“How old are you?”
“Old enough to know what I want.” He looked her straight in the eye. “I’m twenty-eight.”
“You realize I’m a lot older than you.”
That got a laugh out of him. “You realize I don’t give a fuck.”
Clearly not unnerved by his vulgar language, she gave him a small smile. “Well, maybe I do.”
“Why?”
Instead of answering his question, she asked one of her own. “Why are you hitting on me?”
“Because you intrigue me. Because you’re by far the most attractive woman I’ve seen in a long time. Because I know I’d enjoy getting to know you, and I think you’d find I’m not as awful as you’re expecting. Because if I can get a woman as smart, as sophisticated as you to spend an evening with me, it would be the highlight of my time here.”And maybe mean I’m not such a fuckup after all.
“I’m not expecting awful.” A small frown appeared between her eyes. “That’s the wrong word.”
“What’s the right word, then?Shallow?Dull?Immature?”
“You make me sound very judgmental.”
“Sorry. I’m just trying to understand your objections so I can work round them or plow through them.”
She shook her head. “I’m really not worth all that effort.”
“Because you’re totally uninterested? To be clear, any other interpretation is bullshit. If I thought there was the remotest chance you’d go to dinner with me, I’d spend however long you’re here trying to impress you.” Hotel rules be damned.
It was like she didn’t want to smile but her mouth did it for her anyway. “You’re good for my ego.”
He wanted to reply that he’d be good forher. That he’d help relax her, loosen her up, because she seemed too tightly wound to be healthy. Alas, Annika chose that moment to serve her.
“At least let me bring this back to your table,” he said a minute later, picking up the freshly filled party bucket.
“I’m going to get ribbed again.”
“Something tells me you can hold your own.”
Her expression softened for the first time, and the smile she gave him was more genuine, reaching her pretty eyes.
They walked side by side toward the door. Unable to resist, he dropped one hand from the bucket to lightly touch the small of her back, indicating that she should go first. And he enjoyed hearing her sharp intake of breath as his fingers met the warmth of her skin beneath the silk blouse.
Following her outside, he let his gaze fall to her bum. Fuck, he wanted to slide his hands over those pert curves, feel them pinned against his groin...
“Yay, it’s the sexy drink carrier again!” The niece, he thought, and reluctantly dragged his eyes away from Olivia.
“Go, Liv!” someone at the table shouted. “If you don’t, I will.”
Clearly alcohol was loosening tongues that had already been pretty loose.
Olivia looked stricken. “Sorry—”
“I’m flattered,” he interrupted, staring directly into her eyes, feeling his heart thump that little bit faster as she stared back. “You mind if I keep trying?”
Her face relaxed and she gave him a small smile. “I’m not going to stop you massaging my ego.” For a few beats they stood watching each other. She seemed to be doing an inventory of his face, as if trying to work him out. “FYI, I’m nottotallyuninterested.”
The rush of pleasure he felt was totally out of proportion to the backhanded compliment. “Then maybe I’ll look out for you again.” He paused, making sure to catch her eye. “And be warned, I’ll be out to impress.”
A faint flush appeared across her cheeks and she nodded before turning back to the table.
