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It’s an innocent question, but the answer has the possibility of opening up the conversation to uy that I dropped out He’s probably going to take et into et lost and we’ll continue being courteous neighbors who never really speak to each other Or,nice it doesn’t o to school I work," I reply, and ilued to my side as we cross the driveway toward his truck "You like poetry and work at a café, but you don’t go to school Are you so artist?"

"You’re a nosy little bastard"

He chuckles as he deactivates his car alar to know each other That’s what people do on a first date"

He opens the door for reen eyes "This isn’t a date It’s a friendly lunch with a neighbor"

"The neighbor who almost killed you," he reh! What a cocky little shit

I cli him until he finally closes the door I need toabout that yet and I’d prefer to keep it that way Maybe I can just visualize him naked to ease the tension No, that would definitely not work in this situation

He slides into the driver’s seat and stares at the steering wheel for a second as if he’s questioning his approach "Okay, let’s start over How about we just forget about what happened at the café and what alht"

"And what you just said?"

"And what I just said What do you say? Can we start over?"

His s open a little as he awaitswhat it would be like to suck on his lower lip

I take a deep breath to clear away this i out s it to his lips, laying a soft kiss on the back of hbor, at your service"

I attenore the wayinyou need, I’ht bulb," he pauses to wiggle his eyebrows, "anything at all"

"Wow You are not predictable at all," I say, reaching for the door handle "And I’ve suddenly lost rabsa total douche I know Just give me one more chance I swear I won’t fuck it up"

His hand is on mine and his face is inches away as he leans across my lap He smells a little minty and a little woodsy as his heat sla as I watch his eyes ski it as aze falls on his lips; those soft, kissable lips he pressed against o

"What is your deal?" I ask, sliding my hand out frofor nearly running me over"

He sits up and ruffles his hair before he answers "I actually went to the café yesterday to n the rental agreeued ht you wanted to ask Cora yourself?"

I glare at hile"

"And?"

"And she said you were the sweetest girl she’s ever known"

"And?"

He sighs, looking uncolad I’ disposition of his

"What did she say?" I deht want to be my friend"

"Be your friend?"

"I don’t know anybody around here and Cora was concerned that a quote ‘young et yourself into soirl around’"

I can’t help but srew up in Minnesota and is still very old-fashioned about sos I’ve only been on one date since I o The instant h her blinds tohim into my apartment I love Cora, but she can be a bit nosy andCora’s advice Well, let o back inside and you can tell Cora that ent out to lunch and had a really nice tiet ant"

"That’s not what I want"

He looks me in the eye and I can’t help but ht slope of his nose, the intense glare He could be on the cover of GQ uys would drool in the checkout lane

"What do you want?" I ask, wishing I had brought a bottle of water because one dry

"I want to be your friend And I want to take you to get a fucking burger"

"Well, when you put it that way, how can a girl resist"