The look on her face was priceless. Her mouth was open, her cheeks flushed, and her eyes wide with surprise and – oh ho! – a touch of heat.
“Yeah, love, you heard right.” Enjoying the expression on her face immensely, Rick continued, “I’d have your luscious body naked for my hands and mouth, but as you seem to find that a little hard to contemplate with me right now, we’ll tread slowly. For awhile.” Like a day. Or a couple of hours. “I’m going to court you.”
“Court me?”
“Flowers. Chocolates. Movies. Dinners.”
“I don’t want…”
“What?” Catching her chin between thumb and forefinger, Rick tilted her head back and lowered his head so that his mouth hovered inches above her own. Manfully ignoring her sweet scent and the lure of lush lips, he said with a touch of steel, “What do you want, Cherry? What will you settle for? Who will you settle for? Maybe it’s me you don’t like, is that it? Maybe it’s me you don’t want touching you. Maybe I sicken you?”
Okay, pushing her wasn’t nice, but it was the only way Rick could think of to make her succumb. As it was, she’d stopped her slightly panicked words and looked thoughtful. He watched as she studied him solemnly, her blue gaze sweeping slowly across his face.
He met her gaze directly. Challengingly.
A full twenty seconds passed as she studied him, and he could practically see her brain working overtime. He just hoped it was working to his advantage.
“No,” she finally replied quietly. “You don’t sicken me.”
“You don’t want me touching you.” She glanced away, her cheeks flushing. His heart leaped at the tell-tale reaction, but he kept his tone steely. “Answer me.”
“I like your touch,” she mumbled.
It was pretty obvious by her bodily reaction to his touch, but hearing it made him smile. Inwardly. If he smiled outwardly, he was going to blow his plan apart. Not gonna happen. “So that just leaves the question of you liking me.”
“I don’t know you.”
Eureka! Baby, you are so caught! “Good.”
“Good?” Startled, she looked up at him.
“Yes.” Reaching for his wallet, he slipped it into his pocket while placing one hand in the small of her back and propelling her towards the door. “We’re going to remedy that, starting now.”
“What?” She halted.
“We’re going to get to know each other over a simple meal.”
“But I don’t—”
“Are you going somewhere? On shift tonight?” He raised his brows questioningly.
“Well, no, but—”
“Expecting anyone?”
“No.”
“Your cats fed already?”
“Yes. But—”
“So here’s the perfect opportunity to start getting to know each other better.” Not that he needed it, but his shy flower obviously did, so he was prepared to sacrifice a few hours. Or days. Please, God, not days. “What do you fancy?”
“Rick, I…”
Looking down at her, seeing the confusion and wariness in her face, he felt the protectiveness flow through him…admittedly with a strong dash of male determination. He gentled his voice. “Cherry, a few hours, some talk, a nice meal. Is that so much to ask?”
She bit her lip again. God, he was going to blot his Heavenly score if she kept that up.
He didn’t take his hand from her back, but neither did he say anything, he just waited, biding his time, giving her time, knowing full well that if he lost this round the fight wasn’t over by a long shot.
Finally he felt her relax a little, but her glance up at him was still wary. “Just a meal?”
“And talk.”
She took a deep breath and nodded.
Round one to him. Resisting the urge to pump one fist into the air, he propelled her to the door. “Where would you like to eat?”
“I’m not really dressed for a restaurant.”
“Nor am I.” He grinned down at her. “Feel like pizza?”
“Not offering me salad?” She looked horrified as soon as the tart words had spilled from her lips.
He grimaced. “Salad and pizza are not a nice mix. Do you like pizza?”
“Um…yes.” She had the grace to look embarrassed.
He wanted to kiss her on the spot but refrained. Another score on Heaven’s book. By God, he was racking them up tonight. If he got hit by a bus right now, he’d go straight to the land of angels, harps, and wings.
“There’s a pizza place right around the corner.” Shutting the door behind her, he turned the key in the lock and pocketed it. “It’s a nice balmy evening. Let’s walk.”