The young woman’s crispier tone was not lost on him. Unfortunately, it only served as a form of encouragement with Red. Who was he to shy away from the first vague hint of rejection?
“In this crowd?” he asked with mock incredulity. Red made a not entirely subtle point of scanning the room, giving some of the other patrons rather dubious looks. “Highly doubtful. Besides, I’m not talking to you because I thought you seemed amusing.”
Of course, she did seem amusing. Not in a clownish way, of course, but there was a sort of rigidity in her that made for good fun.