Page 29 of Ice Rebel

“I like to do my own thing without an audience. So, you’ll go out with me.”

Now it wasn’t a question but more of demand.

“I didn’t agree.” But I had to admit I was leaning toward saying yes.

“I promise you I’ll be a gentleman.”

“Uh-huh.”

He slapped his hand over his heart. “You wound me.”

“You don’t appear as if you’re suffering.” Maybe I was more of a sadist than I realized since I was yanking his chain. Why not make him beg for it?

You are one bad girl.

When had I ever been given the opportunity?

I gave him a wide berth as I headed toward the door and would have squeezed past had he not stepped right in front of me. The closeness was jarring even without touching.

“Come on. Do a guy a solid.” His hot breath skimmed my face, the hint of cinnamon a lovely surprise. So were the tingles wrapping around my shoulders.

And talk about a deep, sultry voice. The man had it in spades.

“Why do you want to go out with me so much?”

“Honestly?”

“No, lie to me. Of course I want you to be honest. I can’t stand liars or cheats.” I held my own, never blinking as I stared into his eyes.

He took a few seconds and nodded. “Then I’ll never lie to you. You’re not like the other girls. You’ve intelligent. You have a spark and I like that.”

“A spark.”

“Yeah. As if you don’t plan on allowing the world to drag you down.”

“A lovely compliment. However, there’s more to why. Isn’t there?”

Now he appeared sheepish, which was way too adorable. “Okay. Believe it or not, I don’t go on many dates, but there hasn’t been a chick who’s turned me down before.”

I studied him and from being so close, I could see every flaw in his face and body.

There were none. Not one.

He was the real deal, GQ packaged in LL Bean.

“I appreciate your honesty.”

The man was genuinely happy I’d complimented him, his smile no longer holding the arrogant aw-shucks rebellious attitude as before. “Then you’ll go out with me. I know a little bar we could go to. You know, to talk. Get to know each other.”

I took a deep breath instead of answering right away. The jury was in. I was definitely a sadist.

“Please?”

The single word made me cave. “Okay. I’ll go out with you. One date.”

His fist pump was unexpected. “Awesome.”

“But there will be rules,” I told him.