"Yes."
She steps outside, into my personal space, closes the door behind her, and replies, "Just so you know, there won't be any sex tonight. This is purely dinner and conversation. And it's a once-off. And if you try and pull that bullshit again, it won't work."
I can't control it—my lips curl up into a smile. The woman has fire in her that I'm not sure I could ever get enough of. "What bullshit are we talking about exactly? You know, so that I don't do it again." She's standing so damn close to me that I'm concerned about keeping my hands to myself, but at the same time, she's not standing close enough.
She places her hand on my chest and lightly pushes me. "You know exactly what bullshit I'm talking about, Tanner. Now, go."
Stepping to the side, I gesture for her to lead the way, which she does, while I follow, making sure to commit every line of her body to mind.
Once I have her settled in the passenger seat of my BMW, I steer the car in the direction of the restaurant I've chosen for tonight. Glancing at her, I ask, "So, did you tick anything off your five-year plan today?" I keep my gaze on her just long enough to see her eyes narrow in annoyance. I'd been aiming for a laugh, but I realise it may take me some time to break down her walls of seriousness. I have no problem with this—I've all the time in the world.
"Smart-arse," she mutters. "Why did you ask me on a date if all you're going to do is make fun of me?"
"I'm not making fun. It's just my way of asking you what you did today."
She doesn't say anything for a few moments and I wonder if I've completely pissed her off or if she can get her head out of her arse and see my sense of humour for what it is. Eventually, she shifts sideways to face me. "I did tick something off my five-year plan today, if you really want to know."
Thank you, God.
"I do. What was it?"
"I paid off the last of my credit card debt, so that means I am debt-free now." The pride is clear in her voice and I respect the hell out of her for clearing her debt.
Shooting her a smile, I say, "Good for you, sweetheart. Not many people manage to do that. I had credit card debt once and all I had to show for it was nights out on the booze, a holiday to Bali, and clothes. I hope you at least bought better shit than that."
"My debt was from two years ago when I helped my sister leave a bad marriage. She needed furniture and bills paid, and the only way I could come up with the money was to get a credit card."
My suspicions that underneath beast mode is an amazing person are slowly being confirmed. I don't know anyone in my circle of friends who would do that.
I glance at her again. "Your sister couldn't afford to pay the debt off?"
"No, she's a single mum with two little kids and can barely make ends meet as it is. I told her I didn't want her to pay it off." The way she speaks about her sister reveals the love she has for her and I wonder about the rest of her family after what she told me about her dad.
"She's your only sister?"
"Yes, it's just Lesley, me, and Mum. Lesley lives in Sydney and Mum is still in Dubbo."
"So how did you meet my sister? Were you over in LA?" I've been trying to piece this together for days.
"No. She saw one of my Instagram posts about my business and contacted me. We did a fair bit of online chatting before I finally met her when she came home a few months ago. I spent a lot of time with her while she was here and then online again while she was in Europe before she came back just recently."
I stop at the traffic light and turn to face her. "I don't know exactly what you do, except for the styling part of your business, but something you've done for her has really given her some confidence, because the Ana I'm seeing now is so much happier and has more faith in herself. Thank you for that."
She blinks a few times and it's like her whole body loosens. When her eyes light up a second later and she smiles, I finally see what I knew had to be under all that armour she wears. Juliette Taylor has a softer side, and I think I'm about to meet it.
Chapter Five
JULIETTE
Crap. This is not how tonight is supposed to go. He was supposed to pick me up, take me to dinner, continue to show me why he's all kinds of wrong for me, and then take me home. And then I was supposed to never see him again. Instead, he showed me all kinds of right during the drive here, and then backed that up during the entrée. Now we're having our main course and I'm ready to bow down and declare my newfound fascination for tattoos and beards.
And sexy lips that whisper promises of heaven without even uttering a word.
I've spent the better part of this date explaining my business to him. I love the interest he's showing in it—none of my friends or family seem to understand my entrepreneur thinking, but Tanner appears to really get it.