“I wouldn’t bet on it.” Tate shook his head.
“Don’t be an ass.”
“I’m only trying to protect you,” he said, not a hint of jest in his expression.
“Are you done with your questions?” I crossed my arms.
“No.”
“What do you want to know now?” I chewed on my lip.
Tate rubbed his chin. “Why did you swipe on me?”
“Because I find you attractive, even if you might be too old for me. You remind me of a Viking.”
He narrowed his eyes. “A Viking…”
“Yeah. Maybe it’s your hair or the beard, or just how generally big you are. A combination of everything. I’m not sure. But it’s a positive thing. In fact, you’re so attractive, I just assumed you’re not the type of guy looking for more than a good time anyway. And that’s the level of non-commitment I need right now. I can’t afford to truly like anyone at this point.”
He chuckled. “So you think I’m attractive and unlikeable. Got it.”
“More like unattainable. That’s probably a better word. I was shocked to see you on the app, to be honest, since I had this preconceived notion that you were someone’s hot dad or husband. But once I realized you were looking to hook up, I assumed you were a player.”
“Did you expect that I would take advantage of you without question?”
“That’s what I’d signed up for, wasn’t it? Not like that app is very discreet about its users’ intentions.”
“Don’t you think you should be more careful than hooking up with strangers at a resort?”
“Are you seriously lecturing me when you were doing the same thing?”
“We’re just having a discussion. It’s not a lecture.”
“Why do I need to be careful of you?”
“Because I’m a lot bigger and stronger than you are. What if I were a bad person?”
“The bigger and stronger thing was kind of the point.”
“Fuck,” he muttered. His face reddened again.
I’d made this powerful man blush more times than I could count tonight.
“My turn.” Smirking, I turned the tables on him. “Why did you swipe on me?”
“Because you’re beautiful, and I was feeling lonely. It was impulsive.”
“You really recognized me right away?”
He nodded.
“So youknewI was the girl you saw checking you out and assumed I’d be interested?”
“Maybe.” He sighed. “I fooled myself into thinking you might actually be twenty-nine, that maybe my eyes had been tricking me that first day. Then I saw you up close and suspected otherwise again. It was your fake name that gave you away, though.”
“But after everything, you’re still attracted to me...”
“It’s human nature. I can’t help that I’m physically attracted to you, even if you’re too young for me.”
