He bit into his sandwich, chewed, then swallowed. “Whatever will you do with an entire summer off?”

“Read. Go to the pool. Shop. Maybe take a vacation somewhere.”

“Sounds fun.”

“Doesn’t it? What about you? Do you ever take a vacation?”

“It’s hard to be a business owner and take vacations, but yeah, I take time off now and then. I like to go camping in the summer.”

She wrinkled her nose. “Sounds like so much fun.”

He laughed. “I know you don’t mean that, but it actually is a lot of fun. You should try it sometime.”

“If my blow-dryer can’t go with me, then it’s not a vacation.”

“Where I camp, there are actual bathrooms. With outlets for your blow-dryer.”

She gave him a disbelieving look. “You’re lying.”

“I am not.” He leaned back in his chair and took a sip of coffee. “I was thinking, actually …”

He didn’t finish.

“Thinking what?”

He shrugged. “You wouldn’t go for it.”

“Wouldn’t go for what, Bash?”

He wanted her to want this, but if she didn’t, things between them would likely end. He didn’t know how he felt about that. But the only way he’d find out was to say it, and he wasn’t a coward. “You and I have been sleeping together. Why don’t we try actually dating?”

She stared at him. “Dating?”

“Yeah. Dating. You know, go out. Do things together.”

“Oh.”

“You might be surprised to find we have more in common than you think.”

She arched a brow. “You’ve seen my list, right?”

“I have. And you know what I think about your list.”

She rested her chin in her hand. “I believe you said it was stupid.”

“Did I?”

“You did.”

“Hmm. Maybe I did. Either way, let’s try this. I might surprise you.”

“You really want to date me? You know how picky I am.”

“Yeah. But I’m willing to take you out anyway.”

She laughed. He loved her laugh, because it was always genuine, and never forced. “Okay, Bash. You asked for it, and now you’ve got me.”

He liked the sound of that. As prickly as she was, she was also fun. “Good. Would you like to go out to dinner?”

“When?”

He thought about it. It might take some rearranging of his staff, but Hall had been pressing him for more responsibility—along with giving him shit for not taking more weekends off.

“How about tonight?”

Chelsea cocked her head to the side. “On a Saturday night?”

“Sure.”

“It’s your busiest night of the week.”

“Yeah, but Hall’s been doing a great job as assistant manager at the bar. I’ll let him know I’m not coming in tonight.”

She looked him over.

“What?”

“I’m trying to figure out if you’re going to break out in a sweat—or maybe hives—at the thought of not being there on a Saturday night.”

“Hey now. I’ve missed weekends. Just last month, as a matter of fact, when Logan and Des got married.”

“True.”

“So are we on for tonight?”

She hesitated, and he wondered if she’d turn him down—if she’d changed her mind.

But, finally, she smiled. “We’re on.”

Chapter 26

Chelsea had several things to do, so after breakfast, she went home, did some laundry, prepped her test list for Monday, and took a shower. After that, she tried to decide what she was going to wear for dinner.

She’d forgotten to ask Bash where they were going, but, knowing Bash, it wouldn’t be any place fancy. Still, she hated assuming. She supposed she could ask him. She sent him a text message.

Where are we going for dinner?

He answered about ten minutes later.

It’s a surprise.

She rolled her eyes. Typical man. She typed a response.

How am I supposed to know what to wear? Jeans or a dress?

Wear a dress. Mainly because you have great legs.

Interesting. Was he taking her someplace nice, or did he just want to ogle her legs?

She already knew the answer. Bash was a burger and fries kind of man. Maybe they’d go to a restaurant in Tulsa, or maybe to one of the steak joints, but it wasn’t going to be anywhere fancy.

He didn’t do fancy. He was a simple kind of guy. She could work with that.

The weather was warming, which she loved, because it meant her clothing options broadened. She chose a sleeveless black dress, low cut in the front, with high-heeled black sandals, and topped it off with a silver pendant that hung in the V between her breasts.

He might be taking her for steak or burgers, but she’d make sure he had something else delectable to look at besides the food.

She did her hair in soft waves and left it down so it caressed her shoulders, put on her favorite pair of diamond stud earrings, and left her wrists bare.

Then she examined herself in the mirror, turning back and forth to make sure the effect was as she intended. Her breasts were nicely accentuated in the dress, but not overly exposed. The dress hit just below her thighs, showing off the right amount of leg, and as she turned around, she was satisfied it highlighted her butt to perfection.

She was ready to knock Bash on his ass. She pulled out a cardigan, because the nights were still a little cool and she wasn’t sure where they were going.