Page 238 of Worth the Trip

“Don’t start behaving now. It’s suspicious.”

“Damn. Can’t win with you.”

“You weren’t invited to compete.”

“Still participating.”

He carried the boxes away.

When Malcolm returned a few minutes later, Nyla had folded most of the table coverings.

“You leaving without giving me a way to bother you later?” he asked.

“You were serious?”

“About your number? Hell yeah.”

“You said you weren’t asking.”

“I said I wasn’t asking earlier.”

“So what changed?”

“I survived long enough to reach later.” Nyla stared at him. Malcolm pulled out his phone, then stopped. “Actually, nah.” Her brows rose. “I said I wouldn’t put you on the spot.” He grabbed a pen from the supply cup, wrote his number on the back of a tasting card, and slid it toward her. “Mine. Do what you want with it.”

Nyla looked at the card, then at him.

“You rehearsed that?”

“No.”

“That restraint came naturally?”

“With yo’ pretty ass? Took effort.”

She laughed once.

Malcolm’s face said he’d won something.

“Don’t.”

“I ain’t say nothing.”

“Your face did.”

He laughed.

Nyla studied the card for another second.

Then held out her hand.

“Give me your phone.”

Malcolm blinked.

For once, nothing came out of him.

Nyla wiggled her fingers.