Traction - Dani Rene Page 0,39
sparkling eyes.”
This makes her laugh out loud. “You’re sweet, when you want to be.”
“For the right girl, I can be anything they want me to be.” Her eyes hold wonder. They also hold hope. Perhaps she does feel more than I thought she did.
“Anything?”
I nod. “Tell me your heart’s desire, and I’ll make it come true,” I promise because I know I can do it. For her, I can do anything. It’s the first time I’ve felt this strongly so quickly—for anyone.
“Ice cream,” she tells me then, her lips spreading into a grin that brightens her expression, wiping the sadness away.
“Chocolate mint chip?” I expect her to say no, but after a short moment, she nods confidently. “That’s my girl.”
We make our way to the counter where we order our ice cream cones, and I pay for lunch. Outside the diner, the sun is slowly peeking through the gray, but the ground is already wet with the drizzle that must have come while we were eating.
I take Haelee’s hand, leading her to the benches that have been set up behind the diner under the see-through cover, which overlooks the ocean. We settle in and eat in silence. The chocolate flavor mingled with the mint has always been my favorite. I remember having the milkshakes as a kid and falling in love.
The thought has me turning my head, and I wonder, ever so briefly, if I would ever fall in love with her. With Haelee. She turns her head, probably feeling my gaze on her.
“What? Do I have ice cream on my nose or something?”
I can’t help but grin. “Or something,” is all I offer before focusing back on the waves crashing down below us. The water is a dark gray, matching the clouds overhead.
I finish up my cone, licking my fingers, making sure to get all the stickiness before I stand, needing to stretch my legs. I leave Haelee on the bench and step closer to the edge to look down at the large, brown boulders getting whacked by the waves.
“Thank you for everything,” Haelee offers, coming up behind me. Stopping beside me, she slips her hand in mine, which makes me comfortable that she wants to hold me.
Glancing at her, I shrug it off. “Today was something else,” I confess. “I’ve never been on a real date. This was fun.”
“I haven’t been on a date unless you call going out with a few girls from college dates, but that wasn’t just me and someone else. It was always group outings, which left me bored since they would always find someone to hook up with.”
I turn to her, to face her fully, and take her other hand in mine as well. Meeting her gaze, I hold it, wanting her to see the truth in mine. “I want to do this again and again.”
Her tongue darts out, licking her lips, which once again ignites the fire in my gut. Passion lingers in her gaze, and I lean in close, allowing her to close the distance, and she does.
Our mouths meet in a gentle kiss. Nothing like our previous two, this one is affectionate. After admitting her heartbreak to me, I want to show her that I’m here for her, but I’m also someone she can trust. I don’t grip her ass like I want to. I don’t press my body against hers like I crave. Instead, I allow her to lean up and deepen the kiss.
Her tentative tongue takes control, and she gently brushes it along mine, the movement making my cock ache painfully. My body is rigid as I attempt to reign in my need. I’m so hungry to devour her, to taste every inch of her, but for now, I enjoy the sweetness of our third kiss.
Haelee pulls free after a long moment, and she grins up at me. “That was nice,” she informs me with a shyness that belies the sassiness that comes out to play sometimes.
“It was. And it’s one of many. Because fuck, I love kissing you.” My admission causes her blush to deepen, and she looks absolutely gorgeous. “Let’s get you home. I want to stop by my place before we do. I need to pick up something. Is that okay?”
“Of course.”
We make our way to the car, slide in, and I turn on the music. We’ve spoken a lot today, and I want to give her a moment’s reprieve. Also, I need to collect my thoughts. I’m sure dinner with her mother tonight will