“Five.”
His gorgeous eyes went even wider. “I assume your number doesn’t includes me.”
“It does.” I slipped my shirt on and checked to make sure everything was back in place. “Why are you single?”
He had just undone the knot of his tie and his hands paused. In fact, his whole body went motionless. “Pass.”
“You can’t pass again.” I rolled my eyes. His gaze was shockingly intense and sobered me. It stole my breath.
“It’s because I’m not interested in being in a relationship right now.” He resumed movement, but his whole body was tense. This was the question he was nervous about?
“Why?”
His expression turned sour. “Relationships are about compromise.” His expression set into an authoritative one. “And me? I don’t do compromises.”
No, definitely not. But still . . . “That’s not a real answer.”
“So I broke a rule. What are you going to do about it?”
His challenge was startling and my brain was utterly blank, so I did my best to make sure it sounded strong. “I’ll think of something.”
chapter
TEN
We were seated right away at a table near the door. Even for a Monday night, the place was busy. We’d both taken our bowls with our names written on them to the buffet and piled them with meat and veggies, and deposited them by the cooking station that held a team of men hovering over woks.
“We’ve done this backwards,” he said as we made our way back to our table. “Sex, then dinner, and afterward I’m going to ask for your number.”
“What if I don’t give it to you?”
“I’m going to insist, for your file.” His expression was serious, but there was playfulness in his eyes.
“Let me see your phone.”
He passed it to me and, as I plugged my number in, a thought occurred. What exactly did he need it for? I set the phone down, and when he leaned across the table to retrieve it, my hand trapped his.
“What do you plan on doing with my number?” I asked.
“Call you?”
“For what?” My voice dropped to a hush. “Sex?”
His eyebrows pulled together in confusion. “I was under the impression you liked doing
that with me.”
“I do.” I released his hand, confused myself.
“Evelyn.” He took a measured breath and his face was strikingly intense. “I think we’re past the point of being shy about what we want. So say it.”
He was right, but it was still difficult to put into words, especially after what he’d just confessed in his office.
“I’m not built to do that outside of a relationship. I’ll need it to be . . . more.”
There was no reaction from him, sending my heart plummeting into my stomach. His pupils focused in a discerning look, evaluating me.
“Pretty sure I told you, I’m not interested in that.”