I’m going to spend the rest of my life with?
“Are you going to let him in?” Veronica asks.
I stare at the knob, and I see myself in the reflection. I’m terrified. “What if he is the guy? What if I ruin it? I don’t want to ruin it.” I keep my voice low so he can’t hear me, but my sisters can.
“You really like him, don’t you?”
I nod to Victoria, remembering the times he held me through my bad dreams, something he hasn’t done lately, and I miss it. I miss him holding me.
“Violet?” His heart-thundering voice has me panicking.
“What do I do?” I whisper hiss and take a step away from the door. “Oh my god, what do I do?”
Veronica flies off the bed and grips me by my arms. “You’re going to get yourself together. Stop freaking out. Go out and have a good time. If he is the guy, then your night is going to be the best. Don’t keep him waiting, Violet.”
“You’re right,” I breathe and take a minute to calm myself. I’m freaking out for no reason.
“Sorry, Kansas! She’s putting on her shoes. She’ll be right out,” she shouts so he can hear her through the door.
“Oh, okay. Thanks, Ronni,” he replies.
He sounds so sexy. I don’t know how I’ll make it through the night.
“Ronni. That’s going to take getting used to,” she grumbles. “Okay, go put on your boots and grab that cute peacoat.”
“Thank you.” I squeeze her hand and then bolt to the closet. I slip on a pair of black riding boots that go to the knee, then yank the plum-colored peacoat from the hanger and put it on. I run out to them again and give them another spin. “So?”
“Perfect. Now go,” she says, swinging the door wide open before I can second guess myself again.
I’m left staring at Kansas, who is standing right outside the doorway looking good enough to eat. He’s wearing a gray beanie on his head that’s pulled down low right above his brows. It has the color of his eyes popping. The shirt he is wearing is another Henley, spread tight across his chest to show his pecs.
To make the outfit even better, the color of the shirt is orange.
We match.
His pants hug his thighs too, just like the ones from yesterday.
“You look beautiful,” his voice bathes me in the same warmth a fire whiskey leaves behind. “Great minds think alike.” He grins, noticing we are wearing the same color. “Here, I uh… I got you these. I hope they are alright.” He awkwardly holds out a bouquet of red roses. I know they are just flowers, but coming from him, they have me liking him even more.
“I love them. Thank you,” I tell him, inhaling the sweet scent of the flowers.
“I’ll take those and put them in water. You two have fun.” Veronica snatches the bouquet of roses out of my hand, places her hand in the middle of my back, and shoves me out the door.
Then slams it behind me while the clicks and clacks of metal sound as she locks the door.
It’s cold out here, but the sky is clear, and the stars are out by the zillions. The moon isn’t out just yet, and the ocean is gently crashing onto the shore, the ice slowly melting since spring is around the corner.
I’m left standing directly eye level with his chest. The breeze carries his scent to my nose, rain and leather, which has me wanting to bury my face against his neck like a weirdo. I want to inhale him all day.
I want to be like clingwrap and glue myself to him so he can never get rid of me.
That doesn’t sound too insane, right?
“You look very handsome,” I finally say to break the silence, lifting my hand to fix the collar of his jacket. My fingers brush against the side of his neck, and he growls, pressing himself against my hand so the touch lasts. “Very.” The word is as soft and breathless as a feather between us.
“You make it hard to be a gentleman.” He rubs his nose down my wrist and brushes his lips against the skin.
“Who says I want you to be?” I can’t believe I just said that, but it was the first thing to come to my mind. I know I’m supposed to be a good girl. I’m not supposed to have sex on the first date. Just a kiss at the end, maybe, but he