Page 13 of Hang the Moon
She pursed her lips. “I’mnot.”
The way he smiled and said nothing was infuriating.
She polished off her wine, setting the glass aside. “All right. You want to know whatIthink?”
“What’s that?” He leaned in eagerly.
“I think it’s interesting how you’resoinvested in what everyone around you, even strangers, thinks about love to the extent that you go the extra mile to try to fix their problems.”
He held up his hands. “What can I say? I’m a selfless guy.”
While she wouldn’t argue against that, she had a sneaking suspicion there was a lot more to Brendon than that. “Maybe. But I wonder why it’s so much easier for you to solve everyone else’s issues with love than your own. Hmm. Avoidance, maybe? Repression? No, what do they call it... projection?”
He scoffed out a laugh, head shaking. “Tiny flaw in your logic. I don’thaveany issues with my love life.”
“Repression it is.” She nodded sagely.
A muscle in his jaw spasmed. “Idon’t.”
“Are you still single?”
Thanks to Darcy, she already knew he was.
His eyes narrowed. “I am.”
“Hm.”
“Hm.” He mimicked her. “What’s that supposed to mean?”
“Nothing. Just thinking about how on airplanes they advise you to put your oxygen mask on before you assist others.”
His jaw slid forward, just a hair, so little that it might have been only a twitch to the unsuspecting eye. “I haven’t found the right girl yet.”
She traced the stem of her empty glass. “Ever wonder why that is?”
A muscle in his jaw jumped. “There’s what, seven billion people on the planet? Lots of fish in the sea.”
“Well, I’m sure with a few more swipes, you’ll hook your dream girl.”
The waiter swooped by, dropping off the check. Brendon reached for his wallet.
“I’ve got it,” she said. “It’s the least I can do to thank you for dropping off Darcy’s key.”
He snagged the check holder and shook his head. “I invited you to dinner. My treat.” He tucked his credit card inside the leather holder and placed it on the edge of the table. “Back to our discussion.”
“I don’t want to argue with you, Brendon.”
“You sure? It seemed like you were having a good time.”
Strangely, she was. Brendon gave as good as he got, his verbalsparring witty without crossing a line into territory that would piss her off.
“I don’t think there’s anything left to discuss. I have my opinions—”
“And I’m going to change your mind. Romance isn’t dead, and I’m going to prove it.”
Laughter burst from between her lips. “You can try.”
His mouth twitched. “Do or do not, Annie.”
