Page 65 of Carnal

An exasperated sigh comes out of Pina. "And how do you figure I'm like Dante?"

My lips twitch. I try to stop them, but it's impossible. "Should I pull out the list?"

"Ha ha! Funny," she states, then rolls her eyes. "I'm nothing like your brother."

"Oh, quite the contrary," I assert.

She puts her naan down on the plate. She pushes the tray away and turns toward me. "Okay. How am I like your brother?"

Amused, I take a few mouthfuls of beer. "Number one. Dante is a control freak.Youare a total control freak. And don't even argue you aren't."

She rolls her eyes. "Fine. What else?"

"You're both bossy, demanding, and manipulative," I point out.

"Manipulative? I am not!" she insists.

"Sure you are."

She scoffs. "Says the guy who didn't tell me our date was the entire weekend. How do you figure I'm demanding?"

I slide my arm around her and lean into her ear, murmuring, "It's a skill, baby girl. Don't be so offended."

She turns her face toward me, questioning, "And you don't think you have all those qualities?"

I grin. "Of course I do. But I use them selectively. You and Dante use them on a daily basis."

Her eyes turn to slits. She hurls, "Is there anything else you want to tell me about myself?"

"Why are you so insulted?"

She glares at me. "Is that a serious question? Did you even listen to what you said about me?"

I retrieve my arm and sit back in my seat. "You wouldn't be able to make all the things happen if you weren't. I'm giving you a compliment."

"Manipulation is not something anyone should be proud of," she claims.

"Why? I'm okay with my skill set," I boast.

"Good for you." She finishes her champagne and stacks her plate on top of mine. Then she rises and picks the tray up.

"What are you doing?" I ask.

"Well, I'm not being manipulative," she asserts.

I point to the plates. "I thought you were going to down all of that."

"Lost my appetite," she states, then hurries to the front of the plane.

"Pina," I call after her, but she ignores me and disappears behind the curtain.

I finish my beer, amused but also kicking myself she's pissed at me again. So far, if I had to rate this date, I'd give myself a C-minus. I'm always an A-plus kind of guy. Yet it seems like every step I take forward pushes me two steps back with Pina.

So much for impressing her with her favorite meal.

At least I have all weekend to get back on her good side.

I kind of like her pissed off at me. Gives me a challenge.

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