Ruthless Creatures by J.T. Geissinger

In his pause, I feel his surprise. “You’re asking me out on a
date?”
I groan. “Cut me a break, will you? I’m not good at this!”
“I don’t know, you seem pretty good at it. Professional,
even.”
I bristle at his mischievous tone. “Are you teasing me?”
“Maybe a little.”
“Well, stop it!”
“Sorry,” he says, not sounding sorry at all. “Teasing is one
of my favorite things.”
The innuendo in his voice stops me cold. “Did we, or did
we not, just agree that you would dial it down?”
He says innocently, “I have no idea what you mean.”
Yeah, right. “Back to tonight. Are you in?”
His voice turns thoughtful. “I don’t know. It depends.
Where are you taking me?”
I put the phone down by my waist, lean my head back, and
close my eyes. After a moment, I put the phone back to my
ear.
“What happened? Did I lose you?”
“Still here. Just feeling bad for every man who’s ever
asked a woman out on a date.”
“No fun putting yourself out there, is it?”
“It’s really miserable. I don’t know how you guys do it.”
“We’re a persistent bunch.” He lowers his voice. “And in
my case, relentless.”
The teacher’s lounge has emptied. Lunch is over, and I’m
due at a staff meeting in two minutes.
I couldn’t care less.
“I noticed that about you. Right after I noticed you have a
tendency to do an about-face that could give a girl whiplash.”