But at least he’d gotten my order right. I’d dated guys longer who wouldn’t have been able to figure out what to get me without my having written it down…and then they’d have somehow fucked that up too. But Brass Man got it right the first time and he hadn’t tried to buy me a drink.
He was interesting.
“Trust is earned.” Not that I’d decided to give him a chance to stay around that long but he needed to know I didn’t hand it out like candy.
“And it’s gained through knowledge about your partner and time spent exploring how you feel about them.” Something about his expression said he was challenging me with that comment.
But I didn’t call out the asshole.
“Knowledge gained through talking and spending time with someone, and if a club like mine is involved, trust can also come from understanding that the person you’re talking to has gone through a thorough background check.” He raised one eyebrow. “And it takes someone who’s strong and badass to go through that journey instead of hiding away in a sexy cage.”
He was such a dick.
I hated that it made him even sexier.
Chapter 3
Ben
Ha, he didn’t hate me.
We were making progress.
“Your journey seems to be jumping ahead several steps.” Giving me a steamy glare that said I’d scored a few hits in there somewhere, my sexy bird gestured toward his trash. “That doesn’t even count as a date, so don’t hold your breath about rushing to the end of that journey.”
Hmm.
“Then I need to start at the beginning.” Shrugging, I did my best not to smile. “When is our first date going to be? You seem to have an interesting schedule lately.”
My fascination looked like he couldn’t decide if he wanted to throw something at me or kiss me.
Either would work, honestly, because I was at theany attention is good attentionpart of my infatuation.
“Let’s define date.” His glare didn’t ease, but there was a spark of curiosity growing in it. “You’ve tossed around a lot of…let’s call them ideas.”
That was delightfully neutral.
“Dinner. In public. Not takeout or something like this.” I gestured around the break room. “You meet me there so you feel safe and then we talk. Normal conversation or another interrogation. I’m flexible.”
That had his eyes sparkling, but I pretended not to notice.
“You say the word and I’ll send my limits list and the background check that was done on me.” I was taking a chance on that one, but I knew he was worth it. “I just ask that if we don’t click, you delete the file and make sure it doesn’t end up online. That would fuck with my plans big-time.”
His head cocked and the silence stretched out between us.
I wasn’t sure if it was him thinking or some kind of intimidation tactic, but I knew I could wait him out. It took nearly a minute before he broke.
“Why would you trust me with that information?” His question was surprising in one way and completely expected in another.
My answer would probably be just as confusing, but I did my best anyway.
“You were the most beautiful man I’d ever seen when I first saw you.” Honesty might be the best policy or it might have him declaring me insane and walking out. We’d have to see which. “The way you move. The way you glare. The way you control the room with a swing of your hips.”
The faintest smile peeked out, but he tried to hide it behind that sexy glare.
“You’re passionate and fascinating, but you’re also stressed and unhappy and you’re not getting what you need from dancingany longer.” His eyes flared for a split second but he refused to acknowledge I was right.
Was he just a private person in ways some people wouldn’t understand?
