Page 17

“Me and Brax? No. Just good friends.”
If I had to guess, Braxton is an upright military man, and except for his time with The Agency, he’s probably perfect in Hunter’s eyes. I turn to face her. Why I care what she thinks is beyond me, but call it curiosity.
“What do you see when you look at me?” I ask bluntly.
Her gaze drops downward.Is she actually checking out my—
“What’s sticking out of your pocket?” she asks.
Oh, right.I pull the puzzle book out and uncurl it. “Something to pass the time.”
She reaches over, plucking it out of my hands, and begins flipping through it. A frown creases her brow and she looks up at me. Surprise fills her eyes. “You solved all these math problems?” I nod. “For fun?”
I shrug. “I like numbers.”
“These are hard. I’m impressed.”
“Is that a compliment I hear?” My mouth edges up, and she hands the book back.
“Don’t let it go to your head.”
“You didn’t answer my question.”
“What question?”
I have a feeling she’s avoiding it. “I asked you what you see when you look at me. Be brutally honest.”
She seems to consider it but holds back. “Are you sure?”
“Absolutely.”
“A scoundrel, a thief, a playboy who’s used to getting what—and who—he wants. Someone who takes more than he gives and relies on his charm and looks far too much.”
“You think I’m good-looking?”
“I didn’t say that.”
Ouch. Guess she’s not holding back.
“A man who is more selfish than not and only concerned about his wants and needs,” she continues. “Someone who is impossible to trust and—”
I hold up my hand, trying not to cringe. “Damn, I’m sorry I asked.”
“Sorry. But you said brutal honesty.”
“I always thought I give a pretty terrific first impression.”
“I bet. Did I mention arrogant? Cocky?”
“Let me prove you wrong,” I say, a challenge in my voice. She thinks she has me pegged, but I have a pretty good read on her, too. And Hunter McGrath doesn’t back down from a challenge.
“What do you mean?”
“I want to show you I’m more than that. When we get back to Denver, let me take you out to dinner.”
As she pretends to consider my proposal, I send her my most charming smile. The one that never fails me.I got this in the bag.
And why wouldn’t she agree? I know she has to feel this attraction between us. I’m certainly not imagining it.