“What was the longest time you dated a girl?”
This time, I let her see my smile. “Why do you want to know?”
“Just…an experiment. You’re an experiment,” she stammered.
“An experiment?”
Slowly, I stepped toward her. Her eyes were wide, watching my every move. The pulse on her neck was pounding.
“You want me to be your experiment?”
She swallowed.
“What do you have in mind for me?” I whispered.
I placed my hand on the soft skin of her neck, gently stroked the side of it with my thumb. “I might say yes if you tell me.”
She closed her eyes, her muscles relaxing and her body swaying softly toward me. I wrapped an arm around her waist to support her.
“How about I make you a deal?” I continued. She smelled of peaches. Ripe, sweet peaches. “You said your brother doesn’t have insurance. See, you shouldn’t have told me that. Now I’ve got an ace.”
Her eyes flew open. She slammed her hands on my chest and pushed me away.
“Get off me!”
I stepped back. “You’re too honest for your own good.”
She scoffed. “Oh, believe me when I say that I’m not!”
“Maybe,” I allowed. “But in my book, you are.”
“What do you want?” she spat it out. Her stance was confrontational, her voice dripped with venom.
If she thought that would turn me away, she was mistaken. I wanted more of it.
I leaned against the counter, reached for the cup of coffee she’d made for me. “If I go to my insurance, my bike will be fixed.”
“But you’re going to have to cough up your deductible—”
“I can pay for my deductible easily. And I can take it to the mechanic who’s been servicing my motorcycle for years. Why should I go to a shop that I have no idea if they’ll do a good job or not?”
If looks could kill, I’d be decapitated by now.
“Have you heard of subrogation? My insurance will go after your brother. It’s also a hit-and-run. The police will be very interested.”
I gave her a moment to absorb that. Then I said, “So now that we know where we both stand, let’s make a deal.”
I took a sip and very nearly choked. It was too strong. When I saw her face, I knew she’d deliberately made it undrinkable.
This girl would cut me off at the knees without batting an eye. Why did that excite me?
Damn. I’m in trouble.
“First, tell me why you’re doing this for your brother.”
She crossed her arms in front of her. “I don’t need to tell you dick.”
My mouth twitched. “Tell me why the hell he isn’t owning up and paying for his mistake.”