Page 57 of Samson

“Because I’ll lose you for six episodes.”

“You know how many episodes? I am both shocked and impressed.”

He puffed out his chest in jest. “You should be. I am a man of many talents.” She lifted her hand to her mouth to hide her smile, but he pulled it away. “You can’t hide it from me. I see it.”

“See what?”

“You’re enjoying yourself. You think I’m funny. Admit it.”

“Never.”

“Ah, come on. What’s a guy gotta do?”

“Challenge me in a knife fight.”

“I’m doomed.”

“I’m afraid so.”

He took a deep breath as he looked out at the city. “I’m glad you came.”

“I am too.”

“But now I’m in a predicament.”

“Why?”

“Because I told you I’d leave you alone.”

“You said you’d leave me alone if I didn’t like the surprise.”

“Does that mean I don’t have to?”

“It means…” She couldn’t let tonight change anything. Whether he was a different person than she’d first thought didn’t matter. She wouldn’t let Samson in. “That I appreciate the surprise. You were right, it was a good one, but I should get home. It’s getting late.”

“I’d like to bring you here again sometime.”

“Maybe. I work a lot though, so?—”

“Uh-huh.” He stuffed his hands in his pockets. “Okay. I get it. You’re going to make me work for it. That’s fine. I’m good with that.”

She ignored the goosebumps that came from the flip in her stomach. “I’m not worth the effort.”

“We’ll have to agree to disagree.”

“You’d be wasting your time.”

“Is that your way of saying I won’t get a kiss tonight?”

“It’s my way of saying you won’t get a kiss any night.”

“Don’t make promises you can’t keep.”

“That sounds like a challenge.”

His eyes widened. “No. No way. There was no challenge in that at all. I swear.”

“For real?”

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