Rocked (The Everyday Heroes World) - Julia Wolf Page 0,102
the spotlight. But you...you rocked me, Lady, all the way down to my marrow. Ever since I met you, I’ve had this twisting, shifting feeling in my chest. And once I left, I realized it was my body making room for me to become a better man. I want to be a better man for you. I sure as hell am not good enough for you. I know that. Doesn’t mean I’m not going to keep trying, though.”
Her eyes were connected with mine, unblinking. Her nostrils flared as she inhaled slowly. “Devon…”
“It’s okay. It’s so fucking late, and I said a whole lot. Think maybe you want to continue this tomorrow?”
Ever the hopeful asshole.
“Please,” she said. “I really need time to think.” Her hands slipped from her pocket, and she stepped away from my touch. “I’m going to go back inside.”
“All right. But as soon as the bus picks up Ells, I’m picking you up and taking you on a date.”
A breathy laugh sputtered from her. “Oh really?”
“Yep. We’re going to take that bad, bad dog for pancakes, and I’m going to tell you how in love with you I am.”
She rubbed her brow again. “You can’t just say that.”
I shrugged. “Can and did. It’s out there, can’t be unsaid now.”
“Devon…” She shook her head. “Fine. Pancakes. But don’t expect me to dress up or anything date-like. I haven’t agreed on a date.”
A heavy weight lifted from my chest. There was still an elephant squatting there, but at least the rhino had vacated.
I grinned. Stubborn Kat was so my jam. “Until tomorrow, Lady.”
She bit her lip, a steadying hand pressed against the house. “Good night, Devon.”
Thirty-One
Kat
Ellie didn’t question Devon’s presence at the bus stop. She took it in stride, hugging him after she’d hugged me, then bounding onto the bus. For her, affection was expected and came easily. She was well-loved by everyone she knew, so I didn’t think it surprised her that Devon would feel the same as all the rest.
Me, though?
I still didn’t know how to feel about everything. I could barely look at him today because I knew he’d have questions in his eyes. He’d want me to answer, and I didn’t have one yet.
He rubbed his hands together as the bus disappeared down the street. “Ready for our date?”
“Not a date.”
His eyes slid down my body. “You look awfully pretty for this not to be a date. I’d hate for you to have wasted all that effort on a friendly outing.”
So maybe I’d made an effort, wearing skinny jeans and a fitted black tee, along with my blood-red ankle boots and sleek leather jacket. I’d even slicked on a little gloss and left my hair down. This was all a bit ridiculous for seven-thirty in the morning, but we were beyond the point of pretending with each other. We’d tried that, and it hadn’t worked out too well.
“It can be a first date. But if you tell me you love me on our first date, I’ll think you’re clingy and weird, so watch it.”
He chuckled and reached out his hand. When I didn’t move, he took my hand and placed it in his. “We’re going to hold hands while we walk. That’s what people on dates do.”
“What about Leroy?”
“I changed my mind about him. As much as I like the guy, I kind of want it to just be me, you, and the pancakes. Is that cool?”
“I suppose.” My heart was pounding so hard, I was worried it would bruise from slamming against my ribs. I had no idea why I was so nervous. This was Devon. He never made me nervous…not this way at least. But apparently he did, because I was so nervous.
We walked in silence, our fingers firmly woven together. Every once in a while, I’d slide my eyes to the side to peek at him, and he was always looking right at me.
“I missed you.” Soft and gravelly, his admission struck me right in the chest.
Finally, I turned to look at him fully. “I really missed you too. But I also never thought I’d see you again. When did you make the decision to come back?”
“I had a long talk with Michaela that shed light on...well, a lot.”
“Did she let you hold the baby?”
He chuckled. “She actually did, and I didn’t drop her. I’m one for two now with dropping babies.”
“Fifty-fifty is decent odds.”
“Yeah,” he breathed, his eyes heavy-lidded. “Pretty decent.”
We got to Bertha’s, found a booth near the back, and both