Devil and the Deep (The Ceruleans Book 4) - Julie Ann Walker Page 0,86
she were a six-headed alien.
Before she knew it, her mouth was open and going again. “I’m watching Sex and the City so I’ll know what to do when I do finally take a lover.” She held up a hand. “And, yes, in case you were wondering, I’ve learned my lesson. No more virginal confessions. Are you sure you don’t want me to whack you on the back again?”
I mean, that must be the most stubborn orange slice in the history of the world.
“Y-you’re a virgin?” he managed in a strangled voice. He speaks! Thank goodness. Even she had a limit as to how long she could carry on a one-sided conversation.
“And see.” She pointed a finger at him. “That right there is my whole point. Just look at you looking at me like I have some sort of disease. If I could take a picture of your face right now I’d frame it and whip it out as the precise explanation of why it’s imperative I get a man in bed tout de suite.”
“N-not any of the Deep Six crew,” he said, still wheezing.
“Nah,” she assured him. “They’re too much like my brothers for me to set my sights on them.” She cocked her head and narrowed her eyes. “Well, except for you. We’ve never really gotten all that friendly. Why is that, do you suppose?”
“I need a drink,” he said by way of answer.
She watched him push up from the bench and stagger into the galley. When he reappeared in the doorway, he was guzzling a bottle of water.
Figuring he wasn’t going to answer her question, she decided she’d outline her strategy for him in the hope that he’d offer a second opinion on her plan. It was a small hope, given his propensity for aphasia, but she was a gambler by nature and had won on low odds before. “I’m thinking I should tag along with Romeo or Uncle John the next time they make a Key West run. How hard can it be to pick up a tourist in a bar? I mean”—she frowned down at her black T-shirt with the red lettering that read: History…don’t make me repeat myself—“I clean up pretty good when I try. What do you think?”
After he’d drained the contents of the bottle, he took a deep breath that made his chest expand to ridiculous proportions. “Your virginity…” He shook his head, still looking slightly ragged. “It isn’t something you should give away to some random fucknuts you pick up at a bar.” Ya pick up atta bah was how his accent made the sentence sound. She did so love how hearing him talk brought to mind Ivy League schools, crisp fall leaves, and steaming clam chowder. Which was one more reason his usual mutism annoyed her.
“Why not?” she demanded.
Now he just looked exasperated…or constipated. She wasn’t sure which. “Because it’s special!” he bellowed, throwing his hands in the air. “You should save it for someone you at least like.”
“Are you volunteering?” And it was beyond satisfying to watch his chin jerk back and listen to him sputter.
“B-but you just admitted that you don’t like me.”
“Not so.” She shook her head. “I said there are times when I’m not sure if I like you. That’s totally different.”
He blinked. And while he was blinking, the silence on the boat stretched. It was broken only by the slap-slap of the waves between the twin hulls. Finally, he opened his mouth. She leaned across the table, eagerly awaiting his reply. Are my beaver teeth showing? But to her disappointment, he snapped it shut again and grumbled, “I need another drink.”
When he turned back into the galley, she studied the wide V-shape of his torso, feeling a bit giddy that she’d managed to throw him for a loop. A man of Mason’s size didn’t get tossed around too often. And that meant she gave herself major kudos for accomplishing the feat.
Then it occurred to her that maybe asking him to volunteer wasn’t so completely ludicrous after all.
I mean, I’m a girl. He’s a guy. I’m not looking for love and neither is he. So it’ll be completely objective, scientific even.
Hmm. The longer she thought about it, the more intrigued she became.
“Do you find me attractive?” she asked when he reappeared in the doorway with a second bottle of water. She watched his reaction closely. Of course, she didn’t have to watch too closely since his jaw hanging open was hard to miss. He choked again.