Page 68 of Mr. Flirt

I nodded.

“Do you want to practice dating? Going out to dinners? Practicing picking me up in a bar? What are we truly talking about here? And how long do you want this to last?”

Her laugh filled the dining room, and I wanted to hear it for the rest of my life. “I don’t know. I hadn’t really thought about any of the details that much.”

“I see.”

“Maybe just until I’m ready?”

I nodded as a gnawing sensation threaded through me. “I think we need an actual finish line.”

Lucy nodded, shoving a piece of stray hair behind her ear. “Oh, right.”

“What do you think? A month?” I asked.

“That seems about right to get me ready for the world.” Her cheeks flushed, and she laughed. “I can’t believe that I even asked you to do this for me.”

I smiled. “I don’t mind.”

“You’re such a guy.”

I shook my head. “I’m a guy who wishes I could start this whole thing over.”

“Yeah?”

I nodded. “But anyway, it sounds like you want to practice the entire ritual of dating or meeting someone, not just the deed.”

“Yeah. Let’s work on the whole process, but I firmly believe I do need to practice the deed.” A glint of something unrecognizable flashed through her eyes. “Surprise me. If we go out to dinner, I’ll pay for the food and drinks. You’re already giving me your time.”

My stomach knotted, and I shook my head as her lawyer mind turned this into strictly transactional.

“No. I’m buying our meals. Sorry to disappoint.” I stared at her, and her cheeks flushed. “I don’t need to be paid for my services, as grand as they may be. This whole experiment is already out of my comfort level. And I do have one rule. If you find someone else you’re attracted to during this experiment, tell me immediately.”

Lucy chuckled nervously and took a bite of the meatloaf. “This is really good. You might actually need to add cooking lessons to the lesson plan.”

“Family recipe. Can’t do it.”

Lucy’s eyes flashed to mine. “Are you serious?”

I nodded, loving to toy with her.

“I bet I could get it out of you.” A smoldering look rested behind her gaze as she took another bite of meatloaf.

How in the world could she make meatloaf look sexy?

She pulled the meat off her fork, and I laughed, shaking my head.

Lucy playfully scowled. “What?”

“I’m pretty much doomed.”

“Says who?”

My heart.

My mind.

My body.

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