“I can be adventurous.” She was still arguing with me as she slid off her barstool and put on her way-too-thin coat. I wanted to point out that she shouldn’t be walking anywhere in that. She’d likely get sick or something. But I bit my tongue. I was already pushing boundaries with her, and an overbearing comment like that might push a girl like Frankie to her limit.

“Whatever you say,” I said.

“You just met me. You don’t know me,” she huffed as she followed me to the front of the bar and out the door.

I turned to look at her and she came to a crashing halt, almost running right into my chest. “I might not know you, know you. But I know you.”

The moonlight lit up the street outside. Frankie looked even more beautiful out here than under the harsh neon glow of the bar lights.

“What does that even mean?” She let out a frustrated sigh.

Even though she was incredibly irritated with me right now, I still felt tempted to ask her back to my place—a place I hadn’t even been yet. Frankie was stunning. Tense and easily bothered, sure, but stunning, nonetheless. I had to drag my gaze away from her pout.

She must have caught the shift in my eyes because she traced her lips with her tongue. Damn. That wasn’t fair.

Who was I kidding? Frankie wasn’t the type of girl to proposition for a one-night stand or anything of that nature. She looked like she overthought everything. Probably had to go home and make a pros and cons list before she made even the smallest of decisions.

But still, I did see a flicker of something in her eyes. Lust? Intrigue? Maybe it was just frustration. I couldn’t quite place it, but the way she seemed to forget we were still arguing as she lingered by my side said everything I needed to know.

We stood outside, wordless, for what felt like a while but surely was only seconds. The cold evening air was far more bitter than it had been in Denver, and I fought the urge to reach out and put an arm around Frankie and her insufficient coat.

“Look, I’m a straight shooter. Sorry if I offended you,” I offered. “Can I walk you home or something?”

“I’m fine. My sister lives right around the corner.” Her voice was softer than it had been only minutes ago.

“Alright, then,” I said, disappointed this was where we’d be leaving things.

Warm air trickled from her pink lips, and I found myself unable to take my eyes off of them.

“You’re right,” she whispered, taking me by surprise. “I’m not adventurous.”

I lifted an eyebrow. “Look, I shouldn’t have⁠—”

“You know what’s something I would never do?” she continued.

“What?” I breathed, our bodies drawing closer together as if they were magnetized.

“Kiss a random stranger outside a bar who I’ll never see again.” Her voice shook, but her eyes were determined.