and I don’t know if it was intentional, but I want him to do it again.
And again.
“You’re probably right.”
“Springs, I am right. As I said, I’m going to be a gentleman tonight. Be ready to constantly be impressed by me,” he winks.
He closes the door, and I can’t help but watch him out of the windshield as he walks around the front to get to the driver’s side.
“I’m already impressed,” I whisper into the empty cab.
Anymore and I’ll be in love with him.
I should have fucking kissed her when I had the chance. I had made up this entire plan for the evening: open doors, pull out chairs, pay for the meal, and kiss her goodnight. It was perfect, but then she had to step out of her room looking like a dream. I held myself back from kissing her, and that was fine. What’s will for, if it isn’t meant to be tested?
Then she had to go and fall, scaring me half to fucking death. I barely caught her in time, and she blinked those lavender eyes at me, and I almost said, ‘fuck the plan!’ She had no idea just how close I was to losing control. I deserve a reward for how I have contained myself.
She’s kind of like a gift you see before Christmas. You want to unwrap it, but you can’t, and it drives you nuts trying to figure out what’s being hidden.
Actually, she’s the warning label pasted on the side of the box.
And let’s face it, no one reads those.
“Thank you for dinner,” she says as I help her put her peacoat on.
“Anytime,” I find myself repeating for the second time tonight.
She buttons her coat, and I hold her against me for a second, letting my nose bury in her hair and the warmth of her body seeping into mine. The clattering of silverware against plates fades and the loud roar of conversations around us are muted. The faint glow of the candle in the middle of the table illuminates against the different shades of blonde in her hair.
I could slow dance with her in this room and turn the slow burn between us into a raging, untamable wildfire.
“Is it too early to say that I don’t want this night to end?” I brush my lips across the shell of her ear, squeezing her biceps as emotions trample my heart.
She turns in my arms and shakes her head, her wild curls bouncing with every move of her body. “I don’t want it to end either.”
“Good. I have plans for us. I just wanted to see what you were going to say.”
She playfully punches me in the side. I feign agony and clutch my side. “Ouch, that hurt,” I whine, grabbing onto the back of the chair to hold myself up.
“Oh, please. Nothing could hurt you,” she rolls her eyes.
I smirk, but the time for playfulness is over. I hold out my hand for her to take, and when her fingers slide between mine, I bring them to my lips and give her knuckles a kiss. “I’m not invincible. Everyone has a weakness.”
“What’s yours?” she asks, following behind me as I lead us out of the restaurant.
I have a feeling I’m looking at it.
I open the door for her so she can exit first onto the back deck. There are strings of lights everywhere, hanging in half circles along the beams. The bulbs themselves are plain, but it gives the deck a vintage, rustic appearance. The back deck overlooks the park where the skating rink is along with a few other vendors. It’s the perfect spot to go after dinner to walk, talk, and get to know one another. A dinner and movie don’t allow for much conversation to happen, and if I’m going to be sitting in the dark with her, it’s going to be in bed.
“Do you need help down the stairs or do you think you can do it?” I tease, holding out my hand once more for her to take for support. I want her to. I want her to always reach for me, even when she doesn’t need help, even when she’s more than capable of doing it on her own, I want her to always need me.
“Wow, reminding me of one of the most embarrassing moments of my life?” Violet places her hand in mine anyway. Sparks dance along my skin, trailing up my arm.
She’s on the last step and she slips again. Her arms flail, swinging like a