Page 13 of Some Like It Hops

“Who?”

“Griffin.”

“Ew. Gross. Let him go to voicemail.”

I bite my lip and the phone beeps one more time. Ishouldlet him go to voicemail. “I’ll call you back.” I end the call with Josie and switch to the incoming call. She’s going to kill me, but I’ll deal with her later. “Hello?”

“Ms. Harper, it’s Griffin Lane again.”

“I know who it is.” So do the butterflies in my stomach. Stupid, stupid butterflies.

There’s a long pause, then he says, “I’d like to start over. I think we may have gotten off on the wrong foot.”

“Oh, you think?” I hope the snark masks the fact that I’m smiling from ear to ear.

“I do. I’d like to see you again.”

Again. He knows it was me at the brewery this afternoon. My cheeks heat, but I bite down on my lip to keep from squealing a resoundingyes!into the phone and making myself look like I’m this freakin’ easy to win over. I’m sure he has a million women throwing themselves at his feet, and I’m not about to be one of them.

Regardless of how badly I want to be. I’ll blame this burning desire on an over-active libido from months of neglect. Yeah. That’s all it is.

“May I take you to dinner?” he says to fill the silence.

“I don’t think that’s a good idea.” I cringe as the words leave my lips. It was the right response, but I don’t have to be happy about it.

“Oh?” There’s a hint of amusement in his tone. “My apologies. I must have misread the situation this afternoon when we met at the brewery.”

Oh my god.No, Griffin, no, you didn’t.“Yes, it appears that you did.” I lean against the wall and lightly bash my forehead against it a few times.

“Well, perhaps we could discuss this, uh, misunderstanding over dinner? I’d like to make it up to you; my behavior during our earlier phone call was unacceptable.”

“Yes, it was.”

“We agree on something.” His voice is still light with amusement. “So, what do you say? May I take you to dinner?”

I close my eyes and shake my head.

I am not this easy.

I am not this easy.

“Sure.”

Gah!

“Friday night?” Griffin asks. “We can celebrate your recent real estate acquisition.”

I purse my lips at the mention of the warehouse. He wanted it so badly ten minutes ago, but now he wants to take me out tocelebrate? Yeah. Right. Too bad for him I’m not an idiot. He’s obviously just trying to win me over so I’ll give in and accept his offer.

And I almost fell for it.

Almost.

I open my mouth to tell him he can shove his dinner where he shoved his offer, but then I pause…

What’s the harm in playing along? It’s just dinner. I haven’t been on a proper date in some time, and—though this is definitelynota real date—Icouldlet him think it is. Let him try to wine and dine me, let him think he’s got the upper hand… I bet he knows how to show a woman a good time. My belly tightens at the thought and I bite my bottom lip, but it does nothing to stop the smile returning to my face.

Dinner and drinks, then maybe a bit more, but not becausehe’shaving his way withme.

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