"While I'm here I still have to pay my bills."
"I know, but you drive yourself too hard, Miss Chin."
She laughed and shook her head. "You're too funny for your own good."
"I made you laugh, so my job is done."
She gave me a sultry smile, the meaning of which I couldn't miss. When she slid her tongue over her bottom lip, I knew more was coming. "Not quite," she said, "the day isn't over yet."
The blood rushed to my groin as I stroked the skin at the back of her neck.
"If you want to get to where we're going in one piece, keep your hand to yourself, Kofi."
"What am I doing?"
She glanced at me. "Distracting me."
"Concentrate," I said, dropping my hand to her thigh and squeezing gently.
She laughed and slapped my hand. "I'm serious. The road is narrow and I can't focus when you're touching me like that."
I moved my fingers higher on the inside of her thigh. "You mean like this?"
"Boy, I'm going to hit you over the head if you don't stop that."
When I continued teasing her, Gina slowed the car. "Kofi, I'm serious. Stop."
I patted her thigh, then pulled my hand back. Her request to me that first night we made love came back to me. Although we were in a different situation, I respected her wishes. I'd never overstep any boundaries and ruin the good thing growing between us.
"Thank you. I'm sure you wouldn't want the authorities to have to scrape us off this rock face with your hand wedged where it shouldn’t be."
I chuckled and stretched as much as I could in the cramped space. "Who's to say it wouldn't be right where it belongs."
She laughed and hit the wheel with one hand. "Get your mind out from between my—"
"It's not my fault. You're a demanding woman and every time I turn around, you're making raunchy suggestions."
Wearing a smug expression, she said, "It's just that you bring out the worst in me."
"Really, Gina?"
Her smile softened and she patted my leg. "Actually, you bring out the best in me."
I didn't respond with a joke because I realized although her tone was light, she meant what she said. Raising her hand from my leg, I kissed her fingers. "That's what relationships are about."
"Are we in one?"
"Huh?"
I knew what she was asking, but wanted her to explain herself.
"That's what we're doing?" Her pitch was soft, questioning. "We're in a relationship?"
"You're not stupid. Would you be butting heads with your mother if I didn't mean something to you?" I lightened my tone. "Or perhaps you're so used to quarreling about any and everything, this is just one other thing to fight about."
She gave me one of those cutting looks, but didn't say anything. After we'd gone some distance she sighed. "Look, I'm not the kind of person who fights with other people just because."
"I know that."
