Hardwood - K.M. Neuhold Page 0,61
pick you up,” he confesses.
“I’m allergic to flowers, so it’s all good.”
“You are? But you brought me some,” he reminds me, looking baffled.
I shrug. “I thought you’d like them.”
His expression goes from heated to gooey in an instant, and he leans down to press another kiss to my lips. This one is just a chaste peck, but it heats me all over just the same.
“I did like them. Thank you.”
“You’re welcome.” I smile and drag my thumb over his lips to wipe away some of the dampness from the kiss.
He lingers for a few seconds, staring at me with the most intense expression I’ve ever seen. “Dinner,” he says with a huff after a few seconds, standing up and closing the car door. I chuckle, pleased to know I’m having such a strong effect on him. While he rounds the car to get in, I take a second to adjust my erection, so it won’t be uncomfortable in my jeans the whole drive, because I’m pretty positive it’s not going away anytime soon.
“Do you mind if I pair my phone with your car? I know it’s kind of lame, but I made a playlist for our date,” I say once he’s in the car.
“Go right ahead. Why would that be lame?”
“I don’t know, I felt like a teenager making a mix tape when I put it together,” I confess. “But I also love the idea of having a soundtrack for important moments in life, and this date feels like an important moment,” I ramble, realizing I may be going too far as soon as the words are out of my mouth. “And now I sound like a weirdo. I know this is only our second date, no pressure or anything. I’m not like picking out matching tuxes for our wedding or anything. Not that we’re getting married.” Oh my god, please stop talking.
Everett laughs. “It’s okay; I get it. I like that idea too. Then, any time we hear one of these songs we’ll think of our second date.”
“Exactly.” I’m so glad he gets it. Some guys have thought I was overly sentimental, but music has such a strong connection to our memories and emotions.
I sync up my phone and click on my Spotify app. To my horror, it immediately starts to play the last thing I had on, which was a song I was playing for my kindergartners about hand washing.
“Oh my god, that’s horrifying,” I say quickly clicking away from it, my face flaming.
“Scrub a dub dub,” Ev sings along with a goofy grin. “Livi loved that song when she was younger.”
“I mean, we can jam to kids’ songs the whole way if that’s your thing,” I joke.
“I can sing a mean ‘Baby Shark,’” he says. “And don’t even test me on that gummy bear song; I will crush that one like nobody’s business.”
I laugh, my stomach fluttering and my heart swelling at how damn perfect this man is.
“We’d better save those skills for karaoke night at Jack’s,” I suggest, finally getting the right playlist pulled up and playing.
We’re both still laughing as he pulls away from the curb and heads toward the restaurant.
When we get there, he opens my door for me again.
“You don’t have to do that.”
“I know, I like it,” he says, reaching for my hand without hesitation. My eyebrows shoot up, and he smiles shyly.
He chose a fancy steak and seafood place that’s definitely a few steps above where most of my dates have taken me. Not that dates even happen that frequently—it seems like it’s more and more casual hookups these days, and even are more rare than they used to be.
Once we’re seated and our orders are placed, including a nice bottle of wine that Ev seems to be trying to impress me with— spoiler alert, it’s totally working— I lean forward and study him.
“You know, I’ve always hated all of the awkward small talk that comes standard with the early stages of dating,” I tell him. “So, fuck small, tell me something big.”
He quirks an eyebrow at me. “I’m going to resist the easy joke there because I’m an adult, and I’m desperately trying to impress you tonight.”
I smirk. He might want to take the mature road, but I’m not so interested in it. “I don’t care if it’s big or small as long as I get a proper introduction later.”
Playfulness and heat dance in his smile. “God, I like you.”
My heart jolts at his casual declaration. Dammit, it’s going to