The question caught him off guard. He'd been so focused on figuring her out that he hadn't considered his endgame.
"I..." he stammered, his mind racing. Should he be honest? Play it cool? Make a joke?
Natalia raised an eyebrow, waiting.
"To be honest," he finally said, combining truth and bravado, "I was hoping it might be you."
"What makes you sure I'll agree to go with you?"
He grinned, feeling a bit more confident now. "I'm not sure at all. But I'm willing to take my chances."
"Oh really? And what exactly are you asking me to take a chance on?"
"Just a drink," he said, keeping his tone light. "No hidden agenda, no strings attached. Just a drink."
She looked at him skeptically, but there was a hint of a smile tugging at the corners of her lips. "Just a drink?"
"Just a drink," he
