“Well, that depends. I might need to ask more questions about your politics and principles.”
I grin. “Okay. I don’t mind. But I think it’s funny that it matters so much when I never visit your state, but?—”
“Notnever.”
I swallow some Prosecco to keep from laughing at her. With her. This isfun. “What do you mean?”
“You said younevernever visit my state. But once or twice a year isn’tnever. It’srarely.”
“Ah, good point. Rarely.” I wink at her. “If I get it right next time, will you give me a gold star and call me a good boy?”
She rolls her eyes. “You’d like that.”
“I really would.”
She lifts her flute to her mouth. “Mmm.”
“Icanread, you know.”
“Sure.” She winks.
I just smile back. If she thinks I might not like being challenged, that’s not the kind of guy I am.
“What’s the last book you read?” she asks when I don’t say anything else.
“The gin and tonic is making it difficult to remember,” I confess. I don’t add that 85% of my brain power is still stuck on trying to figure out what her ankle tattoo is.
But when she winces, I realize how that sounds.
Now it’s my turn to wink. “That’s bad, right?”
“I mean...” She tilts her head, trying to get a read on me. “It’s notgreat.”
“Okay.” I lean forward slightly. “Tell me what book I should read next.”
“Fiction or non-fiction?”
“Either.”
“Fantasy?”
“If you think I should.”
“I think you should pick books you like.”
“I do.”
“I thought you couldn’t remember the last book you read.”
“Also true.”
She laughs and shakes her head.
“Hang on, I keep a list.” I open the notes app on my phone.
She slides closer.
“Whoa, top secret,” I say, not trying to hide the screen.
