The offices were almost completely empty and the rescue workers and my teammates were long gone by the time Nikki finally emerged from the room.

With a multiple bags looped round her shoulders, she was more focused on not getting them caught in the door than the rest of her surroundings.

I pulled a face. She definitely hadn't noticed me, so how did I alert her to my presence without scaring the shit out of her?

Backing up until I was against the furthest wall from her, I waited for her to readjust the straps before clearing my throat.

"Fucking hell." She shrieked, jumping back and clutching at her heart as she did.

I winced, "Sorry! Fuck, I was trying not to scare you."

"Well, if I was a cat, one of my nine lives would be gone." She replied, breathing heavily as she leaned back against the now closed door.

"Why would you want to be a cat?"

A pretty blush stained her cheeks as she muttered, "Doesn't matter."

I frowned, but it was clear from her expression she wasn't about to explain herself. Straightening, I dodged around the desks and loped towards her, stopping what I hoped was a respectful distance.

"What are you still doing here?" She asked.

I shrugged. Would it sound creepy if I said I had been waiting for her? Almost definitely. "I just wanted to say thank you for the shoot today. I don't usually enjoy them, but it was actually fun. Company wasn't half bad either."

She smiled. "You didn't have to wait around to tell me that, but I'm glad you enjoyed it. I noticed how well you and the kittens were getting on. Do you think you might get some?"

Was she purposefully redirecting my flirting, or was I losing my touch? I chuckled, rubbing the back of my neck in an unconsciously nervous gesture. "Ah, maybe. Look, feel free to say no, but could I maybe walk you to your car? Carry some of those bags for you? My mum would have my arse if she knew I let a lady struggle to carry all that."

"That's sweet of you, but I don't let anyone carry my camera equipment. Bit of a professional control freak." She laughed.

At my crestfallen expression, her face softened and hope flared in me.

"But I wouldn't mind the company if you're heading that way?"

I tried not to bounce like an overexcited toddler as I reached for the door to the staircase and held it open for her. "This way m'lady."

"Why thank you, kind sir. What a gentleman." She teased.

I grinned, loving this more playful side to her. "So, tell me more about you?"

She shrugged. "There isn't really much to tell. You know the biggest facts about me already. I'm a professional photographer with my own studio in my home, which I finished renovating a little over a year ago."

"That's an achievement! What sort of photography do you normally do? Is it stuff like this?" I asked, jogging ahead of her to get the next door.

"Thank you. And no. Usually I do boudoir photography, actually." She explained, watching me carefully for my reaction.

"Oh cool! Isn't that the sexy photo thing?"

She laughed, "Kind of. I prefer to think of it as body empowerment photography. Helping capture photos of people looking gorgeous and embracing their own skin."

I walked alongside her thoughtfully. "Well, I never thought of it like that before, but that's even more awesome to be honest."

The look on her face was one of approval as we stepped out into the car park. "I'm glad you agree. Some guys get funny about it when I talk about it."

"Why would anyone be upset about you taking hot pictures of other people unless they're majorly insecure themselves? Plus, you just took photos of me topless. I think you know I'm the sort of guy who fully embraces and appreciates anything that celebrates bodies with less clothing on." I laughed, waggling my brows.

A smile split her face as she stopped beside a car. "This is me."

"Cool." I said, a wave of nervousness rising up inside me that I quickly pushed down. "So, is there any chance I can get your number?"

She blinked. "My work number is on my website if you need anything."

Ok, she was definitely dodging around this on purpose. What if I had misread signals and she wasn't interested in me? I took a small step back to give her space. It was now or never and I knew if I didn't at least try to invite her out, I'd regret it. "And if I want to text you? I don't know if I've made this clear, but I'm interested in you and I'd really like to take you out to dinner sometime if you'd be up for that?"

She blinked up at me, looking more than a little confused. "Why?"

I was losing my certainty in the direction of this conversation by the second. "Because I like you and you like me?"

Or at least I thought she did. I hoped she did. God damnit, I was definitely losing my touch.

She shook her head. "You hardly know me."

"Look, I'm aware we skipped a stage by going straight to kissing, but let's dial it back and get to know each other. That's all I'm asking here." I explained, hands raised to show I meant no harm.

