Page 49 of Our Now and Forever

“Been a long week,” he answered, extending a hand to Cooper. “If the offer is still open, I’d love to see that old Thunderbird sometime soon.”

Cooper nodded as they shook. “The shop is open all weekend. Come on by when you can.”

Snow blew a damp curl out of her eyes as she shot him a less than friendly look. She may have been pissed about being handed off for a dance, but he’d put a smile on her face as soon as they got home.

“Will do,” he said, navigating Snow off the raised platform and toward the door.

On the outside, Snow was fuming. On the inside, she was a mass of nerves and second-guessing mixed with sexual need and the stirrings of mind-numbing panic.

“You okay over there?” Caleb asked once they’d driven several miles in silence.

“Sure,” she said, the word clipped and hiding little of the turmoil churning through her system.

Would giving in really be the end of the world? Where was the harm in having sex with her husband? Even if she intended for him not to be her husband much longer. They were only dating. Dating couples had sex all the time.

Another stretch of silence before Caleb asked, “Was it really that awful to dance with Cooper?”

Holding her tongue, Snow shook her head in the negative, keeping her face turned toward the passing hickory trees. She needed them to be home so she could lock herself in the bathroom and attempt to drown the desire coursing through her.

Caleb made no further attempts at conversation until they’d parked in front of the old garage outside the apartment. As Snow reached for her door handle, he stopped her with a gentle hand on her arm. “Hey. Nothing has to happen tonight that you don’t want.”

Her heart cracked in that moment. She’d never wanted anything so much, or been so certain of impending danger in her life. Caleb had made his intentions clear back at the bar, and she’d said nothing. Hadn’t reminded him of their deal, or ended the dance when the evidence of his condition had become obvious.

“I’m scared,” she admitted in a voice she didn’t recognize. Why would she admit as much out loud? Maybe all the lust that had been building over the last week had addled her brains. Of course, he didn’t know what she was afraid of.

Instead of reassuring her, or offering his own fears, Caleb exited the Jeep with a sigh. Snow cursed her stupid mouth seconds before the passenger door opened and Caleb extended a hand without speaking. With a shuddering breath, she slipped her fingers into his palm, thankful yet leery of the warmth and strength she found there.

Silly ideas bubbled to the surface. If only she could keep her hand there all the time, locked in Caleb’s steady grip. If only they weren’t doomed from the start.

When she stepped out, Caleb didn’t move, locking her body between him and vehicle. He tilted her head up with one finger beneath her chin and brushed a curl off her forehead. “What are you afraid of, Snow?” he asked, his blue eyes unreadable in the darkness.

“We haven’t figured out our future yet,” she said, being as honest as she could without revealing her true feelings.

“Forget the future,” he said, trailing his thumb along her bottom lip. “Tonight is about two people who like each other a whole lot taking their relationship to the next level. Nothing more than that.”

The knot in her stomach loosened, replaced by a growing heat lower down. “Another do-over?” she asked, amazed she managed to utter the words while he looked at her like that. Like she was the only woman in the world he would ever look at.

His mouth tilted up on one side. “Yeah,” he said. “Another do-over.” Her hand in his, he led her through the garden gate. On the porch, he turned before opening the door. “To be clear, there’s nothing I want more than to get reacquainted with every curve and delicate crevice on your body, but I’m serious when I say you call the shots here. I told you before, we were never just sex to me.”

The words were like a muzzle for the voices in her mind. Snow laid her palm along his jaw, the porch light allowing her to see the honesty in his gaze. She nodded her understanding, but he continued to ignore the key in his hand.

“But to be fair, we were really, really good at it.” The half smile was back, and Snow considered jumping his bones right there on the porch. There was no reason to deny herself this man. If she had to give him up, at least she would have evenings like this to get her through the long, lonely nights ahead.

“Caleb McGraw, if you don’t open that door and take me to bed right this second, I may never speak to you again.”

The key was in the lock before she could blink. “Yes, ma’am.”

Caleb’s heart threatened to beat out of his chest. So many nights he’d dreamt about this woman. Woken sweaty and shredded and longing for the real thing. Now, here she was, ordering him to make love to her.

If this was nothing more than another dream, he was going to be furious when he woke up.

They took off their shoes by the door, Snow’s coming off first, but instead of moving into the apartment, she waited for him. Caleb made quick work of his boots, never taking his eyes off her. When she put out her hand, he took it and let her lead him to the bedroom. She moved like a woman who knew what she wanted. A woman who wanted him.

He’d had no idea what to say to her in the Jeep, as the girl in his passenger seat seemed like a stranger there for a few minutes. So he’d gone with his gut, assuring her that they didn’t need to have sex tonight.

By some miracle, he’d said the exact right thing.

When they entered the bedroom, Snow dropped his hand and turned on the light next to the bed. He liked the idea of getting to see her as they did this. Snow stopped beside the bed, a look of uncertainty in her amber eyes. As if she’d run out of confidence on what to do next.

---