Page 12 of Chasing the Dream

“See you next time,” she called as they turned and left.

Once they were back inside his car, she couldn’t resist poking him a little more. “Thanks for buying, but you didn’t have to. I’m not a charity case, you know.”

“Are you one of those women?”

“What women?”

“The kind that doesn’t want a man to pay or open a door for them.”

“This has nothing to do with you being a man.”

“Oh. So, if you were with Maria and she offered to pay, you’d turn her down?”

She scowled at his profile, wondering how she could be so irritated and attracted to him at the same time.

“I forgot how grumpy you are in the morning.” She’d chosen the least confrontational thing she could think of to say.

“Grumpy? I’m not grumpy.”

“What would you call it, then? You criticized my outfit, accused me of not reading the employee manual, refused to let me pay for my own breakfast, openly flirted with the bagel lady…” Oops! She hadn’t meant to go there, but it was too late.

They’d just pulled into the office parking lot, and he shut off the engine, shifting in his seat to look at her.

“I’m not sure which one of those things bothered you more.”

Dammit! She hadn’t wanted him to think she cared who he flirted with, but somehow he’d managed to push all her buttons this morning. (Well, not all of them.).

“Maybe we shouldn’t drive together after all. This hasn’t been a very peaceful start to the day.”

“You’re right.”

“That we shouldn’t ride together?”

“No. About me being grumpy in the morning. But in my defense, I haven’t had my coffee yet.” His lips quirked up, and she tried to look away before they morphed into a full-fledged smile like the one he’d bestowed on the bagel bimbo. Bagel bimbo. Hmm. Has a nice ring to it.

“Can we start over again?” he pleaded.

“But we’re already here,” she huffed.

“That’s okay. Watch this.” He cleared his throat. “Good morning, Morgan. You’re looking lovely today.” Then he motioned to her like it was her turn.

“This is ridiculous!”

“Humor me.”

She sighed. “Good morning, Gabe. Is that a new cologne you’re wearing? It smells nice.”

“Really? You like it?”

She nodded because it was the truth. The entire car was filled with his scent, and if he hadn’t been so grumpy, she’d have enjoyed it even more.

“Thanks. Maria bought it for me for Christmas. See, isn’t this better?”

She laughed in spite of herself. “Yes.”

“The next time we stop for bagels, I’ll let you pay. How’s that?”

“I said I wanted to pay for mine, not yours!”