Ross gave a crooked grin behind the mask.
"They tried," he said, shrugging.
"I've had my share of flings. Fast and fun. No strings attached. But nothing ever lasted. I never wanted it to. Until now."
She narrowed her eyes playfully. "Let me guess—something about tonight feels different?"
He leaned in slightly, elbows on his knees, voice low and deliberate. "Doesn't it?"
Cara laughed again, this time tilting her head back, amused but not charmed—not yet, anyway.
"Nice try. But I'm already immune to guys like you. Especially the ones who sound like they swallow poetry books for breakfast."
Ross smiled, unbothered. "Then maybe I'm not like the others."
"Or maybe I've just heard every line in the book," she countered, lifting a brow. "And yours just has better delivery."
Ross looked at her for a moment longer, something unreadable in his eyes.
Then he leaned back again, letting the silence settle between them.
