Page 38 of My Undead Heart
“What is that supposed to mean?” The words leave my lips full of venom and my mind goes on the defense. I pull away from the table, sitting as far back as possible in my chair. I don’t know what the fuck he thinks or assumes about me, but it’s probably what everyone else does. I’m not cute. Or warm and fuzzy. I suck at girlfriend-ing. But he doesn’t know that and we aren’t friends, so he doesn’t get to make fun of me.
His eyes meet mine and widen at my glare. “No. No! That’s not what—” He holds his hands up in surrender. “I only meant to imply you could date anyone you wanted. If you’re not seeing someone it’s because you haven’t met anyone worth your time.”
I raise my brow at his backpedaling but he only continues.
“You own a mirror so you already know you’re gorgeous. And that you made this.” He points at my open laptop and then meets my stare. “Out of what was there before. You’re brilliant, too.”
He doesn’t squirm under my glare, only holds it while his brown orbs bore into mine. It stirs that fluttery feeling in my belly again and I despise the fact he holds the upper hand. But his sincere apology of mouth vomit wins. Unable to hold back my laughter, I shake my head. “Nice save. Unfortunately, my mother doesn’t share your viewpoint.”
His gaze drops and he straightens his chopsticks so they’re perfectly parallel on the placemat before he meets my eyes again. “At least you have someone who cares enough to not want you to be alone.”
A scoff escapes my throat and I shake my head, taking in the bulked out hunk of a man before me. There’s no way Matt spends his evenings alone. “I’m sure you have no problems filling your dance card.”
His lips lift at one corner, a trace of a smile that’s so goddamn handsome it’s not fair. “You’d be surprised. It’s not so easy to find someone I enjoy spending time with.”
My eyes roll because I can’t stand liars. “I bet that’s not true.”
His eyes darken at my reply and his lips pinch into a disappointed stare. Only I don’t understand what for.
Leaning forward, my elbows at the table’s edge, I drop my voice so he has to do the same. “In fact, I’d put down money that if you walked over to the bar you could leave with your choice of any of those women.” I nod to the ladies gathered at the high top tables adjacent to our dining area. “Single or otherwise.”
His lips pull into a smile, but it doesn’t quite fill his face. He leans back in his chair and crosses his arms over his chest. “Good thing I’m not a gambling man. Besides, last time I tried to pick up a girl in a bar she shot me down real good.” His smile widens with the reference.
Picking up my glass, I take a long sip of the cool water and shrug. “She was probably way too good for you. That or your pick-up lines got lost in the nineties. You should work on that.”
His chuckle smooths over my body and prickles my skin in goosebumps. “A little of both, yeah,” he admits with a smile.
Before I can reply, our server comes by with one large plate of food. California rolls, spicy tuna, Alaskan, and two others I don’t recognize. It’s a feast, and I rush to tuck my laptop and notebook safely back in my bag. “Can I get you anything else to drink?” she asks us both. Matt sticks with water so I do the same. He hands me an empty plate and lets me pick first. I go with one of the unknowns. The taste of shrimp mixed with avocado permeates my mouth and it’s so damn good I almost let loose a groan. We eat in companionable silence while the hustle and bustle of the crowded restaurant fills the space between our conversation.
Taking a sip of water between bites, I have to ask the question. “So, you really don’t gamble?”
He sets down his utensil. “Never.”
My brow lifts with my question. “Never?”
“Never.” His smile drops and he shakes his head.
“Why?” I’m not sure I’ve met someone, a man particularly, who wouldn’t take a bet.
“Let’s just say I’ve never been given a bet I couldn’t walk away from,” he says with a cocky smirk. It sounds a lot like a challenge. One I can’t wait to break.
“So, if I bet you ten dollars you can’t stuff three California rolls in your mouth, right now, you wouldn’t do it?”
He laughs and picks up one of the aforementioned rolls. “I’ll eat them, but I won’t take the bet.” He pops it in his mouth and chews through his smile.
Okay, that was food. He’s a fighter, so he’s used to denying himself the finer things in life. This time I appeal to the other driving force of a man’s psyche. Laziness and sex.
“What if I told you that you wouldn’t have to train me anymore and I would still redesign your entire website. But the only thing you have to do is go over there and ask that girl on a date.” I point to a pretty blonde. One with legs for days who can’t avert her gaze from our table for more than a few minutes even though I’m sitting right here.
He doesn’t even follow my finger. “Nope,” he says, popping the sound of the P with a giant smile.
“You’re crazy.” I shake my head and laugh. Competitiveness has always been one of my strongest qualities, and now I’m even more determined to get him to agree to a bet.
“I told you I don’t make bets. Besides, then I wouldn’t get to see your cute face anymore.”
I stick my tongue out at his fake compliment. My brain races to come up with something good. Something he can’t turn down. But it’s clear I have no clue what makes this guy tick. I think back to our earlier conversations and a stroke of either brilliance or utter idiocy flashes before my mind’s eye. My lips pull up with unbridled laughter and I brace myself for another rejection. “Okay, I’ve got one more for you.”This will be entertaining to watch.
“I’ll only bring you more disappointment.” He laughs.
“I’m sure.” I shake my head. “Okay, I bet you can’t last four dates. With me.”
“Deal,” he answers in an instant.
What the hell?
