“After a statement like that? Probably.” Zach’s tone was smooth, never wavering.

She didn’t dare turn to face him, even though she could feel him right behind her. The last thing she needed to see was one of his smug expressions. Sexy. Attractive. Smug. She shook the words out of her head, key scraping the lock on the deadbolt. He was so infuriating.

She forced her tone to remain calm. “So predictable. But that’s not why. Most people are predictable. I don’t have to be single, there are options out there for me. I know the same secrets you do. A little confidence tinged with a smattering of arrogance goes a long way. Two problems with that. One, I’m not interested in my available options, and two, mine is genuine, yours comes from the dry cleaner pre-pressed in a plastic bag to keep the dust off the shoulders.”

“I assume there’s a point to the insults?” His voice still didn’t give anything away. There was no negotiation or seduction in the flat question. Or anger. Or anything.

The keys slipped from her hands, hitting the concrete with a clang. She cursed whatever god was listening and crouched to grab them. Her fingers brushed something warm and she realized it was his hand. He had beat her to the dropped keys. She swallowed and stood, turning to face him and waiting for him to hand them back over.

He stepped closer, reaching around her. There was something in his eyes. A hint of amusement maybe amidst the irritation? His breath smelled like peppermint gum and cigarette smoke. “Let me help.”

Her temperature rose another notch and fury pumped through her. The presumptuous ass had blocked her in. “Does it ever get old, wearing that gaudy painted mask meant to keep everyone at bay until you’re ready to reel them in? You don’t want a woman who’s independent. You want someone who looks good on your arm. Someone who supports you, who hob knobs with the best of them, and who looks just as good in her evening dress as she does sliding out of it.”

He slid the key into the lock and turned it without a problem. A smile was creeping across his lips and he tilted his head closer. “You’re not that woman, then?”

She was having a hard time focusing on the anger. Damn it, why did he have to be smart enough to argue back? Maybe just one kiss wouldn’t hurt. She mentally shook herself again, steeling her resolve. “Cute. I’m a novelty. I hold different things close, I say things no one else would because to me, they don’t matter, and I don’t care if the CEO of GM likes the way I look in black spandex because I’m not counting on him to invest in my boyfriend’s start-up. I’m fun to play with, to prod, to examine, and to try and figure out. Once that gets boring, I’m not fun anymore. I won’t play the social games, I’m not even all that interested in playing the mind games these days. But you, you earn a living off it. You’re not as stupid as most of them. You actually know when you’re pulling strings. You’re not used to meeting someone whose strings are in a different place. Once you find mine, I’ll be as stale as the girl you picked up last week in LA. Useless, tossed aside. Boring.”

“Is it me you think that little of, or yourself?” His counter was a whisper. His face hovered inches from hers, eyes searching her face. The smile was still there, but it wasn’t an arrogant expression.

She pushed back the instinct to close her eyes and sink into the gesture. She bet he was an amazing kisser. Lots of practice and all that. The reminder brought back a hint of her sanity. But her words didn’t have the force behind them that she wanted. “See? Even now you’re still trying to figure out how I tick. It won’t make either of our lives better if you figure out how to seduce me. I’ll end up a whimpering pile of tears in the corner and you won’t care at the end of the week. Give the challenge up now. Go find a different toy to play with.”

“What if you’re wrong? What if I don’t get bored in a week?” His forehead was touching hers. He let go of the keys, leaving them dangling in the lock, and moved his hand to rest on her hip. Heat radiated off his body as his stepped closer. “What if I’m being sincere?”

“Don’t pretend to change just to prove a point.” She didn’t think she meant the words any more. Her mouth was running on auto-pilot but her head was screaming at her to give in. She could feel his right hip pressed against hers, his warm breath on her check.

He leaned in closer, mouth centimeters from hers. “You’re wrong, you know.”