your professional-pride and ask for help. I could go on,” Mike teased, elated he was feeling on firmer ground. The fact that she hadn’t shut him down had given him hope.
Joe sighed.
“You know I’ve been a loner for a long time,” she told him, making her words sound like a warning. But Mike decided to take it another way. If the prickly agent was selective about the people she let into her life, in order for her to be here, with him, she must really like him. He wasn’t about to get a swelled head over it, because if he let out any indication that he was gloating, Joe would certainly shoot him down.
He went with affability instead.
“I’ve been solo for ages, too,” he countered, not giving Joe any wiggle room. “I don’t invite just anybody into my life.”
If she wanted what he was offering, she was going to have to spell things out. There was no way Mike was going to make any more moves without her being one hundred percent on board with his vision for their future. His libido cried “foul”, but his brain knew it was the right call not to make her a simple—albeit first—notch on his bedpost.
Joelle huffed. “Are you really going to let a sure-thing-booty-call get away because you think you might actually like me?”
“Uh, huh.” Mike played the dead serious card.
“You’re nuts, you know that?”
Mike nodded again. “Nothing I haven’t been told before.”
The silence dragged on as he watched her chew her bottom lip, fidget with her napkin, and tug on her ever-present ponytail; the one he’d loosen from its tie the first second he had the chance.
But why was it taking her so long to answer?
Just as Mike was about to take a step back—his mind already hard at work on a plan B that would get past her defenses—Joe gave an enormous groan.
“You’re going to regret this. I just know you are,” she stated.
Mike fist-pumped in his head, but…
Wasn’t that sad? This incredible woman in front of him had so little confidence in the romance arena, that she was already stacking the deck in her mind.
Well, he wasn’t letting her have it.
“There’ll be nothing to regret,” he put forth confidently. “You’ve already done your worst, fibbing about your name, stalking me, and pointing a gun in my direction?—”
“Hey. Not my fault.” She rebutted, but a hint of a grin was making an appearance. “You grabbed my ankle and took me down. A girl has to protect herself.”
Mike saw his opening, and took it, getting serious. “Especially where her heart is concerned,” he dared. “But you can trust me, Joe. I promise. I’m…already in over my head where you’re concerned, and I want you to test the same deep water. What do you say?” He laid it on the line, not wanting to wait any longer to hear if she’d take the plunge.
“Mike,” she grabbed his hand across the table and held on tight. “That water might seem invitingly warm right now, but…what if it turns frigid?”
Was she still speaking metaphorically? He raised a brow. “Frigid, as in regards to sex, Joe? Because the little body-contact we’ve shared tells me we could melt an iceberg.”
She snorted. “No. I’m not talking sex. Bedroom antics with you will be nothing less than epic. I already know that. I’m talking about my personality being a deal-breaker. I’m independent, I don’t take shlick, I have a propensity to be unreasonable, and you already know I hardly ever play by the rules. How will you deal with all that in the long term?”
“Uh, hello? I’m the father of two teenagers, aren’t I? You’re describing my everyday life. And Joelle, for the record, my ex-wife had been disengaged for so long, I’m looking forward to a challenge.”