She was due to show up in ten minutes. I’d fallen asleep as soon as I got back from fishing. I wasn’t normally a nap guy, but I hadn’t really slept the past three nights. First, because of the structure fire in Parish Creek. Then because I’d tossed and turned thinking about the kiss. And last night, I’d been too excited about going fishing and having time alone with Sasha.
So when I’d laid down on the couch to watch some TV, I’d passed out. Thankfully, Dug had woken me up. I was just pulling on my jeans when I heard him barking.
“Shit.” I wasn’t ready.
My hair was still wet. I hadn’t prepped dinner. But at least I’d showered. If he hadn’t, she would’ve shown up and I still would have smelled of fish and sweat.
“Sit,” I instructed man’s best friend, who actually happened to be my best friend.
I stopped a foot from the front door and took a deep breath before I opened it. I wasn’t sure if it was nerves because I hadn’t actually been interested in someone for so long, or if it was adrenaline from running late, but whatever it was, my hand shook as I twisted the doorknob.
When the door opened, my hand fell to my side as I took in the vision of beauty that was standing in front of me. I wondered if I would feel this way every single time I saw her. That my breath would be stolen from me.
Sasha’s hair was loose around her face. She wore a white sundress that revealed a hint of cleavage and made her legs look a mile long.
“Hi.”
Her tentative smile spread through me like a shot of whiskey.
Dug pushed through my legs, something he hadn’t done since he was a puppy. When he was a puppy his head was close to my knees. Now his head was up against my groin.
“Is that a dog in your pants or are you just happy to see me?” she joked.
“Both.”
She chuckled and Dug took that as his cue to walk forward and introduce himself by way of kisses when she lowered her hand.
“Hello,” she stepped into the house and bent down to Dug’s level. “Who is this handsome guy?”
“Dug.”
“Dug?” Her eyes lit up. “Just like in Up.”
“Yep. That’s what he’s named after. I love that movie.”
“Really?”
I nodded as I closed the door. I knew that the Disney movie wasn’t what a lot of people would guess I’d love, but it was. It was the kind of love I thought I’d had with Rachel, and deep down still wanted. As I looked down at Dug kissing Sasha’s face, I realized that I’d never had a woman here. At my home. It wasn’t something I’d done consciously.
She must have sensed my looking at her because her eyes lifted to mine and she stood. “Is something wrong?”
“Yeah, I just realized something.”
“Oh,” she looked at the door. “Did you have plans, I can go.”
“No. I just…” I didn’t want to freak her out, but I also didn’t want to lie to her. “You’re the first woman who wasn’t my friend or family that I’ve had in my house.”
“Really?”
“Yeah.”
“What about…girlfriends?”
“I haven’t really had those,” I answered honestly. “Nothing serious, anyway.”
“Oh.” Her eyes were wide, and it looked like she wasn’t sure how to take that information. I didn’t blame her; I wasn’t sure how to take it either.
“I’m glad you’re here,” I said, hoping to put her at ease.
“So am I.” She grinned and her eyes dropped to the ground as she licked her lips.
Damn, I wanted to kiss her again so bad. It had been torture sitting next to her at the docks and keeping my lips to myself. The self-control I’d displayed was Herculean in effort. But I was glad I’d shown restraint. Because as much as I would’ve loved to make out with her for hours at the river, we’d done something that was even better. We’d talked. We’d talked about everything from our childhoods, our fears, our dreams, to our favorite food. Which reminded me…
“I’m running a little late. I passed out as soon as I got home. If you want to hang out, I’ll have dinner ready in just a few minutes. Can I get you a glass of wine?”
“No. I’m good.” She walked into the kitchen behind me, Dug trailed next to her. “Have you always liked to cook?”
“Liked to? No. But I didn’t really have a choice. Dolly Briggs was adamant that all of her boys,