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“Have you been walking all day in those shoes? I could give you a lift.”
“I’ve been working.”
“The town museum?” he ventured. She certainly didn’t work in one of the bike-rental places or T-shirt shops.
Her laugh skipped over his skin, and he realized he was still holding her hand.
“The museum, huh?” She slipped her hand from his grip, but she did it slowly.
Was this little thing flirting with him? The slide of her fingertips over his palm left him feeling decidedly inclined to flirt back.
“Do I look like I work at a museum, Mr. Bishop?”
He used her question as an excuse to look her up and down again. The little button-down dress kept her all covered up, but the black sweater hugged her narrow waist, emphasizing that there were hips beneath it. Very nice female hips that made the skirt flare out a little. “Yeah. You do. But a museum I’d really love to come visit.”
Yes, she was definitely flirting. Her mouth stretched to a pleased smile. “Really? What about visiting the library? I try not to judge, but you don’t look like the kind of guy who hangs out in libraries too often.”
A librarian? Shit. An honest-to-goodness small-town librarian? Alex had to tamp down the wolfish grin that wanted to take over his face. This girl was adorable. And her gaze was now touching brightly on his bike. She’d probably never been on a motorcycle. Maybe she wanted to find out what it was like.
He quickly checked her ring finger and saw no evidence of commitment. “Want a ride?”
Her eyes sparkled as they moved over the bike again, but she shook her head. “I can’t.”
“Come on. The bike’s nothing to be afraid of.”
Her eyes still roamed over the gleaming chrome frame before they moved right over to him and all the way up his body. She studied his face for a moment, looking straight into his eyes without any shyness at all. Then she sighed with what sounded like genuine regret. “No. I can’t. A strange man inviting me for a ride? What kind of girl do you think I am?”
Damn. Alex had no idea what kind of girl she was...except that she was the kind of girl who said something like that with a tiny smile on her face. Jesus.
“Sophie...” he started, but she shook her head.
“It was a pleasure to meet you.” She slipped her hand into his again and shook it.
“Meet me somewhere for a drink? Dinner? I owe you something to make up for the rest of my family.”
“Oh, you owe me?” One eyebrow arched in an enticing challenge.
“Obviously. I don’t know what she’s done, but you’re clearly fed up. And if you meet me somewhere, you won’t have to worry about getting on the back of a bike with a strange man.”
Her eyes flickered to the bike again. She wanted a ride. Badly.
She closed her eyes and shook her head. “No. People will talk.”
“People will talk?” This girl really was living in a time warp.
“Yes, they’ll...” She seemed to catch herself and crossed her arms, shifting uncomfortably from foot to foot.
Alex ran a hand over his shaved head. “You mean because of how I look? The bike and the tattoos and—?”
“The tattoos?” She looked him over quickly, a flick of the eyes, as if she could see beneath his jacket if she looked hard enough. Hell, all she had to do was ask nicely. But she hadn’t asked. Yet.
He watched her swallow as if her mouth had gone dry. Lust crawled down his belly.
He’d asked her to dinner out of curiosity, but now... Now he really wanted to take this girl out. “We’ll go someplace quiet,” he said, leaning a little closer. “And I promise not to tell.”
She looked away, gazing down the street. He was sure she was about to offer a cool “No,” but then she looked up the street, as well. She wasn’t avoiding his gaze, she was checking to see who was watching.
“I’m meeting my girlfriends for dinner.”
