She laughed, seemingly grateful for the chance to lighten the mood, offering him her smile again. “Young Padawans. Huh. I knew you had an inner geek.”

“Yeah, I try to hide it most days. But the fact of the matter is, you ain’t seen Star Wars fans like me and my brothers.”

“Oh really? I feel like there’s a challenge here. Like I better prove to be just as big of a fan or else.”

“You better believe it. Now hop to it, woman,” he teased.

She shook her head.

“Do all the ladies hop to it when you demand it?” She started hiking again, giving him her back and cute-ass rump.

His eyes lingered on her figure as his joking seized in his throat. Was she fishing for some of the things in his little black book just as he’d been doing with her? No, there’s been enough of that. And with his thoughts on her loveable humor, her kid, and uncertainty on his use of the endearment baby heavy on his mind, he didn’t really feel like joking about his past lovers or shining invisible rings on his lapels. That cockiness seemed phony. Distasteful even, now that he was facing Rose with it.

She looked back at him at his silence, flashing her hazel-brown eyes at him. Damn, she was pretty. Another smile sprang to his mouth.

“You sure hopped to it.”

“Oh my God, do you ever stop?” She groaned.

“Never, baby.” He grinned.