"You could have anyone. Why me?"

With anyone else, I would have thought they were fishing for compliments, but she looked so genuinely lost. I wanted five minutes with whoever had made her unable to see how stunning she was.

"What sort of question is that? You're gorgeous, talented, funny, and I can't get the memory of our kiss off my mind."

Her mouth opened and shut a few times before she was able to get a response out. "Evan, I looked you up before I came here. I've seen the headlines and pictures and I know I'm not the type of girl you normally go for. I'm probably twice the size of the girls you like."

Ok, I needed to make it ten minutes with that person that hurt her because, damn, she really didn't see herself the way everyone else did. "Says who?"

"Says the models on your arm every weekend." She retorted.

"One, don't believe everything you see in the papers." I said, counting the reasons off on my fingers. "Two, I hate to break it to you, but you have no idea who my type is or what I like in a woman. I'd describe everything I like and want to do with your body right now if I didn't think you'd run a mile."

She froze. "Why would I want to run?"

Jesus, help me. How was this going so badly? "God, no. Not like whatever you're thinking. I promise you, I don't mean in a bad way. It's just you seem to get nervous about every flirty comment I make, so I don't want to scare you off. I promise it's not creepy. Damn it all. Why does everything come out wrong when I'm trying to impress you?"

Some of the panic left her eyes and I spotted the ghost of a smile on her lips. "You're trying to impress me?"

"Hell yeah I am. Look, I don't want to rush things, not if it will make you uncomfortable. It doesn't have to mean anything you don't want it to. We can be just be a guy and girl getting food together?"

"As friends?"

I sighed, looking up for a minute before I spoke. "I'm not going to beat around the bush baby, I like you. You're fucking gorgeous and I want to get to know you. If just as friends to start with, I'll take it, but I'm determined to win you over."

"You're cute, and you know it. But I just got out of a crappy relationship, and I'm not looking for anything serious."

I raised a brow. "You still haven't said no."

"Would it make a difference if I did?"

I frowned at her wry laugh. "Of course. If you told me no, you don't see there ever been anything between us, I'd back off. I like you, but it doesn't mean you have to feel the same. Even if I take you for dinner and you change your mind about getting to know me, that's fine. You won't owe me anything."

She went quiet again before shooting me a thoughtful look. "You're like no man I've ever dated before."

I laughed. "I'm going to choose to take that as a compliment until you say otherwise. Also, are you saying there's a chance I might get to date you?"

"I'm saying I'll go for dinner with you. Let me put this in the car and then I'll give you my number."

I had to resist the urge to fist pump the air as she turned and unlocked her car, carefully stowing her equipment in the boot.

When she turned back, I tried to school my face, but the grin was going nowhere. "Please don't make me regret this." She sighed, holding out her hand for my phone, but I could see the smile she tried to bite back.

I knew I was right. She likes me as much as I like her. I'm sure of it. Bouncing from one foot to the other as I waited, the nervous energy in me was hard to contain. "So, how's Thursday night for a date?"

"That's only a couple of days?"

I laughed. "What can I say? I can't wait to see you again. Honestly, I would have said tomorrow, but I didn't want to sound too eager."

She rolled her eyes, but the smile on her face said she was loving this as much as I was as she deposited the phone back in my hand and closed the car boot.

"So Thursday at six?" I confirmed.

She moved round to the driver's side. "Ok, did you want to text me where to meet you?"

I shook my head. No way was any girl I was seeing going to have to deal with getting herself to our dates. "Text me your address and I'll pick you up."

She looked uneasy at the idea, and I hurried to reassure her. "You can say you want to go home any time and I'll take you, or order you a taxi. I just want to treat you right."

"Boy, you really have thought of everything, haven't you?" She laughed, sinking into the driver's seat.

I braced a hand on the roof of her car and moved to help her close the door. "Of course. So I'll see you then."

She gave a shy half wave as she started the car and pulled out. I watched until her car passed through the gates and disappeared from sight.

She was giving me a chance and there was no way I was fucking it up. Now I just had to come up with the perfect, no-too-romantic date spot to win her over.