Page 219 of Worth the Trip

Nyla studied him. “That’s how you talk to women you just met?”

“Only when one fine enough to make me forget why I walked over.”

“That sounds rehearsed.”

“Shit, I wish it was. Would’ve sounded smoother.”

“You don’t know anything about me.”

“Didn’t say I did. I know you pretty, got a smart mouth, and apparently believe compliments violate line protocol. That’s enough information for five minutes.”

“You always this comfortable?”

“Nah. Sometimes I’m worse.”

“Good to know.”

Malcolm smiled. “See? Now we learning each other.”

“We are not learning each other.”

“I’m learning plenty.”

“And what exactly have you learned?”

“That you keep answering me.”

Nyla blinked.

Once.

I looked down before she caught me witnessing the hit.

She recovered quickly. “What do you want?”

His eyes stayed on her. “Currently?”

“Food, Malcolm.”

He laughed. “Aight. Brown sugar praline.”

“You don’t even know what it tastes like.”

“Then pick something for me.”

“You’re grown.”

“And you standing behind all this ice cream like the authority. Help me out.”

Nyla scooped brown sugar praline onto a tasting spoon and offered it across the counter.

He took one bite.

“Damn.” Satisfaction brightened her face. “You made this?”

“We did.”

“You always this good at what you do?”