Page 37 of No Strings Attached
“No. I’m okay, really. I can manage.”
“It’s dark and the path is a little icy,” he argues.
“I’ve walked in heels through Manhattan snowbanks. I’ll be fine.”
His mom intervenes. “Henson is right. It’s dark and we’d be terrible hosts if we left you alone. I remember how slippery those paths can get in winter.”
“I promise that’s not necessary.”
Henson just lifts a brow. “Mira.” A look that tells me I’m not winning this. Nadine widens her eyes slightly at the nickname, but doesn’t comment on it.
I raise my hands in defeat. “Fine, fine. You Millers don’t take no for an answer, huh?”
Nadine laughs. “He gets it from his father.”
I offer her a warm smile and say goodbye to everyone. Polite waves and a few last-minute holiday wishes follow me as I cross the threshold and step out into the chilly night, Henson at my side.
We walk the path in silence.
A thin layer of frost dusts the bare tree branches overhead, and the moonlight casts silver shadows across the ground. Ikeep my arms crossed for warmth, but mostly to have something to do with my hands.
When we reach the cottage tucked at the end of the trail, I stop at the door.
“Well,” I say, brushing my fingers over the doorknob, “this is me.”
“Go out with me on Friday.”
I blink. My head turns to him in slow motion. “What?”
Henson shrugs. “Go out with me.”
“Why?”
“Because I’ll be hungry,” he says smoothly. “You’ll be hungry. We should eat. Together.”
A surprised laugh escapes me. “I have a meeting that morning.”
“So lunch?”
I shake my head. “I’m meeting with your mom around noon.”
He groans. “Then dinner. And I’m not taking no for an answer.”
I lean against the door, biting back a smile. “Persistent.”
“Very.”
I gnaw on my bottom lip, then nod. “Okay, then. Dinner it is.”
Bad idea, Amira. I ignore my inner voice.
And against every ounce of logic and professionalism and self-preservation still left in me, I add, “Want to come in?”
15
THE ANSWER IS ALWAYS YES
HENSON
