As Hot as It Gets
Page 9

Another wave of laughter poured out of him. She looked so confused and upset and he knew he shouldn’t laugh. He really, really shouldn’t be laughing, but his attempt at reconnecting with this woman had failed so miserably it was impossible not to find it hilarious.
“And you’re laughing at me,” Mia said in disbelief. “Wow. Just. Wow.”
“I’m sorry,” he choked out. “I don’t mean to laugh, darlin’. But the look on your face right now…” He smothered another chuckle and tried to compose himself. “Shit. I really am sorry. Why don’t we start over? Afternoon, Mia. It’s good to see you again.”
She gaped at him.
“I’m not following you,” he added. “I’m friends with Seth and Miranda.”
“You’re friends with Seth and Miranda.”
“Yep. I caught a ride with Seth from the base—”
“You caught a ride with Seth from the base.”
“Yeah, we’re both SEALs. Anyway—”
“You’re both SEALs.”
“—he’s drivin’ me home soon, but I wanted to say hi to you before we—”
“You wanted to say hi.”
Jackson stopped. “Are you just gonna keep repeating everything I say?”
“Are you going to prove to me I’m not being stalked right now?” she shot back. “Because I’m not sold on that yet, bud.”
He swept his gaze over her indignation-flushed cheeks. “You’re dang pretty when you’re mad, sugar.”
Her jaw fell open again. “Flirting? You’re flirting with me? How about explaining yourself, sir!”
Amusement tickled his throat. “All righty. Here’s the thing, Mia. I’d really like to have dinner with you.”
“Oh, for the love of…”
“Unfortunately, you were mighty difficult the last time we spoke, so I figured we needed to try this again.”
Her mouth slammed shut. She looked around the backyard for a moment, and then understanding dawned in her eyes. “Wait a minute—you hired my company to work this yard so you could ask me out again? This job is a farce?”
His lips twitched. “The job is not a farce. This is my wedding present to Seth and Miranda. You saw the state of their yard—it definitely needed the work.”
“But you specifically requested me to do it.”
“Yep.”
Mia shook her head in amazement. “You do realize that’s nuts, right?”
“Naah, it’s not nuts. Just persistent.”
“Persistent,” she echoed.
“Persistent,” he confirmed. When she didn’t speak, he slanted his head and searched her gaze. “So, about that dinner…”
This time her jaw opened so wide it almost hit the grass. “Seriously? After everything I just heard, sugar, what makes you think I’d go out with you?”
“Because you want to.”
Mia didn’t know whether to kick Jackson in the shin or simply burst out laughing. Never in her wildest dreams had she expected to see this man again, let alone here, at a new client’s house. The lengths he’d gone to in order to ask her out triggered a tidal wave of disbelief, but she’d be lying if she said she wasn’t a tiny bit flattered. No man had ever pursued her so hard, especially one as spectacular-looking as Jackson.
But still. She couldn’t go out with him. Her former shrink would tell her that enabling stalker behavior was a recipe for disaster.
“I told you, I don’t have time to date,” she finally responded, whipping off her cap so she could run a frazzled hand through her hair.
“One dinner, Mia.” His tone softened, his whiskey-brown eyes taking on a vulnerable glimmer.
The vulnerability threw her for a loop. A man as big and sexy as this one wasn’t supposed to be so…sweet.
Sweet? Oh boy, she was in trouble. She wondered if there was a Stockholm Syndrome-esque diagnosis for women who developed crushes on their stalkers.
“You can’t deny you’re enjoyin’ this,” he went on, shooting her the most adorable grin she’d ever seen in her life. “You, me, this easy banter we’ve got goin’ on.”
She had to sigh. “It’s definitely rom-com-level banter, I’ll give you that.”
“Look, darlin’, I like you.” He shrugged sheepishly. “And I think you like me too. So what’s the harm in having one teeny weeny dinner together?”
Teeny weeny? Shit. The lame words only made him more endearing.
Oh, throw the man a bone, girlfriend. He’s practically groveling at your feet.
Another sigh rose in her throat. Argh. Truth was, she did like him. He was tall and gorgeous and charming as all get-out. And maybe saying yes to a date wouldn’t be a terrible idea. She hadn’t gone out with anyone in ages, and she couldn’t live like a nun forever.
“Come on,” he cajoled. “One dinner.”
After a long beat of hesitation, Mia capitulated.
“Fine.”
His expression lit up like a Christmas tree, which caused a rapid caveat to exit her mouth.
“One dinner,” she said sternly. “We’ll eat some food, banter some more, and that’s it. I’m not committing to a second date, got it?”
His surprisingly full lips quirked up in a smile. “Got it. Don’t worry, I’ll be a gentleman—I won’t demand a second date until we’ve got the first one squared away.”