my hand.”
It’s been three days…
For three whole days, I’ve been able to do little else but ruminate over that kiss. When I close my eyes, I feel warmth of his tongue flicking against the roof of my mouth, and the hairs on the nape of my neck stand on end. I can still taste the coffee on his lips. And the smell of his cologne is seared so deeply into my subconscious that it scents my every inhale with sandalwood and man.
Desire heats my blood whenever I recall the way he dominated the situation, commanding complete control. And my God, did it feel good to shut my mind off for those brief seconds and relinquish it—to react on instinct—to exist wholly in that moment…a luxury I’m realizing I seldom allow myself anymore.
Now here I am, seated less than two feet away from he who occupies my every thought, in the cab of his pickup. We’re headed out to join Kate and Beau for some line dancing—my idea—and I can’t focus enough to hold a simple conversation.
My game is so off…
Yeah, right, what game? More like nonexistent.
“You all right, Whit?”
“Huh?” I turn from where I’ve been absently staring out the window. He’s looking like some kind of model in his signature ass-hugging Levis and a brown leather jacket. Beneath it he dons a crisp white tee that would make anyone else look underdressed. But he wears it better than most men wear a three-piece suit.
Truth be told, Wyatt isn’t what I’d normally go for. I prefer my guys a little more…clean cut. But the way those unruly blond whisps curl over his ears has me pressing my thighs together thinking about all the dirty things I’d like him to do to me. I steal a glance at him gripping the wheel and suddenly feel those work-roughened hands scraping along my smooth skin, sending tingles down my spine. “Yeah. Why do you ask?” I give my head a shake, tossing my hair back and away from my face.
One broad shoulder rises and falls before he runs his fingers through his locks, offering me a hesitant smile. “You just seem far away.”
If he only knew.
“Sorry.” I scrub my palms over my thighs, drying the sweat on my jeans. “Just thinking about work.”
He nods, turning back to the road, whistling along to some old rock song playing on the radio. I’ve been so distracted that I hadn’t even realized the music was on. It dawns on me he might’ve resorted to listening to it as a result of my stellar company, and I really start to feel bad. I mean, the man earned this date, and even let me choose the venue. The least I can do is be present.
From that point, I give a concentrated effort to at least appear that I’m paying attention while he makes small talk about the construction going on over at his place.
It’s not that I’m disinterested, per se. I’m just far too preoccupied by the overwhelming attraction I’m harboring for the man—an attraction that’s beginning to feel like a living, breathing entity between us, making it difficult to focus on anything but reigning in my reaction to it, lest I make a complete fool of myself.
“Great, so, tomorrow then?” His thumbs thump against the steering wheel to the beat of the music, jarring me from my thoughts. His boyish smile is warm enough to melt butter…and soak my panties.
“Tomorrow what?” All the agreeing I’ve been doing has apparently just backfired on me, as I have no idea what I’ve just committed to. Considering our history…banging against a dumpster, kissing in the crematory… There really is no telling.
“You and Miss Priss. Dinner at my place.” He grins. “To show you what I’m working on and let Prissy play with the pooch.”
“Uh,” I stammer, fiddling with the hem of my top while trying to think up a way out of the mess I’ve just landed myself in. Okay, so, I don’t actually want out. But involving my daughter any further in whatever this is between us has red flags shooting up all over the place.
“Sure…”
“I knew it,” he laughs. “I don’t know where you are, but it sure ain’t here with me.”
“Oh, I was with you, all right,” I mutter, closing the AC vents to keep the heat from blowing on my already flushed cheeks.
“Is that what this is about?” he asks, whipping into a spot in front of Willa’s Honky Tonk.
I catch my lower lip between my teeth