around him. She knew it was the first flush of something new, something that seemed to have some potential and momentum to propel them forward. And she was reassured that Connor felt the same.
She’d tried online dating, but she wasn’t a big fan of getting skeevy messages at two in the morning asking in all kinds of creative ways if she was available for sex. And so what if she occasionally had been?
But this…
This was the start of something.
And unless she was completely misreading the signals, Connor felt the same.
As the hours of the evening slipped by, they discussed their lives in Denver, their friends, their hobbies. And Emerson ordered dessert…to share.
She eyed Connor carefully. “It’s not going to kill you,” she said, grinning at his indecision.
He sat with his arms folded and stared at her. Granted, those eyes were hooded and telling her he was well aware she was teasing him.
“Not even a little taste?” she said innocently.
“Emerson,” he growled.
“Yes, Connor?” She took one of the two spoons, scooped a small bite of the delicious dessert involving chocolate and salted caramel, and slowly put it in her mouth, groaning as the sweetness hit her tongue. Then she opened her eyes and laughed. “It’s only chocolate.”
She scooped another spoonful of dessert, but his hand gripped her wrist on the way to her mouth. “With you, I don’t think anything is only chocolate.” He steered the spoon to his own mouth and ate it. “And see, I can do dessert.”
Emerson laughed and took another scoop for herself while Connor released her wrist and reached for the other spoon. “There aren’t many people I’d break my habits for, but I feel you might be one of them, Emerson.”
His softly spoken words warmed her heart.
“I want to see you again,” Connor said as he walked her to her car. “Soon. If you’d like to.”
Emerson pointed to her car pulled up along the sidewalk before grabbing the keys out of her purse. “I had fun with you tonight, Connor. And I don’t see the point in playing games. So, yes, I’d love to see you again.”
Connor wrapped his arms around her waist, and as she’d hoped, he kissed her. This time the kiss went deeper, his tongue brushed against hers, the sweet taste of chocolate and Connor filled her taste buds.
Her body ran flush against his, her nipples straining against the lace of her bra as Connor held her.
A younger Emerson would be shy about kissing a man on a street corner in Downtown Denver, but the world went on around them as she slid her hands inside his jacket. Jesus on a freaking bicycle, his body was firm to the touch. She was right about the macro counting and felt the tiniest bit of remorse for tempting him to eat dessert. And while her body had none of the firmness that his did, Connor seemed to appreciate her just the way she was.
“Damn, Dyer,” Connor said with a grin as he pulled away from her. “You drive a hard bargain. Kiss me like that and I’ll go on a date with you every night of the week and twice on Sundays.”
He pulled her car door open and waited as she climbed inside before shutting her in. Emerson started the car and lowered the window.
“Sunday, any day next week. I don’t want to wait for next weekend,” Connor said.
“I’d like that,” she said.
“Message me when you get home, and drive safe,” he said, tapping the roof of her car.
The gravel of the driveway crunched as she pulled up in front of her home twenty minutes later. She stepped out of the car and took a deep breath of fresh air. She loved the vibrancy of the city. The noise and hustle and bustle. But she preferred it here, where she had room to breathe, wide-open spaces to hike, and a less polluted sky.
Quietly, she let herself into the house and dropped her keys and purse on the bench. She pulled out her phone and pondered what to say as she walked to her bedroom.
It was too late to come up with something super inspiring…something flirtatious. Instead, she stuck with simple and straight forward.
Dear Connor. Thanks for a wonderful evening. I really enjoyed your company. Have a great weekend.
She completed her bedtime routine as quickly as she could and climbed into bed, fresh-faced and thoroughly moisturized. There was a message on her phone.
Me too. I’m going to fall asleep to the thoughts of your hands