A gleam of laughter sparked in her dark eyes. “Too manly for you, Slick?”

“This is the third time you’ve insulted my manhood. Perhaps you’re baiting me to prove myself?”

Ah, interesting. She caught her breath, and a flicker of awareness passed over her features. She wasn’t immune. She was hiding.

He loved a game of hide-and-go-seek.

“No need. I’ve heard through the grapevine you’re a sure thing.”

He almost spluttered the awful brew onto his shirt. “What?”

She ran a towel over the damp bar and shot him a smug look. “Women talk, especially around alcohol. Your name came up a few times.”

He cupped his hands around the mug and cocked his head. “Not gonna leave me hanging, are you?”

She played with the chain around her neck, studying him. “Well, you certainly don’t leave any of your women hanging, Slick. Don Juan has nada on you. Seems you’re amazing in the sack, good company out of it, and always respectful. There’s been a line of women through my door, and you seem to have been acquainted with a lot of them. Yet none of them had anything bad to say about you. In fact, most got swoony and said they’d see you again if only you’d ask.”

He lifted his brow, waiting for the knockout. “And still you don’t like me. Won’t go out with me. Why?”

Her smile was luscious and real slow, just the way he liked it. “Because I’m looking for a husband.”

Ah, shit.

Raven had trouble keeping a straight face when she caught the flash of horror in those wicked blue eyes. He looked like a trapped animal, growing super still and alert, as if waiting to dodge away at the slightest movement.

She’d thought about her problem with Dalton the past few nights. She desperately needed him to keep his distance due to the intense attraction between them. She was also ready to dig to see what he knew about their parents. If she got to know him better, built up some trust, he might share more. Getting close to him without using sex was an issue, but the perfect solution had finally appeared.

Honesty.

Tell him up front she was the marrying kind. His fear of commitment was stamped on his actions clearer than a tattoo. But Raven sensed the man held a code of honor. Sure, he slept with any female who moved, but they all seemed happy and content with his behavior. A man-whore asshole wouldn’t elicit such a reaction from his exes. It would be impossible. That told her he must be up front about his limitations, and charming enough to disengage at the exact right time to minimize casualties of love. Brilliant. But not mean.

Raven could work with that.

Besides, she wouldn’t mind finding a deep, meaningful relationship. It was time to meet a man who could get real with her. Handle her past without judgment. Be a partner in business and life, not just for one night.

Her mission was clear. Force him to back off but keep him close enough to spy on.

She tried hard not to smile as the horror on his features morphed into shock. His voice was a delicious growl of sound, mixing velvet with gravel, and it ruffled her nerve endings. “You want a husband?”

She nodded. “I’m twenty-seven. I’ve done my fooling around, and now I’m looking toward a solid future.”

He rubbed his head, mussing up all that thick golden hair. “But, why?”

“Don’t you ever get tired of endless affairs and little substance?” she asked curiously.

He blinked. Those thick, dark lashes and the sheer beauty of his face distracted her for a moment. “No. Besides, my affairs have plenty of substance. I’m not a touch-and-go type of guy, no matter what you originally thought.”

She nodded. Point taken. “Why do you seem surprised?”

“You don’t look like the type to want to settle down.”

His stark words stole her breath. Red-hot anger stabbed at her. Yes, she owned a bar, had a tat, and had always been dubbed a sexpot, just from her looks. She dressed like a confident woman, comfortable in her identity. Usually she shrugged off others’ opinions like a cheap shawl, but she’d hoped Dalton wouldn’t have made such judgments about her. Why was she surprised? He only wanted to seduce her, pat her on the head, and make her feel good about the whole encounter the next day. Or maybe even the whole week. Damn him for assuming she was easy. Time to set him straight.

“You don’t look like the type to take anything seriously, especially a business. Do your brothers do all the work and you’re the pretty face of Pierce Brothers Construction?”

Missile launched. Hit confirmed.

He jerked back as if her words stung. “No. I pull my own weight, but it’s still a struggle to get them to take me seriously. I intend to keep proving my worth, though.” Male pride etched his hard tone. Respect flowed through her. He wasn’t afraid of real work.

“Exactly. Who are you to judge my wanting to get married? Think I’m too cheap for such lofty standards?”

He slammed the mug down on the bar. Coffee sloshed over the side. “Actually, just the opposite,” he said tightly. “I think you’re too good for marriage. Besides being gorgeous, you own a business and seem wicked smart. I’ve seen what happens with marriage. You become unappreciated, bored, unromantic. You lose yourself and get your heart broken. Don’t you deserve more?”

Her heart galloped. Was he talking about his own parents? Did he have a messy divorce in his past? He practically bristled with male intensity and an innate raw sex appeal that was part of his nature. A plate of sweet potato fries was plunked down between them, and Raven pulled herself together, grabbing silverware and pushing it in front of him.

“Bad experience?” she asked.

He stiffened. “Just the truth. Don’t ever put thoughts in my head that aren’t there, Raven. Understood?”

His gaze drilled hers, patient yet determined. She’d never known a man who was so comfortable really looking at a woman, as if he wanted to strip away each layer and find the soft center. She fought a shiver. “Understood.”

The tentative truce softened the tension. He nodded and began eating the fries. “What are you going to do while you search for Mr. Right? I can offer a nice distraction.”

She rolled her eyes. “Yeah, I bet you can, Slick. Thanks for the offer, but I’ll pass.”

“You dating someone regularly yet?”

A lie would be easier. Still, she told the truth. “No. But I don’t want to be distracted if he comes around.”