Page 25 of The Risk Taker

He exhales through his nose. “You never stop talking, do you?”

“Not when I’m right.” I nudge his leg with mine. “Come on. Practice with me. Just say something nice. Compliment me.”

He rolls his eyes. “No.”

“Yes.” I tip my head, lounging back. “Live a little. It’ll be fun.”

“It won’t.”

“Scared you’ll like it?” I tease with a smirk tugging at my mouth.

His lips press together, the muscle tensing in his jaw as he keeps his eyes fixed on the fries before shoving a couple in his mouth.

I grin, can’t help it. He’s so damn easy to rile up. “One compliment. That’s all I’m asking. One tiny, harmless compliment. I promise it won’t kill you.”

He lets out a long sigh. “You’re annoying.”

“Not a compliment,” I reply with a tut.

His jaw ticks, that muscle along his cheek jumping. “You want me to lie?”

I blink, feigning offense. “So you think I’m ugly?”

His head jerks up, eyes snapping to mine as he swallows. “I didn’t say that.”

I hold his gaze, a slow smirk pulling at the corner of my mouth. “So you think I’m hot.”

“I—Jesus Christ.” He rakes a hand through his hair, groaning like I’m the bane of his existence.

I chuckle under my breath. “You could just say yes, you know. Save us both the agony of your lies.”

He glances sideways at me, a faint flush creeping up the side of his neck.

“One real compliment,” I say, slouching deeper into the couch. “Just one. I’m not asking for much here.”

Nathan doesn’t even glance over. “No.”

“You like my shirt. You think my jawline could cut glass. You admire my charm. Pick one.”

His brows pull together like he’s wondering why he hasn’t murdered me yet.

I grin and tap his knee. “You can do it, man. I believe in you.”

He exhales, squeezes his eyes closed and then his eyes flick toward me, then right back to the TV. For a second, I think that’s the end of it. But then?—

“Your hair doesn’t look like shit today.”

My brows shoot up to my hairline and I can’t help but smile at his compliment—or at least the closest I’m getting to one from him. “Holy shit,” I say with a chuckle. “Nathan Hayes likes my hair.”

He shakes his head, but there’s a ghost of a smile tugging at his mouth. “Don’t make it weird.”

“Too late. I’m adding it to my diary.”

Nathan huffs a quiet laugh, shaking his head, but his ears are still pink, and that’s what keeps my grin alive.

I lean back into the couch, stretching my arm lazily along the top cushion behind him. “Lesson five,” I say, lowering my voice. “Touch.”

He gives me a wary look. “You’ve got to be kidding me.”