Page 57 of The Rules of Dating a Younger Man

“You haven’t had sex since your husband?”

I nodded.

“Wow. Okay. Well, I’m glad you told me that. Not that I was planning on pressuring you, but I’ll rein it in. I want you to be sure.”

I smiled sadly. “You saying that just makes me want you more.”

He winked. “I can’t help it if I’m irresistible.”

He was joking, but I really did find the man impossible to resist.

Brayden leaned across the table and lowered his voice. “There’s no rush, Alex. Okay? I want your head clear when and if it happens, and I don’t want you to have regrets the next day.”

“Thank you for being so understanding.”

We clinked our glasses together.

A little while later, we were back at the hotel, and Brayden walked me to my room.

“Would you like to come in?” I asked.

“Yes. But I’m not going to.”

I was disappointed but understood. “Okay.”

He tilted my chin up and planted a sweet kiss on my lips. “I’m crazy about you, Alex.”

My heart squeezed. “I’m crazy about you, too.”

“Go in.” He tilted his head toward my door. “I can’t even trust myself to give you more than a peck. And lock the door behind you. I’ll wait.”

“Thank you for dinner.”

“Thank you for taking a chance on me.”

***

The next two days were busy at Ryan’s House. A couple of volunteers had come down with the flu, so we were shorthanded, and everyone had to pitch in a little extra to get things finished by the time we left tonight. Brayden and I didn’t get to spend much time with each other during the days, but we still had breakfast and dinner together. Something had been brewing between us since the first moment we met, but this weekend it felt like things had moved into relationship territory. And you know what? I liked it. The more time I spent with him, the more my fears subsided.

The front door at Ryan’s House had barely closed behind the last volunteer when Brayden pulled me into his arms. “Get over here, birthday girl.”

I giggled. “I thought those pesky do-gooders would never leave.”

Brayden took my face in his hands and planted a chaste but passionate kiss on my lips. My entire body relaxed into him.

“I changed my appointment tomorrow,” he said. “I’m taking you out for your birthday tonight.”

“Really? You didn’t have to do that.”

“I want to. You’re important to me, and I want to show you that.”

I looked back and forth between his eyes. “You already have, Brayden. Every single time I’m near you, you make me feel special.”

“It’s not hard to do, because you are.” He kissed my forehead. “Come on, let’s get out of here.”

On the drive back to the hotel, I stared out the window, thinking. I wanted this man more than I could ever remember wanting anything. A few days ago, I’d felt like holding back on a physical relationship was the right thing to do to protect my heart, but the truth was, my heart was already in pretty deep. If things went sour now, it was going to hurt. So why not enjoy myself to the fullest? Like Wells and Caitlin had advised me a number of times.

We walked from the parking lot to the hotel entrance. “Are you in the mood for anything in particular?” Brayden asked. “Italian, sushi, French?”

---