Jardin's Gamble (Haven, Texas 9)

in return for you working on my car for free you want to take me out on a date?”

“Yep.”

Her gaze narrowed. “You’re not going to insist on some fancy restaurant and order champagne and lobster then leave me with the bill, are you?”

Anger flashed in his gaze. Her breath caught. “Not sure what sort of men you’ve been dating, but when I take a girl out, I pay.”

“So, not only will you be working on my car for free but you’ll be paying for me when we go out? That doesn’t seem fair.”

“Everything always fair in your life?”

She snorted. “Rarely.”

“Seems a fair trade to me. Few hours of work in exchange for a few hours of your company.”

“This isn’t a sex thing, is it?” she blurted out.

“Pardon?”

“You’re not asking me out because you think I’ll give you a blowjob in the restaurant bathroom? Because while I like sex, I’m really not that type—”

Her sentence was cut off as he placed his hand over her mouth. “I’m gonna stop you right there before you succeed in pissing me off,” he growled at her.

He already sounded plenty pissed off, so it was probably a good idea he’d shut her up.

“I am not asking you to have sex with me. Okay, maybe trying to bribe you to go on a date was not my best move. But when I take a girl out, I pay and I do not expect anything in return. All right?”

She mumbled behind his hand.

“What was that?” he demanded, removing his hand.

“Most guys would,” she told him.

“Well then those guys would be dicks and totally unworthy of your attention.”

“You don’t even know me,” she whispered. “Why would you want to help me? Why would you want to take me on a date?”

He gave her a wicked smile. “Maybe I just enjoy saving damsels in distress. Gives me an ego boost.”

“You need an ego boost?” She gaped at him. How could someone who looked like he did need an ego boost?

He burst into laughter. “Well, I don’t now. Maybe we don’t know each other. But that’s what a date is for. Getting to know someone. And hell, maybe I’m just hard-up for some company.”

“I doubt that,” she said dryly.

“Look, I’ll get your car towed. Got a buddy who will do it cheap. I’ll work on it for you, when it’s fixed, I’ll give you a call and we can go on that date.”

She cocked an eyebrow. “You’ll hold my car prisoner until I agree to a date?”

“Damn straight.” He winked at her and she couldn’t help but smile back. He was charming and funny and gorgeous.

Why aren’t you jumping at the chance to date him? Because you’re an idiot.

She let out a deep breath. “It’s a deal.” She held her uninjured hand out to him. Her other hand was still throbbing painfully. Perhaps she was being stupid. For all she knew, he was going to take off with her car and she’d never see him again.

Yeah, right. Because your car is totally worth stealing.

He wrapped her small hand in his, gently squeezing. Dear Lord, there was something about such a big, strong man being so very careful with her that did something to her insides.