“I didn’t say that.”
“You didn’t have to.”
“You didn’t say anything about your father being Daniel Kilcannon.”
“I didn’t have to.”
She launched a brow. “Technicality, Counselor.”
“Have you ever even owned a dog?” he asked.
“No.”
He exhaled slowly and geared up for the next cross-examination, but she cut him off. “I don’t like shrimp, either, but I promoted Louisiana.”
“Not even shrimp scampi?”
“I’m not a huge fan of the beach, but that didn’t stop me from increasing tourism in the Bahamas by 38.4 percent in one year.”
He choked softly. “Who isn’t a fan of the beach?”
“Too much sand,” she said. “It gets everywhere, and you can’t get it off you.”
“Plus all those waves that won’t do your bidding,” he joked.
“And not once in my entire life have I gotten on a pair of skis, but I singlehandedly turned Mount Ward into the ultimate winter-break destination for college students, adding millions to that town’s coffers. I know this will work, Shane.”
“But dogs are personal.”
And dogs were not her personal thing and never would be. “I travel too much to have a pet. That doesn’t affect my ability to come up with great ideas—”
“That I supplied.”
She gave a dry laugh. “Yes, oh, great and powerful Shane Kilcannon. You inspired me.”
He got even closer. “I kissed you.”
“You certainly did.” She inched toward him, just to let him know he didn’t intimidate her. Much. “And I’d rather that didn’t get all over town too fast.”
He studied her for a minute, amusement in his eyes. “So letting me take you to lunch would be a conflict of interest.”
“You’re the lawyer, you tell me.”
“I’m conflicted and I’m definitely interested, so yes. But I still want to take you to lunch.”
She held his gaze, feeling the pulse in her neck thrum a steady beat and the palms of her hands dampen and that low burn in her belly that had nothing to do with hunger. At least not for lunch.
“Depends,” she finally said. “How’d you vote?”
“I didn’t vote yes.”
Her jaw unhinged.
“And I didn’t vote no.”
Leaning back, she let that sink in. He was the abstaining vote. Why? “Then, by all means, let’s have lunch.”
He inched closer and ran a light finger over her knuckles. “Is that the only reason?”
God, no. “I’ll abstain from answering that.”
He smiled at her. “I like you, Perfect Chloe. Never liked a woman who didn’t like dogs, though.”
“I guess there’s a first for everything.”
Chapter Five
Before they reached the street, Shane’s next great idea had taken hold.
Turned out, he really was an idea guy. Just how “perfect” was Perfect Chloe? Since he didn’t believe in perfection, he already knew the answer, but messing with her was definitely fun.
“In here?” Chloe asked as they approached a sandwich shop not far from town hall.
“Let’s do takeout. We can go across the street.” He gestured toward Bushrod Square. “Sit under the shade of the hickory tree.”
“Did you know that the whole town was named after the wrong tree?” she asked.
“I’ve heard the rumor,” he said. “It’s town folklore.”
“It’s town fact.”
“Well, there already was a Hickory, North Carolina, so we ended up as Thaddeus Bushrod’s mistake. Be thankful you’re not trying to put Bushrod, North Carolina, on the tourism maps.”
She laughed, the first time he could remember hearing that pretty sound today. “I might have an easier job getting the name changed. Anyway, I’m not going to sit in the park and eat, so we’ll find a table in here.”
“Why not? It’s a beautiful day.”
“I’m in a white suit.”
“There are clean tables and benches.” At her look, he gave a conciliatory shrug. “Clean enough.”
“Nothing is,” she muttered as they stepped inside to order.
“I noticed you’re a bit of a clean and neat freak.”
“A bit,” she agreed, the understatement obvious in her voice.
He ordered a sandwich, and she got a salad, but as she turned, the last table was taken by an elderly couple.
“Come on.” Shane nudged her to the door. “Outside. I’ll clean your bench before you sit on it.”
But she was already looking around the little restaurant, probably doing a dirt scan for the most spotless table.