between us.
“No worries.” I cleared my throat, and, out of habit, I put my arm on the back of the seat bench as I backed up.
When I did the back of my thumb grazed the tiny tendrils of hair curled up at the nape of her neck.
That innocent brush of soft, silky hair was all it took for my pants to grow uncomfortably tight.
Sasha sucked in a short breath and sat up straighter.
“Sorry,” I apologized as I removed my arm and drove out of the back lot.
“You’re fine.”
As we headed toward the church, there was an awkward politeness between us, and it was driving me a little bit mad. We’d shared a fairly intimate kiss and just now, we’d almost kissed again but we were both ignoring that.
Sasha rubbed the back of her neck as she shifted in the seat. Out of my peripheral vision I noticed her do a double-take.
“Oh, do you play?” she asked referring to the guitar that was behind the seat.
“I did. Once upon a time.”
“How long has it been?”
“Ten years.”
“Oh, we’re you any good?”
“Some people thought so.”
“Did you ever gig?”
“I did,” I confirmed.
I hated talking about my music career more than Mark Wahlberg hated talking about his Marky Mark days.
“Did you do covers or originals?”
“Originals.”
“Really? I’d love to hear one.”
Her enthusiasm and interest were both genuine, I knew that, but I couldn’t help but feel a little defensive. I always got that way when it came to my music.
“Like I said, it’s been a long time.”
“I bet it’s just like riding a bike. You probably have muscle memory.”
I probably did.
“Did you ever record anything?”
“Yeah, an album.”
“Really? Is it on iTunes?”
Yes.
“I don’t know.”
She reached for her purse. “Shit.”
“What’s wrong?”
“I was going to look it up, but my phone is dead. How did people survive before cell phones?”
They lived life and enjoyed the things around them.
“Can I look it up on your phone?” she asked hopefully.
“Sorry, darlin’, I left it at home.”
“Don’t you feel like you’re missing a limb?”
“I kinda prefer it this way.”
“Renaissance man, huh?”
“Guess so.”
The short drive was over. Before I knew it, I was pulling up to her car.
“How did you know this one was mine?” I could see the alarm in her face.
I worried that she thought I was stalking her or something.
“Look around,” I instructed. “Notice anything?”
Her head swiveled from left to right. “I guess it does sort of stick out like a sore thumb.”
I put it in park and started to get out.
“Oh no, you don’t have to get out.” She put her hand on my forearm and I froze.
Her touch was so soft, so gentle, yet it seared through my skin like a branding iron. I didn’t move my arm away, just met her eyes. I knew she could feel the heat in her touch as well. There was no way she could miss it.
“Yes, I do. My mama raised me right.”
She grinned and pulled her hand away. My heart was pounding a mile a minute as I got out and walked around to the passenger side. By the time I made it, she’d already opened the door but I held out my hand and helped her down.
Again I found myself staring down at her lips. She looked up at me and the gold strands in her blue eyes shimmered in the sunlight.
“Thanks for the ride,” she said breathlessly.
Everything in me was screaming to lean down and press a kiss to her lips, but I took a step back instead. This wasn’t like me. I didn’t get carried away with things, and especially not women.
But this woman was different. Sasha Nelson was different and what I felt when I was around her was different. Which is why I knew the right thing to do was to keep my distance for as long as she was in town.
When I retreated, she blinked up at me in confusion, but then smiled. “Thanks for the ride.”
She turned around so her back was toward me and I noticed that she fumbled getting her keys from the bottom of her purse. She pressed the fob and tried to open the door at the same time, causing it to lock. Then she proceeded to unlock it and lock it again before trying to open the door. After several attempts I stepped forward, took the keys from her hands, unlocked the car and opened the door.
“Thanks.” She was breathless as she took the keys from my hand and got into the front seat. I shut the door