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“You didn’t just talk shit about yourself, I’m pretty sure you insulted me in the process. I think I deserve to know why. Tell me about the phone call.”
“Fine!” Cheeks flaming, heart pounding, she straightened in her chair and lifted her chin. “I assumed you were playing a prank on me. That I would text you to let you know I was ready for dinner and you’d already be home, sitting around with your buddies, laughing about the stupid, naïve, fat girl who thought you were serious about taking her to dinner.”
Shock replaced the anger in his expression. “That’s some imagination you have, Ms. Callahan.”
“I’m afraid I can’t take credit for an idea that wasn’t mine, Mr. Barrick.”
“You really think that’s what I meant? What the hell do you think I’m doing here, then?”
Fighting to save even a scrap of dignity, she tilted her chin up, daring him to pass judgement on her actions. “Obviously I misjudged the situation based on previous unpleasant interactions with the opposite sex.”
She saw the moment it clicked with him. The stormy blue of his eyes cleared, then clouded again with grief. “That actually happened to you?”
With a nonchalance she didn’t feel, she lifted a shoulder. “It happens to women all the time. Especially…”
“Katherine,” he interrupted, his voice dropping to that threatening growl she found so inexplicably alluring, “I am a big believer in consent. But I swear, if I hear the word ‘fat’ out of your mouth again this evening, I am going to be forced to break every rule in the book and wear your ass out, with or without your permission.”
Ignoring the flare of desire his words inspired, she narrowed her eyes at him. “You can’t just go around threatening to beat people, Mr. Barrick.”
“I generally don’t. I’m making an exception for you.”
“But why?” The question burst out of her, like some living creature she was no longer able to keep in its cage. “Why me?”
“You’re gorgeous and smart with a spine of steel. Why the hell wouldn’t I be interested?”
Rolling her eyes, she snorted. “I didn’t realize they let blind men play professional sports.”
“Only as umpires,” he shot back with a smirk. “Seeing as how I’m not an ump, I’m obviously not blind. And I’m also not leaving this office until you agree to go to dinner with me. For real, this time.”
“You’re incredibly hardheaded.”
“Right back atcha, kitten.”
Oh, crap. She’d always been a sucker for a sweet, cutesy nickname. “Kitten?”
“Kit, kitten. Seemed to fit.” The smirk shifted to full-on grin. During their meeting, she’d noticed he turned it on whenever he wanted to charm his way out of something.
It pissed her off how well it worked.
“Mr. Barrick, I’m not sure this is a good idea given our professional relationship.” It was a last-ditch effort and they both knew it.
“If it becomes an issue, I’ll find a new money guru.”
“They won’t be as good as me.”
The blue of his eyes heated, and she had to fight the urge to launch herself across her desk straight at him. “I have no doubt you are the ace, kitten.”
Feeling like she might combust if she sat there a second longer, she popped out of her chair and pulled her purse from the bottom drawer of her desk. “One dinner, Mr. Barrick. That’s all I’m agreeing to.”
“I’ll take it, for now.”
She packed up her laptop and followed him out of the office, making sure to lock up behind them. When the elevator doors opened to the lobby, Austin slipped an arm around her waist as if they’d been dating for months instead of having just met that afternoon.
“Decide what you want for dinner yet, kitten?”
“I want you to stop being so familiar, Mr. Barrick.”
Laughter rumbled in his chest and he turned his head to whisper in her ear. “I’ve already threatened to spank your ass twice tonight. I think we’re well past familiar, don’t you?”
