He watched her for a moment, as if checking to be sure she meant it. Then a slow smile spread over his face. “They might be tempted. It’s a pretty nice ass.”
“Yeah? Well, if you play your cards right, you can have first dibs.”
He slapped her butt and then helped her into his truck. “Come on, then. Let’s get this date started.”
“Didn’t you have another big shiny black truck in high school?”
He climbed in and started the engine. “It’s my vice, I’m embarrassed to say. I’ve never saved up to buy a house, but damn if I don’t always find the money for truck payments.”
“It’s very pretty,” she said, stroking a hand over the glove compartment. Ther
e wasn’t a speck of dust on any of the vinyl that she could see.
“I like pretty things.” He winked at her and tipped his hat.
“Aw. I bet you say that to all the girls.”
“Only the pretty ones.”
Charlie had to laugh at that, because it clearly wasn’t true. He flirted like crazy with even old Rayleen. God. The man was incorrigible. And very sweet.
She was going to have to nail her heart down with railroad spikes to get free of this without any attachment. He reached over to take her hand, and one of the spikes fell over with a dull clunk. Damn it.
A few minutes later, he pulled into a parking space and walked around to open her door. “Mini golf or batting cages?”
“Batting cages,” she scoffed. “Are you trying to get out of it now? Afraid I’ll embarrass you?”
“Ha. I’m afraid you’ll embarrass me when you fall on your ass after you swing and miss.”
She gave him a hard shove, but he didn’t even budge, he just offered her an arrogant smile and tugged her toward the coin machine.
“God, this reminds me of high school,” Charlie said.
“Oh, yeah? Maybe later you’ll let me feel you up in my truck.”
“Maybe. But just a little.”
She kept walking, but he caught her wrist and pulled her back.
“Hey,” he said softly, then leaned in to kiss her. Very slowly. Very sweetly.
Charlie’s pulse fluttered. “What was that for?” she asked when he raised his head.
He cleared his throat. “I just thought I’d get it over with early. Get the nervousness out of the way. It’s our first date.”
Charlie burst into laughter. “Oh, Walker. I can’t believe you said that with a straight face.”
“Fine, then. I wanted to kiss you. All right?”
“Yes, all right. But you don’t have to seduce me, you know. I’m already putting out.”
“But could you put out more?”
This time Charlie tugged him down for a kiss. “Yes,” she said against his mouth. “But I should be clear...I need this to be exclusive, Walker. Just while we’re doing this. That’s all.”
He pulled back with a frown. “Of course.”
“It’s just that...I saw you talking to your ex last night. Nicole?”