"We’ll see if you still feel that way when I decide what I want," Alexander said, his tone playfully mischievous. "I’ll have to take my time to think about it."
"You tease too much," I said, feeling a little embarrassed as my mind wandered to what Alexander might ask from me as payment.
"Is that a bad thing?" he asked, a playful lilt in his voice. "You don’t seem to mind too much when I tease you."
I sighed, trying to keep my composure. "I usually don’t," I admitted, "but there’s a time and place when it’s appropriate, don’t you think?"
"Maybe I’m just trying to lighten the mood of a serious conversation," he said, though his tone held a hint of something deeper. "Or maybe I mean it. I suppose only time will tell."
"And how much time are we talking?" I asked, my curiosi
