"what?" she said, casting him an annoyed glance, arms folding defensively over her chest.

"you look nice."

her mouth opened as if she was about to give him a smart-assed reply, then she closed it, eyes narrowing.

"really," he said. he wanted to tell her that it was okay to accept the compliment, that it wasn't demeaning or anything for someone who tried so hard to be just one of the guys. "really nice," he said, in a way that meant his appreciation of her beauty had nothing to do with wanting to get her into the sack.

not that he wouldn't love that, but he hadn't meant the compliment in that way.

"thank you," she said, her voice sounding a little suspicious.

okay, so maybe the appreciative look he gave her did border on lingering, and definitely indicated that he was interested.

"se