I smiled slightly as I moved my gaze up, centering on her mouth. “That’s what a date is all about. Getting to know each other. Go out on a date with me.”

“There’s nothing to know about me,” she whispered.

“I’m sure there is tons to know about you.”

“There’s not.”

I leaned closer, inhaling her sweet scent. “Then we can spend the time with me talking.”

“That sounds like fun.”

“Oh, it will be more thrilling than watching Raphael cross a road.”

“Ha.” Amusement flashed in her dark eyes.

“Thought you’d like that.”

Her gaze flickered to where her bag rested against her legs and then back to mine. “Can we go yet?”

“Can we go on a date?”

A sound of frustration came from her. “Good God, you don’t give up.”

“Nope.”

Shortcake laughed, and I couldn’t stop the smile from forming on my lips. I liked the sound of her laugh, when she really laughed. “I’m sure there are plenty of girls who want to go out on a date with you.”

“There are.”

“Wow. Modest aren’t you?”

“Why should I be? And I want to go out on a date with you. Not them.”

She shook her head slightly. “I don’t understand why.”

And I didn’t understand why she didn’t get it. “I can think of a few reasons. You’re not like most girls.” True. “That interests me.” And it really did. “You’re awkward in this really . . . adorable way. You’re smart. Want me to list more?”

“No. Not at all,” she replied. “I don’t want to go out on a date with you.”

I didn’t believe it. Call it intuition, experience, or plain old cockiness, I didn’t believe her at all. “I figured you’d say that.”

“Then why did you ask?”

I leaned back, grabbing the side of the door. “Because I wanted to.”

“Oh. Well. Okay. Glad you got it out of your system.”

What did she think this was? Hell, I didn’t even know what this was. “I haven’t gotten it out of my system.”

Her shoulders slumped. “You haven’t?”

“Nope.” I smiled. “There’s always tomorrow.”

“What about tomorrow?”

“I’ll ask you again.”

She shook her head. “The answer will be the same.”

“Maybe. Maybe not.” I tapped the tip of her nose, grinning as she narrowed her eyes at me. “And maybe you’ll say yes. I’m a patient guy, and hey, like you said, I don’t give up easily.”

“Great,” she muttered, but there was a glimmer in her eyes, the same sheen that had been there when she was checking me out.

“Knew you’d see it that way.” I tweaked the tip of her nose, and she smacked my hand away. “Don’t worry. I know the truth.”

“The truth about what?”

I moved back in case she swung again. “You want to say yes, but you’re just not ready.”

Shortcake looked like she actually did see a ghost.

“It’s okay. I’m a lot to handle, but I can assure you, you’ll have fun handling me.” Before she could respond, I tapped her nose and then closed the door, grinning to myself as I loped around the front of the truck.