Her tone is full of mock outrage, but the corners of her mouth betray her.
She's enjoying this.
I don't even consider denying it.
“I am absolutely checking out my hot lunch date.”
She presses a hand dramatically to her chest.
“Hot lunch date, huh?”
Her eyes sparkle.
“What about you?”
For a split second my brain completely stalls.
“What?”
I blink.
“Wait. You think I'm hot?”
The surprise in my voice isn't even a little fake.
It slips out before I can hide it.
She studies me like she's trying to decide whether I'm serious.
“You're kidding.”
“No.”
I laugh softly.
“Not kidding.”
She gestures vaguely toward me with her chopsticks.
“Well...”
She looks me up and down so unapologetically that my ears actually start to warm.
“You're built like you could bench-press my SUV.”
A grin tugs at my mouth.
“I probably could.”
“I knew it.”
“That's your evidence?”
“Oh, I'm not finished.”
Something flutters low in my chest.
“No?”