“I can be when the situation warrants it. It’s rather simple, in my opinion. You’re injured and in pain and can’t do anything about it until the clinic opens in the morning. You’ve got a wicked set of winding stairs between you and the bathroom. We hardly know each other, so naturally you’re going to want to be rid of me as soon as possible. You’re a nice girl, so you’d never ask me to stay even though you know you need my help.” He shrugged. “By being pushy, I save us both a lot of time that we could spend on more important topics, such as whether or not you’re going to have dinner with me.”

She stared at him, seemingly flabbergasted.

“It’s a rather simple question that requires a rather simple answer. Dinner. Yes or no?”

“What suddenly made you decide you want to have dinner with me? Were you bored on the way home and I was the first woman you encountered along the way?”

“A, it’s not ‘suddenly.’ And B, I haven’t been bored in longer than I can remember. Too busy to be bored.”

She eyed him shrewdly, which was a major turn-on. He loved a woman who was not only gorgeous but intelligent and funny and challenging, too. “Going back to answer A, what’s that supposed to mean?”

“After Alex introduced us, I wanted to get to know you better, but things have been crazy, and I haven’t had a chance to pursue it further. So imagine my surprise—and pleasure—when I encounter you on a dark road and you’re in need of my assistance.”

“So you’re pleased I sprained my ankle?”

“Not at all. That’s a huge bummer. But I’m glad it was me who found you out there and that I was able to kill two birds with one stone. And before you can give me that look again, I’ll say that bird one was getting you home safely and bird two is having the chance to ask you out.”

“You’re smooth. I’ll give you that.”

He sent her his most rakish smile. “Why, thank you, honey.”

She rolled her eyes.

“Is that a yes or a no?”

“I’ll think about it.”

“I’ll take you up in my plane.”

“Does that line work for you?”

“Almost all the time.”

“You’re probably long overdue for someone to make you work for it.”

“I’m your faithful servant. Work me over.”

“Oh my God, you’re too much.” She sounded annoyed, but her eyes sparkled with delight that told him she was enjoying this conversation every bit as much as he was.

“You got any booze around here?”

“There’s beer in the fridge and whisky over the stove.”

“Oh, my two favorites. How about a shot of whisky to take the edge off the pain?”

“That actually sounds good.”