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She shrugs and snags a cherry from the garnish caddy. “M’kay.”
So,” I begin to regain the spotlight. “What’re you doing tonight, Grace?”
“I have a date.” Long lashes flutter at me.
The smile I give her is equally endearing. “With me? That’s a tad presumptuous, but I’d love to.”
“You’re not my type,” she reminds in a sing-song tone.
“What makes you so sure?” Because I’m more than prepared to defend my case stating the opposite.
“The performance I witnessed at your bar was plenty, Garrett.”
And just like that, she reveals that I left an impression on her as well. My chest suddenly expands to twice its regular size. “I don’t recall introducing myself. Did you ask around about me after visiting Roosters?”
Her cheeks flame into a rosy hue that has little to do with the warm weather. “Um, no. My friend is a regular and filled me in on your… tastes in women.”
“Is that so?” I bend lower into her personal space, inhaling sweet vanilla and ripe temptation. “Give me a chance to change your mind about me.”
Grace’s unwavering eye contact could make a weaker man squirm. “Are you looking for a serious relationship?”
“Absolutely not.” And never again. Images of my worst mistake still haunt me all these years later.
She imitates the sound of a buzzer. “Wrong answer.”
My tongue feels tied as what’s meant to be an easy opportunity begins to evade me. “Uh, well…”
“That’s what I thought.” Her huff might as well be a smack to the back of my head. “I’m in the market to settle down. Period.”
And there goes my erection. Damn. I awkwardly shift while my dick shrivels as if dunked in an ice bath.
Still, I can’t deny giving her credit for being bold. It’s damn impressive. This woman knows what she wants and isn’t afraid to voice her demands for all to hear. That’s a trait I can admire, even if I want nothing to do with her commitment.
Silence descends on our small huddle. It seems I’m not the only one offering Grace internal praise. Harper’s jaw has been hanging slack long enough to catch flies. When she snaps out of the shero worship, her focus swivels from me to Grace.
She taps her lips and I brace for whatever is about to spill free. “This could make for an interesting story.”
I chuckle, but tension lingers between my shoulders. “I guess we’ll have to wait and see.”
Grace cracks a grin, rolling her eyes for good measure. That small gesture releases the pressure valve between us. “For now, how about you fix me a drink?”
I inhale my first decent breath in what feels like hours. My bravado rebounds at the mention of the simple task. “What’s the lady’s preferred poison?”
“Surprise me.” Her voice drips seduction from a bottomless tap that I could get drunk on.
The free rein she innocently provides rouses images that would probably offend her. Instead of sharing my dirty mind, I gulp to pour the intoxicating suggestions into the gutter where they belong. My feet round the counter and I settle into the familiar motions to do her bidding. The urge to keep her talking prods at me while I dump ingredients into a shaker.
“Tell me about this date you have tonight,” I say while reaching for the pineapple juice.
Suspicion enters her expression again. “Why do you want to know?”
“I’m curious about your strategy. Most guys I know would fuck off straight to the exit after hearing a girl wants to settle down. Especially if you just started seeing each other. Is this dude aware of your specific desires?”
Grace shivers over that last word. The reaction is small, but I’m too fascinated by her every move to miss a single blink. “We haven’t met yet.”
“Ah, I see. How long do you wait before stating your expectation?”
She shrugs. “It depends on how things are going. If I’m being totally honest, there hasn’t been a need for me to use my list lately.”
