Page 10 of Banking on Love

His words were filled with nerves. It explained his facial expression from earlier. He thought he had creeped me out by calling me beautiful.

“Wasn’t creepy at all. It was sweet,” I admitted faintly.

“Oh. Well, that’s good.”

“Mmhmm.” I turned down Main Street.

“If you live far, you can drop me off right here,” he said.

“Seriously?” I laughed. “After all you’ve done for me, there’s no way I’d let you walk. In fact, if I ever see you walking, I’m offering you a ride.”

“You’re a sweetheart. You don’t have to do that. I’d be happy with a wave.”

“A wave? You’re a cheap date,” I teased.

“I supposed I’ve been called worse.

“Me too.”

“Well, they better not let me hear them calling you anything bad,” he muttered. His sudden shift in tone melted me. He went from playful to defensive, but it was in defense of my honor.

“You’re a real sweetheart. Has anyone told you that?”

“Me? No. Definitely not. Usually the complete opposite,” he admitted.

I pulled the car over in front of the bank. I placed it inparkthen faced him. My mouth was gaped open slightly. Disbelief filled me.

“What?” he asked with an eyebrow raised.

“I just find it hard to believe,” I shook my head. “You have been super sweet this entire time.”

“I know,” he chuckled.

“So if this was a movie or a book then you’d be the super hot guy, who suddenly turns out to be the evil villain?”

“Super hot, eh?” he grinned.

Butterflies filled the pit of my stomach. I nervously bit my bottom lip as Nick stared at me. There was an intensity in his eyes. The emotions behind them I couldn’t quite place, but it made me squirm in my seat.

“I can assure you, I’m not the evil villain in this book,” he smirked. “I’m just the guy with a bad rap who means well. Is that a character in books and movies?”

“It could be. I suppose,” I whispered. Not trusting myself to say much else.

“Then I’m that guy,” he smiled. “Which character are you? Are you the smoking hot woman, who goes around town breaking hearts?”

“Me?” I busted out laughing. “My gosh. No. I’m far from smoking hot and definitely not breaking hearts.”

“I find that hard to believe, Kensi.”

My name rolled off his tongue huskily and smoothly. It sent tingles throughout me. The kind of tingles that gives a girl sweet, naughty dreams.

“You can take a census if you don’t believe me. I’ve never broken a single heart,” I smiled awkwardly.

“Don’t need to take a census. I saw the way the guys were staring at you in the bar. They wanted you bad, but clearly had been turned down a time or two,” he retorted, making me shrug. “Mmhmm. Like I thought, you’re a heart breaker.”

“Am not,” I laughed.

“So you don’t turn down guys on a regular basis?” he asked with an eyebrow raised.

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