Page 37 of Domino
“I don’t deny that. But you’re dodging and deflecting now.”
“Oh, is that what I’m doing?”
She walks away again, laughing to herself. At least it seems like she’s sort of starting to warm up. There’s a crack in that wall of ice around her. It’s slight and small, but it’s definitely there. She’s doing her best to maintain that façade of cold contempt, but it’s not very convincing, to say the least.
I watch her buzzing around to the other tables, talking and laughing with her guests. She’s got a beautiful smile that really lights up her face. What I wouldn’t give to see her show me that smile. She’s a tough nut to crack, that’s for sure. But I will crack her. One way or another, sooner or later, I will definitely crack her. Like I said, I love a good challenge.
I swallow down my coffee and wave my mug in the air, catching her attention. I can see her shake her head to herself, but she goes behind the counter and grabs the pot. A moment later, she comes to my table and refills my mug.
“Why do you hate me?” I ask.
“I don’t even know you. I certainly don’t hate you.”
“Oh, well that’s good. That’s a good starting point then.”
“It’s not a starting point for anything. It’s just stating a fact.”
I shrug. “Potayto, potahto.”
She puts her hand on my hip and stares at me. “You’re pretty cocky for a guy who’s been shot down a hundred times already.”
“I don’t think we’ve reached a hundred.”
“Will you give up if we do?”
I arch an eyebrow at her. “I never give up. Not when there’s something I want in my sights.”
She laughs softly and I see that sparkle in her eyes again that makes me think she’s simply putting on the playing hard to get act. That she enjoys being pursued. And that’s all good with me. Half the fun is in the chase. It’s always the best part of any sort of burgeoning romance, if you ask me.
“Is that so?” she asks.
I nod. “You’ll find that the word ‘quit’ isn’t in my vocabulary.”
“And maybe one day you’ll find out there’s a different between being persistent and being annoying, bordering on creepy as hell.”
“Oh, I know the difference. And it’s a good thing I never cross that line.”
Ashley walks away again, muttering to herself, and tends to her other tables. She has such an easy confidence about her that I find attractive. And the way she banters with me and fires back, not letting me get away with anything is a massive turn on. I’ve always liked smart women who can snap back like she does. It’s sexy, makes things fun, and keeps things lively.
A few minutes later, she drops off my plate of food and refills my coffee again. She’s doing her best to avoid looking at me, but I can see her stealing glances at me from the corner of her eye.
“You still haven’t answered my question,” I tell her. “Have dinner with me. If not tonight, then another night.”
She gives me a devilish smile. “Golly. I guess I haven’t given you an answer to your question, huh?”
She turns and walks away, and I can hear her laughing to herself. It makes me chuckle and shake my head. With nothing left for it at the moment, I tuck into my meal. And as I do, I keep my eye on her. She’s obviously fucking with me right now by dragging this out and not answering my question.
But the fact that she hasn’t flat out said no tells me she’s at least somewhat intrigued. Ashley doesn’t strike me as the kind of woman who beats around the bush. In the brief time I’ve known her, she seems like somebody who’s blunt. She’s direct and doesn’t sugarcoat things. She’ll tell it like it is, and you’ll always know where you stand with her. I respect and admire that quite a lot, actually.
I drain the last of my orange juice and push the empty plate away from me, my belly full. Ashley appears at my table and scoops up my dishes, and with her other hand, sets my check down on the table. Before I can ask the question once more, she flounces away.
“I’ll come back every day until you say yes, you know,” I tell her.
She shrugs. “Keep tipping like you do and you can come back anytime you want.”
“Have dinner with me.”
She smiles. “Have a good day.”
