“We do?” she asked, arching a brow at him.
“Yeah, we do. Now, wave to your newest employee. We gotta go.”
Lila shook her head. “Not a chance.”
Mason continued to smile at her. He wouldn’t be deterred. He had a plan, and he was sticking to it come hell or high water.
“Oh, you are coming with me, Lila Ford.”
She narrowed her eyes at him. “And just where exactly do we need to go? I don’t remember any meetings, and since I am the boss around here, I really don’t see how you could think that we can just leave.”
“Because you have a new employee who has been carefully trained.” Mason tugged on her hand until they were in the kitchen and then out back behind the diner.
“You fully realize that this is basically kidnapping?” she said as he continued to lead her away from the main street.
He threw his head back with a laugh. “Sure. If you say so.” He motioned to two bikes. Each had a little basket between the handlebars. “Get on.”
Lila looked at the bikes and then back at him, frowning deep. Her confusion was clear as day, and Mason was actually pleased that he was managing to surprise her. She still hadn’t clued in.
“Lila Ford, you and I are going on a date.”
Her jaw dropped, and her eyes went wide. There was also a blush all over her cheeks and up her neck. “A date?” she repeated breathlessly.
“Yup.” He hopped onto his bike.
“A date,” she said.
“Get on the bike, Lila,” he replied with a grin. “Let me show you a good time.”
“Why are you doing this?”
“Because you deserve to go on a fun date. Because I like spending time with you, and now I wanna spend time with you away from the diner. Oh, and because you’re a stunning woman. I definitely wanna kiss you again, but for that to happen, we need to go on a date.”
“Kiss me again? What makes you think that I will let you kiss me if we go out on a date?”
“Oh, you’ll be begging me for a kiss after this date is through.”
“That’s pretty cocky.”
“I’m a cocky guy, but really, I know that you’ll have fun because we always have a good time when we’re together.”
“What are we doing?”
He shook his head. “It’s a surprise.”
“I don’t see how that could be a good thing. You do know I’m from here, right? I know all of the date spots in this town, and there is no way you can surprise me.”
“Challenge accepted. Now, hop on your bike.”
Lila eyed the bike nervously. “You took a serious chance that I know how to ride a bike.”
“I asked around. I was told you used to ride your purple bike all around town.”
“Sure, but that was years ago! I’m gonna fall flat on my face and totally embarrass myself.”
“Ha! If you’re scared of being embarrassed, it’s because you want to make a good impression.” He winked at her. “Don’t worry. If you fall, I’ll kiss your booboo.”
She pursed her lips at him. “Ha-ha. Very funny.”