I didn't let myself get nervous before I walked over to the diner. What would the point be? Besides, this wasn't a date. It was coffee as a thank you and an apology. There might be some flirting and I was definitely planning on admiring the view, but it wasn't anything more than that. Guys like him didn't date girls like me, even if I'd been thinking of it that way. I'd been a little surprised when he'd agreed to meet me in public, though I supposed he assumed no one would recognize him in a little diner on that side of town.

Still, I dressed up. I couldn't exactly say I'd dressed nicely because I doubted anyone would describe my outfit with that adjective, but it was tame compared to what I usually wore out. Skinny jeans and a simple long-sleeved black shirt with a fairly modest scooped neckline. I did wear a pair of heavy boots and my leather jacket. If I'd had normal hair, I might not have gotten a second look from anyone.

I saw the surprise in Rylan's eyes when I came into the diner, but I was too busy appreciating his jeans and fitted sweater to comment. I took the seat across from him and then realized this wasn't an area I had much experience in. Okay, I didn't have any experience at all. I didn't do the whole dating thing. I either worked with men or I fucked them; the second consisting of a brief exchange of words that may or may not include first names.

It wasn't until I tried to figure out what I was supposed to say that I realized I may have set the time and place, but I wasn't in control. I didn't like that at all. At least this wasn't an actual date.

“Do you want something to eat or just coffee?” Rylan motioned for a waitress.

“That depends.” I found my voice. “Does ordering a cheeseburger turn this into a dinner date? Because if it does, I'll stick with the coffee.”

He chuckled and I relaxed.

“Considering I've never had a woman order a cheeseburger on a date, I think you're safe.”

“No surprise there,” I replied.

The waitress raised her eyebrows when she saw me and then asked if we knew what we wanted. I ordered my cheeseburger and fries, then smirked when Rylan got the same thing. When the waitress walked away, I looked at him.

“It sounded good.” He shrugged, then leaned forward. “What did you mean when you said it wasn't a surprise?”

“Supermodels and actresses tend to stick with salads or shit like kale,” I answered matter-of-factly. Since I didn't know how I was supposed to be behave on a real date – which this wasn't – I'd just be me. Maybe by the end of the meal, he'd realize he dodged a bullet when I turned down his job offer.

“And what makes you think I date supermodels and actresses?”

I rolled my eyes. “Okay, so maybe all of them aren't exactly in that field, but they could be if they wanted to. Men like you date those kinds of women. The gorgeous ones who watch what they eat and spend half their day with a personal trainer.”

“Men like me?” He took a sip of his coffee.

“Good-looking, rich, powerful.” I glanced toward the waitress returning with my coffee. “Men like you.”

“So you do think I'm attractive.” He smiled, showing that dimple again.

I glared at him as I took a drink and burnt my tongue. “I don't really think that's an appropriate work conversation.”

“Then it's a good thing we're not at work and you turned down my job offer. I'm not your employer.” His eyes twinkled. “Which means I can tell you that while you look great, I was hoping for another mini-skirt, because you have amazing legs.”

I raised an eyebrow. That was a bit more forward than I'd expected from him. I thought he had devised this opportunity to try to talk me into taking his job offer. Of course, I'd thought charming and flirting would be part of the deal, but I'd expected subtle, nothing that could be taken for actual attraction.

“If that's the case, why'd you offer me a job?” I asked. “Were you planning on coming in every day to check out my legs?”

“That would've just been a bonus,” he said easily. “But I value your mind over your body.”

I wasn't quite sure how to take that one. I knew my employers valued my mind over my appearance, but I'd never heard anyone say they wanted my brain more than my body. I wasn't entirely sure how I felt about that. In fact, I wasn't sure how I felt about this entire encounter. It was a relief when the waitress brought our food and I was able to dig in.

“For the record,” Rylan broken the silence that had fallen while we'd started on our meals. “The reason most of my dates don't order cheeseburgers is because they're not generally on the menu.”

“Ah,” I said. “Too good for regular people food?”

He rolled his eyes and I almost choked on my hamburger from trying not to laugh. Sitting across from him, looking at the smear of ketchup on the corner of his mouth, watching him make the kind of face I'd seen guys in college make with their friends, I thought I could see a much younger version of Rylan Archer.

“What?” he asked.

I pointed to the side of my face. “You have some stuff on your cheek.”

He picked up a napkin and brushed at the wrong side.

I shook my head. I knew he was messing with me. His expression was serious, but there was a twinkle in his eyes. He dabbed at his cheek higher up and I knew what he was trying to bait me into doing. I bit, and reached for the napkin. He let me take it, his fingers brushing against mine. I was ready for the possibility of a touch this time so I didn't flinch or pull away. Besides, we were in a public place, which did give me a bit of a safety net.

I used the corner of the napkin to clean off the ketchup, and it was harder than I expected to pull away without touching his face. I was itching to know how the stubble on his cheeks and chin would feel against my fingers, if his lips were as soft as they looked.

I dropped my hand. “There, all better.” I resisted the urge to rub my hand on my pants. Usually, after this much time had passed since I'd met a guy, we'd either gone our separate ways or were already tearing each other's clothes off. And there was never any of this kind of light flirting.

When we were done here, I would need to get laid, just to get things back to normal.

I finished my cheeseburger without another word, keeping my eyes on my plate. I felt his gaze on me, but didn't look up to meet it. As attractive as I found Rylan and as good as the food was, I was ready for this... whatever this was to be over. This was why I didn't date. Too much of a risk of some sort of personal connection. Better just to fuck and flee.

“Is something wrong?” Rylan's voice was worried.

“No.” I shook my head as I glanced up at him. I regretted it immediately. Damn those eyes. I was used to having men either disgusted with me or visually undressing me. Not looking at me with interest and concern. Something inside me sparked and I shoved it down. I wasn't going there. I needed a distraction. “So, Mr. Rylan Archer, CEO, how did you explain that shiner to your employees?”

He laughed and let me change the subject. He brushed his fingers across the deep purplish bruise beneath his eye as if just remembering it was there. “I considered trying to cover it up with make-up, but then I realized I'd look kind of silly trying to figure out how to match my coloring.”

I smiled in agreement.

“So I just told them the truth.”

“Seriously?” I stared at him.

“I told them I was mugged by a three hundred pound biker.”

I laughed, and the tension that had been building eased.

“Actually, I didn't offer an explanation and no one asked,” he admitted. “It was a little embarrassing.” He quickly clarified. “Not because you're a woman, but because I over-stepped by touching your arm.”

“I over-reacted,” I said. “It was my fault.”

He waved his hand. “Neither here nor there. It's over. No need to discuss it.” He popped the last bite of his cheeseburger into his mouth.

“So we've had our apologies for our behavior,” I said. “And we've both finished our meal...”

“In that much of a hurry to get rid of me?” The question was asked as a joke, but I sensed the undercurrent of seriousness in it.

“More like I just have somewhere I have to be,” I lied. Well, only partially lied. I was planning on finding myself someone to fuck, but I wasn't sure that constituted a place I needed to be.

“I see.” He nodded. He didn't look annoyed, but there was a mixture of frustration and disappointment in his eyes. When I stood, he did the same. “When can we do this again?” He held out his hand.

I took it and couldn't deny the pleasurable tingle that ran across my skin. That just confirmed my answer to his question. “I don't think that's such a good idea.” I turned and walked away before he could ask why. I wasn't sure I could answer him if he did.