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Sloane straightened up and shot him a sassy look. “Why are those my only options? Stop trying to blackmail me into doing things with you. I don’t think so, Dickie. I’m not kissing you. That was such an obvious con.”
That made him grin. “Pulling out the old nickname. Brutal. And after you trashed my bike. And I was only trying to settle an age-old question.”
She slapped him on the arm. “I already answered your question. And I called you Dickie because that’s how I know you. This whole ‘grown into a hottie Rick’ thing is going to take a minute to adjust to.”
They both realized what she had said at the same time. Rick was now full-on grinning and Sloane was shaking her head, looking alarmed.
“You think I’m hot, huh?” he asked.
“No, no, that’s not what I meant.”
“So, I’m ugly?”
Her cheeks were red and she looked both irritated and amused. “Stop messing with me. I think it’s safe to say we can all agree you have grown since high school. Becca tells me you have half the girls in town stroking your ego, among other things, so you don’t need me to do the same.”
Interesting. He couldn’t get a read on her true feelings. If she was actually attracted to him, or if she merely thought he was grown. But now that Sloane had moved back to Beaver Bend, he was going to enjoy finding out. “Got it. You will not stroke me.”
He meant it to be funny and she rewarded him with a genuine laugh.
“Fine. I’m going back inside. Knowing the gossip in this town if we stand out here any longer they’ll have us married by fall.”
That made him shudder and it was only partially exaggerated. “God. Marriage. No, thank you.”
For a minute he thought she was going to say something revealing or personal. But she just shook her head. “Put some pants on, Rick. Seriously.”
“I do my best work without my pants on.”
“I’m not touching that comment.”
“Anything else you want to touch?” he joked as he flexed his arm.
“No.”
But he didn’t believe her. Because her eyes widened as she watched his biceps tighten. Then her eyes dropped to his underwear. Rick opened the door to the bar for her. She slipped inside quickly, and he fought the urge to growl as he took in the view of her ass in tight jeans. He would give up sex for six months if he could have one night with Sloane. Put her in a cheerleading uniform and he would up the bid to twelve months celibacy.
Without warning she turned and said, “Thanks, Rick.”
It kicked him in the gut for whatever reason. He felt a strange mix of emotions he couldn’t explain. The landscape was unfamiliar and he didn’t like it. He didn’t even know what she was thanking him for. So he kept it light, because that’s what he was good at. “Come on.” He moved past Sloane and took her hand in his.
“What are you doing?” she asked, alarmed.
“Taking you inside. Birthday shot. We can share a car service home since my bike is busted and you should be celebrating.”
“I don’t know about a shot. I already had two mojitos. I’m kind of a cheap date.”
“Good to know. Filing that away: Sloane can’t handle her alcohol.”
She slapped his arm. “That’s not a flaw.”
Rick pulled her across the crowded room. “Come to the bar with me, even if you don’t want to drink. You only turn thirty once so you should stay for a bit, have fun.”
The hooting of the crowd has slowed down substantially. The Tap That Dancers seemed to have taken a break while he was out dealing with his bike. They could wait another five minutes. It wasn’t like they were real entertainment anyway.
“You’re very comfortable walking around in your underwear,” Sloane commented when they reached the bar and he raised his hand for Sloane’s father to come over.
He looked down at her and shrugged. “I work hard to be in shape, and after a whole childhood not being comfortable in my skin, I have no issue going without a shirt. But for the record, Axl dared me to take off my jumpsuit. The plan was just to take off the sleeves and keep the pants on. But if you dare me to do something, I will do it.”
Sloane gave him a smile that he hoped like hell she intended to be flirty. That’s how he was chose to interpret it. “Interesting. I’ll make a mental note—dare Rick to do something stupid.”
