Page 18 of Hungry Hearts

“I don’t know, Ryder. I’m not in a place in my life where I’m looking for anything serious.”

“I’m sorry. I never meant to come across as serious. I’m fun-loving, charming, and sexy as hell. Where did you get serious from?”

Her lip twitches. “And a flirt.”

“Exactly. How many serious flirts have you ever dated?”Dated.Hell. That’s not a word I use with women. Go out for dinner or drinks. Dance and grind at The Club. Head to her place to bounce on her mattress. Neverdate. The word gives me hives.

But I asked this woman for a coffeedatetwenty minutes ago and no hives have yet appeared.

She puts her cup down and leans back in her chair. “None.”

“Exactly. Okay, so let’s continue this getting to know you stuff that we started last night. If you could be any fruit, what would it be?”

“What kind of question is that?” She laughs. “Why not ask what my favorite fruit is?”

“Maia.” I reach across the table and stroke her hand. “We’re way past that stage.”

She rolls her eyes and shakes her head. “I love cherries, but I wouldn’t want to be one.”

My mind instantly crawls in the gutter. She walked right into that one, but I want to keep our conversation light and not too sexual, so I go with cheesy instead. “If you were a fruit, you’d be afine-apple.”

“Oh, my God.” She snorts. “You did not just say that.”

Christ. After her moans and her crying out my name with my head between her thighs, her laugh is the next best sound I’ve ever heard.

“If you were a vegetable—”

“Wait,” she interrupts, still giggling. “You have to answer the same question.”

I roll my eyes and shake my head like it’s a ridiculous question. “A banana, obviously.”

Maia groans and lowers her forehead to her hand, shaking her head. “And let me guess. If you were a vegetable, you’d be an eggplant?”

I hadn’t planned that one, and I love how she so easily accepts my crass humor. “Isn’t an eggplant technically a fruit since it has seeds?”

She lifts her head and the cutest little snort rolls in her throat. “If so, then are you an eggplant or a banana?”

“I’ll let you decide.” I’ve never smiled and laughed so much with a woman like I do with Maia. Before I’m ready, she takes her phone out of her purse and checks the time.

“Thank you for the tea and the laughs. I need to get back to work now.”

Before she realizes what I’m doing, I snag her phone from her and open her notes app and type in my number.

“Hey. Give me back my phone.” She bristles. Tension mars her face, and I’m worried I stepped too far.

I hand it back to her and dip my head in apology. “I didn’t read any of your messages or open any pictures. I just wanted to give you my number. Now you have it. I didn’t want to pressure you by asking for your number. Now you can choose if you want to get together again.”

“Oh.” She tucks her phone back in her purse. “I’m sorry I snapped. I...”

Not wanting to end the most perfect forty-five minutes I’ve ever had with clothes on, I cock a smile. “Please tell me you snapped because your camera roll is filled with nudes. Of you,” I clarify.

She shakes her head with a smile. “And if it is?”

I close my eyes and moan. “For the record, I’m not the kind of guy who would be offended if you wanted to text me any of those nudes.”

“Shocking.”

I rest my hand on her lower back and guide her out of the coffee shop. We stop on the sidewalk and she nervously glances across the street in the direction of her salon. I’d offer to walk her back to work, but she’s already told me she likes to keep her private life separate. After almost fucking up with the cell phone stunt, I won’t risk pissing her off by insisting on walking her back.

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