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lamb into her mouth and chewed furiously.
    Her frown didn’t put him off. “Well, it worked before. It got you here, didn’t it?”
    She swallowed her mouthful. “You think I’m that easy to play?”
    “I’m not trying to play with you, Kim. I told you, I want to know you better.”
    “Yeah, whatever.” Didn’t he get it? The less he knew, the better. If he really got to know her, she’d just disappoint him, like she did everyone else.
    “You know, you never answered that question I asked the other night. In the car.”
    “What question?” She eyed him suspiciously.
    “You said you didn’t like your job. And I asked you what it was you’d really like to do.”
    “Oh, that.” Her tone was dismissive, but her heart rate bumped and her palms grew damp.
    “Come on. I’d really like to know. What’s your dream?”
    What’s your dream? No one had ever asked her that before. Sure, she had a dream. So what? For a knucklehead like her, it was as likely to come true as finding a unicorn. She’d never dared to tell anyone about it, afraid they’d laugh.
    She took a deep breath and Charlie waited, his eyebrows lifted in anticipation. “Later.”
    “Later?” He blinked in surprise.
    “Yeah. After you answer my challenge.” She gave him an evil little smirk.
    “Which is…”
    “I want you to spend the night with me.”
     

Chapter Seven
    Of course, they drove home separately, but when they had both parked their cars Kim took Charlie by the hand and led him up the stairs to her place.
    “Kim.” He spoke just as she slipped her key in the lock. “What’s this really about?”
    She stopped dead. “What do you mean?”
    “Does this have anything to do with your ex-boyfriend?”
    She could pretend not to know what Charlie meant, but what for? Seeing Adam tonight with his girl had knocked her for a loop. The way he looked at her. She wanted to be the focus of someone’s attention, too. If only for one night.
    Before she could answer, Charlie spoke.
    “Because I don’t like the idea of being anyone’s second best.”
    Her forehead creased in confusion. “What?”
    “I want you to know you’re here with me . Not that you’re pretending I’m him.”
    “You’re not him.” She threw her arms around his neck and kissed him to show just how much she wanted him . He responded, but when she drew back, she saw the hesitancy in his eyes.
    “I don’t usually do things this way,” he told her.
    “Assbackward.”
    Kim knew Charlie was right. They were rushing things. She was rushing them. There was always a part of her that knew better. Every time she dived headfirst into deep water without checking for crocodiles, part of Kim would shake her head and think big mistake . But the other part, the part that needed to feel good, needed someone’s arms around her, always won out. Even if she knew it wasn’t real, wasn’t love. For a little while, she’d feel less alone.
    “Really?” She made her voice airy as she at last unlocked the door. “You mean you don’t usually sleep with a woman on the first date? You’re lucky I’m so easy, then.”
    “Don’t.” His hand grasped her elbow and when she looked at him he was glowering. “Don’t call yourself that.”
    “Whatever. Look, if you don’t want to be here—”

    ****
    She was doing it again. Little Miss Hot and Cold. Drawing him close with one hand while her other pushed him away. How could someone with such a smart mouth and “I don’t give a shit” attitude be so insecure?

    “Listen up.” Charlie said, injecting a firm note in his voice. “I do want to be here.” There were a lot of things he wanted to say, but he used humor to defuse the situation. “Give me a break, all right?” He hitched his mouth into a lopsided grin. “I’m not used to being treated like a sex object.”
    Kim grinned back, her stiff shoulders relaxing.
    “Well, you are.” She opened the door and slipped her fingers behind his belt, pulling him inside.