Page 34 of Hard to Resist

I flip the camera back around. “That is true. And you are a much prettier view.”

“That’s so cheesy, but I don’t hate it.”

“Yeah?”

“Yeah. I never know what you’re going to say. One moment you’re super sweet, the next you have me blushing like a tomato.”

“Like when I tell you that your boobs look amazing in that blouse?”

“Stop! The driver can hear you.”

“So?”

“No NSFW talk in the car.”

“Fine, fine. What do you want to talk about?”

“Hm, I don’t know.” She purses her lips and stares out the window for a second, the bright lights flashing over her face in a kaleidoscope of colors. I wasn’t kidding when I said she was a prettier view. I could stare at her all day. “I’ve never been to Miami before.”

“Really?”

“Nope. I actually haven’t traveled much, period.”

“Any particular reason?”

“Money.”

“That makes sense.”

“Yeah. At one point, I was hoping to save up for traveling, but student loans and stuff got in the way.”

I swirl the last inch of whiskey in my glass, the ice clinking around absently. “If you could travel anywhere, where would you go?”

“Probably Paris, London, or Moscow,” she answers immediately as though she’s thought about this a hundred times before.

“Why those three places?”

“They have the best ballet theaters.”

“You like ballet?”

“Love it, actually. I practiced it when I was a kid, for years.”

“Why’d you stop?”

“Money, again. My parents couldn’t really afford the lessons as I got older, and it became clear I wouldn’t become some prima ballerina anyway.”

“Why not?”

“I’m not exactly the right build.” She’s silent for a beat. “But I still love going to watch it. Although, it’s been a few years. I think the last ballet I saw was my freshman year of college. The department put on the Nutcracker for the winter semester, and they had discounted tickets for students. It was phenomenal. I think one of the girls even ended up getting scouted by the American Ballet Theatre. What about you? Have you ever seen the ballet before?”

She’s doing that adorable rambling thing again.

“I haven’t. But I wouldn’t be opposed if I were going with you.”

“Really?”

“Verity, there are very few things I wouldn’t do when it comes to you.”

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