As if he’d read her mind, flames flickered in his eyes, and his muscles tensed. With a gaggle of brothers and male cousins, if anyone knew not to poke a bear, it was her, but she couldn’t help it. She lifted her chin and said, “Maybe I like trouble.”

“I have no doubt.”

The air between them thickened with sexual tension, the intensity of their connection sparking hot, greedy desires. She’d never felt anything so dark. It felt taboo, wanting a man she knew nothing about. She swallowed hard, trying to resist the lust pooling inside her, but the way he was looking at her, like he was fighting it too, made it that much more exciting. In the next second, his brows knitted, and as if he caught himself getting sucked into whatever this wickedness was between them, he released her hand and went to close the bay doors.

“Don’t worry. The other guy will get your Barbie ride all fixed up for you.”

“You really do have something against pink, don’t you?”

“Not on things that are supposed to be pink, like blush on your cheeks or a bunny’s nose.”

“A bunny’s nose?” She laughed. “That’s a funny thing for a guy to say.”

“Can’t a guy like bunnies?”

“Yes, but most guys I know would say Playboy Bunnies.”

He cocked an arrogant grin that made him impossibly hotter. “I didn’t know you wanted specifics. Do you want to know which cheeks I meant, too?”

“Ah, there it is. Your inner caveman.”

“You brought up Playboy Bunnies, not me. How about you worry about your ride and not my color preferences?”

“Whatever.” She liked his brash personality more than she should. “I hope there’s nothing major wrong with my Vespa. I want to drive it to the fireworks tomorrow night. It’s such a pain to find a spot for my Jeep.”

“You got someone picking you up?”

“For the fireworks? No, but that’s a good idea.”

He shook his head. “I meant now.”

“Oh, no. I’m going to work. I’ll get an Uber.”

“I doubt your brothers would want you getting in a car with someone you don’t know. Give me a second to wash my hands and clock out, and I’ll give you a lift.”

“You don’t have to do that.”

“It’s the least I can do after pissing you off the other night.”

“You didn’t piss me off.”

“You shouldn’t lie to yourself.”

That took her by surprise. Most people didn’t want to be lied to. “Okay, you did piss me off, but my crappy mood didn’t help. Did you really think I sang too fast?”

He held his hands up in surrender. “I plead the Fifth.”

“Come on. I can take it.”

“I’m not dumb enough to go back for seconds.”

“Are you always so annoyingly and refreshingly honest?”