Something lit up his face. Excitement? Surprise? Both?

He took my free hand in his and brought it to his lips. “I thought you’d never ask. I’ll show you how to play baseball so well, you’d be sought out by the MLB.”

“You won't be the star of the team after I’m done with you.”

I ate everything I ordered with ease and tucked away the trash into the bag. It was a habit to ensure I never made a mess anywhere. A habit I picked up in the name of self preservation.

There was a small moment of softness he had when I looked up. He pulled my hand into his and gently clasped them together. “Ready to go?”

All I could do was nod. Inside the car felt far too comfortable. The music too well picked. If I wagered to guess, he wanted to woo me before trying to get me into bed. The ‘why’ question still lingered in my mind. Especially when he started tracing circles on my hand with his thumb.

After what I imagined was wrestling with the thought to kidnap me again, he put the car in drive, choosing the long way home. I leaned against the window to enjoy the cast of fleeting lights on my face.

“Falling asleep again on me?”

“It’s been late each time you dragged me out,” I mumbled. “You can’t blame me for being tired.”

“You know, they say if you can fall asleep in someone’s presence, that means you’re comfortable with them.”

That had to have been the funniest thing I’d heard all year. “Guess you’re cozy with a lot of girls, then.”

“Fucking and sleeping are different.”

I kept my eyes closed with my face pointed at the window. There was no way I needed to see his expression to know I struck a chord. The big, bad playboy got offended when it came to relationships.

That information would be useful in my back pocket.

“Ah, yes. One requires a certain level of deepness.”

Despite his irritation at my response, I felt an odd sense of ease like the first night on the back of his motorcycle. Minus the wind.

The car stopped at the curb and we both looked at the glowing porch light. The shiny beacon told me Kelly was home.

Brent put the car in park and turned to me. “Does the light mean that your friend is home?”

My eyebrow perked up on its own. “It means that it’s too dark for me to be outside.”

A deep chuckle escaped him before he leaned in closer. “How about a kiss before you go in then? Over here since she interrupted us last time.” He nodded over in the general direction of my house.

He was amusing, I’d give him that. He also made me roll my eyes a thousand times per conversation. “You’re something else.”