“Monumental?” I draw a smile from her.
“Yeah, as in epic, the stuff of legends. ‘Cause after all, I’m a legend when it comes to pleasing a woman.”
“Your humbleness astounds me.” Her nostrils flare, and I’m guessing she’s picturing me doing just that.
“I won’t disappoint. I promise you that.”
“Why do you want me? You can have just about any woman you set your mind to.”
“That’s a question that begs for an answer, but I’m not sure I have one.”
“Give it a shot.” She narrows her gaze as if trying to figure out my motives.
“I’m physically attracted to you.”
“You hate me.”
“I do, but that doesn’t mean my body does. Besides, you hate me. In fact, you detest me. Why is that? Your hatred goes beyond your job, and I don’t know what it is about me that launches you into a spiral of scorn and contempt.”
She scowls, and I realize I’ve doused those flames between us with my stupid question. I should’ve left well enough alone.
“You don’t know why?” she sneers, back to hating me with the passion of a thousand burning suns.
“I really don’t.” I riffle back through my memories of my various sexual encounters in an attempt to recall whether or not we’ve had a one-night stand. I’m certain we haven’t. I’d remember Aria. I’m sure of it.
At the anger on her face, I drop my hand away from her and sit back to give us both some separation while I consider my next move—if there is one. I’m better at seduction than this, but I’m usually telling a woman what she wants to hear instead of being honest. Perhaps that’s where I went astray with Aria.
I turn to the bartender and order a beer and whatever Aria is drinking. We sit in silence until our drinks arrive. She takes a careful sip. I don’t. I gulp down half the glass. Call it liquid courage.
“I suppose you’ll write about my drinking problem next.”
She perks up. “You have a drinking problem?”
“Not yet, but you might drive me to drink.”
Surprisingly, she laughs. The pleasant sound wraps itself around me like a warm blanket urging me to make her laugh again.
“Well, darn. That’d be a good story.”
“You aren’t going to fabricate something?” So much for making her laugh again. Now I’m really pissing her off. Why am I so inept around her?
She plays with the straw in her drink, swirling it around and around. Watching her fingers mesmerizes me. Finally, she lifts her head. “No, I’m not. I’m looking for real stories.”
“Since when?” This conversation is deteriorating fast. I can’t seem to stop myself from needling her.
“Since this trip.”
She’s hiding something, and my distrust for her grows, but I still want to sleep with her in the worst way. I don’t need to trust a woman to have a good time with her.
“Well, then, why don’t we find some common ground and see where things go.”
“Common ground? As in getting naked with you?”
“Yeah, definitely as in getting naked.”
“What do you want from me?”
“Isn’t that obvious?”
