then this shall hold you over until we reach our destination,” he said, pulling out a six-pack of Mango White Claw. She didn’t have a lot of faith in his selection as it was in cans. Her uncle had been trying to make her a beer connoisseur for years. It hadn’t worked.
They walked to the counter, and he didn’t give her a chance to pull out her wallet. She wanted to argue, but with one look she knew it was pointless. She didn’t like to argue unless she knew she’d win. She had a feeling she wouldn’t win too often with this man. Was that bad or good? She honestly didn’t know.
“Thank you,” she said as they slid back into the car. Carl had already given the address, so now all they had to do was sit back, relax, talk, and ride. Would she make it the entire hour? The back seat suddenly felt more intimate than it had when she’d first climbed inside.
He cracked open a can of White Claw and handed it to her. She smelled the top and wasn’t instantly turned off, so she gingerly lifted it to her lips and took a sip. It was surprisingly good, tangy with a hint of sweetness and a bit of fizz.
“Thank you, this is actually tasty,” she told him before taking a longer sip. “And it’s exactly what I need.”
She leaned her head back with a sigh.
“It’s been a rough few days,” he said as he cracked his own can and turned his body so he was giving her his full attention. Being with this man was odd. Most people only felt half listened to. With him, it was the opposite, it was as if he was reading her mind, body, and soul, paying attention to even the smallest details.
“Yeah, this hasn’t been my best week. But, I don’t let things get me down. I think people who wallow will become what they are upset about in the first place. If we always look at the bad, then we’re far more likely to miss the good,” she told him, surprised when her can was empty after only a few minutes.
He took it from her and handed over another. She gladly accepted.
“I’ve always believed the same thing, but sometimes it’s easy to get lost in everyday life; it’s easy to complain or feel sorry for yourself if everything isn’t going perfectly. Like you, though, I’ve never allowed negative to creep in for long.”
“I think the world in general would be a much better place if everyone felt the same,” she said, then giggled. He lifted a brow. “I was thinking if everyone expressed themselves correctly, and looked at the brighter side of life, I probably wouldn’t have a job because there wouldn’t be any need for lawyers.”
Carl laughed. “You might be right. But don’t worry, there are plenty of miserable people out there; your career is safe.”
As they continued to weave through busy traffic, Avery realized she was having a wonderful time. The two of them didn’t get into a deep conversation, but they did talk and laugh, drink and verbally spar, and most surprisingly of all, everything worrying her seemed to disappear.
By the time they arrived at the Marriot Marquis hotel in downtown San Francisco, Avery had a new worry. She liked this man — liked him a lot actually, but she was worried about him taking her to a hotel. Did he think something was going to happen?
He exited the car and came around, opening her door. Her concerns must’ve been written on her face because he grinned again as he placed one hand on the back of her seat, and the other on the back of the passenger seat, caging her in. He leaned close so his face was next to hers. She felt all tingly and warm as his lips moved within inches of hers.
“This place has an incredible rooftop bar with great drinks and food. That’s why we’re here. I’d never pick you up and take you to a hotel expecting anything. I don’t have a room here, and I don’t plan on getting one. This is just a date.”
His words at once offered comfort and surprisingly . . . disappointment. She was so turned on by this man, she was a bit upset he didn’t want to seduce her. What in the hell was wrong with her?
“I’m normally very good at hiding what I’m thinking,” she said with a smile. “I guess I haven’t