Page 32 of Hank

"No, I can’t." He held in a grin. "Safety first."

"Safety first," she muttered under her breath.

"I like your friends, by the way." He gave her a quick glance, then focused back on the road.

"I’m sure you do," she said. "They’re incorrigible. Like you."

"I don’t believe I’ve ever been called incorrigible." He grinned at her. "I was the oldest of five and always the good kid." He side-eyed her. "How about you?"

"Only child."

"I can see that."

She sat up straighter and twisted in her seat. Good, he’d gotten a reaction.

"What’s that supposed to mean?"

"You’re very independent." It was one of the qualities he liked best about her.

"Oh, well, yes, I am." She settled back into her seat.

"So, you’re a paralegal."

Silence met his question, until she twisted toward him in her seat again.

"This is not a date."

"It could be," he said, glancing again at her again just as her eyes widened on him. "I tell you something about myself, you tell me something about yourself." He shrugged as he completely focused on the straight road that was about to turn into some curves. "It’s how people who are attracted to each other get to know each other."

"I’m not attracted to you."

"Jo…" He side-eyed her again.

"Okay," she groused, throwing her hands up in the air, then back into her lap. "I’m attracted to you. I’ve proven that now.Twice."

"You don’t have to sound sohappyabout it." He attempted a grimace, but he was having too much fun at the moment.

"Areyoutruly happy about it?" she asked fully turning toward him.

"No."

"Oh." Had she sounded disappointed. He thought she had. But she covered it well with a definitive, "See."

"I’m ecstatic."

"Why?" He could she her shaking her head. "There aretoomany things to list as to why this can’t work."

"Every couple has their ups and downs to go through."

"That’s the thing," she said, leaning over the console. "We’renota couple."

"We could be," he said glancing at her as the road went straight again and he turned onto her street.

"You’re impossible." With that, she flounced back into her seat and crossed her arms again.

"No, what’s impossible is the fact that I’m sitting with a woman who tells me she wants nothing to do with me, and allIwant to do is kiss her." A little gasp left her. "That actually makes itimprobable."

"If it were improbable, that would mean there’s a possibility it could happen," she said as he turned into her driveway.

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