“I’m here to work, we’re surrounded by teenagers, not to mention your sister, and…” She frowned. “That’s enough.”

“Could I offer a counterargument?”

“Could I stop you? Something tells me you’re not used to hearing no either.”

Chase held her eyes and shook her head. “Lily, if it’s a definite no, it’s a definite no, and I won’t bother you again.”

Lily should’ve said no instantly. She’d just made all the arguments why it was a no. Instead she said nothing.

After a few seconds, Chase said, “I happen to think you’re an extraordinarily attractive woman, and I like your style.”

“My style?” Annoyed to be drawn in, Lily couldn’t help repeating, “My style?”

That little flicker of a grin again. God, she was good-looking.

“You’re intrepid, or else you wouldn’t be here. You’re obviously smart, considering what you do. Sarah’s a good judge of character, and if you’re her friend, that automatically spells loyalty and honesty. And”—she paused and her gaze darkened—“I like the way you look at me, Lily.”

“I don’t…” Lily was not in the habit of lying to herself, and she certainly wasn’t going to start now. “All right, I’m living and breathing, and you are…”

Chase’s brow rose and, again, that little smirk Lily was beginning to find amusing as well as sexy.

“You know damn well you’re attractive.”

“I’m only interested in being attractive to you.”

Lily laughed out loud. “That is a terrible line. And I know damn well you like being attractive to women. Plural.”

“All right, I’m only interested in being attractive to you, singular, right now.”

“Better.”

“And,” Chase went on, “to continue why I want to see you…as in spend time with you and that includes sexually, I find you attractive and you find me attractive and we’re both single, I believe we’ve established, and adults, so why shouldn’t we enjoy each other? It’s only one summer, Lily.”

“That’s being optimistic. How do you know it wouldn’t only be for one night?”

Chase lifted a shoulder. “Fair enough. I don’t, but I can hope.”

“You are terribly smooth for someone so young.”

“Come on, I’m not that young.”

“A decade at our age is young. And what we experience ages us too,” she said more quietly.

“I know what you’ve been through, Lily,” Chase said, “and I know it was hell. But do me the favor of not assuming that you know all there is to know about me.”

Lily took a slow breath. “You’re right, and I’m sorry. I don’t know a lot about you, and that’s maybe the point.”

“Do you always know a lot about the women you sleep with?”

“I usually know them well.”

“Friends first, sex later?”

Lily paused, thinking about it.