Things Good Girls Don't Do by Codi Gary Page A

beginning and he wasn’t going to be the one to scare her off by acting boyfriendly. Nice as she might be, he didn’t want her to have any kind of power over him.
    Too late for that.
    “I’m sorry about last night. I was embarrassed about the . . . you know, things on the bed.”
    He shrugged. “It’s fine, I wasn’t mad.”
    She cocked her head. “Really? ’Cause you rushed out and it just seemed like . . . but if you say you’re fine . . .”
    “I am. And I didn’t rush out; I was respecting your wishes.” Shut up, asshole, and stop making things worse. He took a bite of his burger and groaned. “I love Jensen’s.”
    He caught her frown changing to a smile and almost released a sigh of relief. Just what he needed: to act all butt-hurt. That would be a surefire way to end things before they’d even started.
    Katie took a bite of her burger and moaned. “Mmm.” Swallowing and dabbing her mouth with a napkin, she said, “No one makes burgers the way Jensen’s does. I love that he puts fry sauce on them.”
    “I don’t know, there’s this diner my mom has worked at for twenty years and it has this special sauce that might make you change your mind,” he said.
    “I’ll have to taste this sauce for myself. Can’t take your word for it,” she said.
    “Why not?”
    “’Cause, I’m still getting to know you. I don’t even know if you’re a Coke or Pepsi guy,” she said.
    “Coke,” he said quickly, before stuffing a French fry in his mouth.
    “Hmmm . . . I’m a Pepsi girl. Although, the truth is, my favorite soda is Dr. Pepper,” she said.
    As strange as it was for her to put so much stock in his choice of pop, it wasn’t the weirdest conversation he’d ever had. Although he was a bit surprised when, in mid-bite, she followed it with, “So, have you been tested for . . . stuff?”
    He raised his eyebrow, knowing exactly what she was talking about but loving the way she nervously stuttered. “Yeah. I’m clean.” She looked relieved and he laughed. “What about you?”
    She nodded. “After I found out Jimmy had . . . cheated, I got tested.”
    “And there’s been nobody since your ex?”
    She shook her head, and he was secretly pleased she didn’t just hop into bed with anyone, although it wouldn’t have mattered if there had been someone else. He wanted her too much and he wasn’t exactly a saint.
    They finished their food, and he got down from his stool, taking two steps closer to stand between her legs. She leaned back on the counter and he put his hands on her thighs as he asked, “So does this little interview mean you want me to come over tonight?”
    “I don’t know.” She nibbled on her lip and he leaned over to kiss it, taking the plump flesh into his mouth and sucking gently. He slid his tongue over it, happy to be able to taste her like this. He had been worried when he left last night that he’d blown it, and the thought had been like a sucker punch. Katie had wormed her way under his skin, and he just couldn’t seem to shake wanting her.
    “Do you have your list?” he asked, pulling back from her.
    Her eyes still closed, she tried to bring him back to her. “It’s in my purse.”
    Chuckling, he reached out to grab her purse off the counter and gave her a quick kiss. “Hmmm . . . why do women keep so much shit in these things?” he asked as he started rummaging through the bottomless pit of change, lip gloss, and other odd items only a girl would think she’d need.
    “Because we like to be prepared, whereas men would rather MacGyver their way through life,” she said.
    Looking up with a grin, he said, “Struck a nerve?”
    “No, I’m used to hearing that kind of thing from men, and with you being such a guy’s guy, I figure you probably call women ‘chicks’ and slap barmaids’ butts,” she said.
    “Guess we’ll have to go out and find a barmaid. See if your theory is right.” He found the napkin and held it up. “Aha!”
    “Look