a couple of things…"
"Come on Denise, live a little. It can be a working dinner. I know how much you love your expense account."
He could tell she was vacillating so he pushed harder.
"I know the best little rib joint, and it's on the way to the hotel. You gotta eat doncha?"
She sighed heavily and threw her hands up, conceding.
"Alright Ansel you win. Lead the way."
Six
She'd let him drive. Why had she done that again?
Oh right, because she'd taken a taxi to the track from the airport. It had seemed silly to get a rental car for less than thirty hours. Now she felt like she could have used the car.
As armor.
Denise looked around the place Ansel had taken her. It was a tiny little juke joint on the edge of town, not far from the track. It oozed authentic charm and the smells of down home cooking were making her mouth water.
Maybe Ansel did have some good qualities after all. Other than his eyes.
Or his ass.
She'd been trying to avoid staring at it ever since she'd met him. Seeing his cute little ass wiggling out of his race car this afternoon had made that impossible. His bottom was in fact, just as cute as she'd thought it was.
Darn it.
Now he was watching her while she perused the menu. Except it looked like he already knew what he wanted.
Her.
She closed the menu and decided to tackle her accidental dinner date head on. Her stepmother had always said that bravery took the day. She also said that discretion was the better part of valor. Conflicting advice to be sure.
She sighed, deciding to go with a bit of both.
"What's good?"
He leaned back in the chair and grinned at her.
"Everything. But I recommend just going for the classics. Ribs, greens and a side of slaw."
"Sounds great."
"Oh, and beer."
"I don't usually drink. And you shouldn't the night before a race."
"Oh but it's a law."
"A law?"
"Uh huh. The law of barbecue. You have to have a beer. No choice."
She laughed and nodded.
"Okay, I'll have one. But you're driving."
"A couple of beers and all this ribs equals no beers for a lesser man."
"Ansel…"
He held up his hands.
"You win. One beer each. And extra biscuits. There's no way you can get drunk and eat biscuits at the same time."
"Well, I can't argue with that logic."
Ansel didn't say anything, he just watched her as they waited for their food. As soon as the pitcher of beer was set down, he poured them each a glass and went back to staring at her. It was discomfiting to say the least.
She tried to sip her beer and ignore him but it was impossible. Finally she couldn't take it anymore. She leaned forward and put her elbows on the table.
"Alright Ansel, what is it?"
He smiled and sipped his beer.
"What do you mean?"
"The probing look you are giving me?"
"Probing… interesting choice of words."
She threw her hands up in exasperation.
"Never mind.