Page 6 of Trip Through Your Wires

“Give me a break, Hot Shot. You’re trying to make a move, and I’ll save you the effort. Don’t because it’s not going to work. I’m not the kind of girl that is going to fall at your feet because of some line. And my Doc’s…they’re oxblood. Not maroon.”

He shakes his head slowly, that little grin of his growing. “Maroon, oxblood, you’re missing the point.”

“And what point would that be?” I ask, ignoring the buzz in my chest.

“The point of me noticing you. The point,” he leans in, “of you noticing me, too.”

“Look,” I straighten. “I wasn’t checking you out. Your shirt is unbuttoned and you’re ten feet tall. Anyone is going to stare at your chest when it’s eye-level. Don’t read into it.”

“But you’re not everyone,” he squeezes my hips gently. “And I’m not reading into anything.”

“Man,” I shake my head. “Are you always this—”

“Determined?”

“Impossible.”

His eyes lock on mine, growing serious. “Come on, Sparky. What are you afraid of?”

“I’m not afraid of anything.”

“Then give in.”

“Give in?” I repeat.

“Yeah, give in and kiss me.”

“What?” I laugh. “No.”

“Why not?”

“Why would I kiss you?”

“Because you want to.”

“No, I don’t.”

“Fine.” The seriousness in his eyes shifts to a dark heat that warms my insides. “Then kiss me because I want you to.”

I stare back at him, eyes darting back and forth. “Why do you want to kiss me?”

“I’ve been dying to kiss you since you told me where to go and how to get there. No girl has ever put me in my place like that.”

“So what,” I shake my head in disbelief, “you’re a glutton for punishment?”

“Maybe,” he shrugs. “Or maybe I want to see if that mouth of yours is as hot as the snark that comes out of it.”

“Good God,” I huff. “Does the crap you’re spewing work on all the girls?”

“Not sure,” he says with honest candor. “Never said to any girl the things I’ve just said to you.”

He’s determined, I’ll give him that. But so am I. Maybe I should kiss him and make him regret it so he never asks again. “If I kiss you, will you never ask me to again?”

“Sparky,” he sighs.

“I mean it,” I hold my ground. “If I kiss you right here, right now, you can never ask me to kiss you again. Got it?”

There’s a beat of silence, then he exhales. “Fine.”

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