Page 41 of Sweet

“Care to explain?”

“He’s taking me out to dinner tonight,” I say with a shrug.

Hissing like a cobra really is only an expression, but damn if Jess doesn’t come as close as I’ve ever heard when he releases a sigh. “Why?”

“To thank me. His car broke down right on the main road near the farm, so I waited for the tow truck with him and gave him a ride home.”

“And somehow that involved you leaving your clothes with him?”

“It was cold, and he had been waiting outside a while.” I shrug again.

Jess furrows his brow, fighting between my sensible excuses and his emotions. “So why wear it now?”

Because he wanted me to see him in it. The guy knows what he’s doing, and he goes about it the sweetest ways possible. Of course, I cannot say this to Jess.

“He probably wanted to make sure he didn’t forget to bring it, then threw it on over his sweater this morning. I don’t really know, but I don’t really care, either.”

Jess huffs and his eyes dip to the ground. He’s out of ammo and not a great shot against someone who spends every waking moment serpentining his way around conversations.

“Hey, so, I was thinking. We both have Monday off. We should do something fun. It’s opening day for the fair, and it won’t be too busy in the morning while most people are at work.” Then I tilt his chin up so he can see my gaze fixed intently on him.

“What would we do?” His attempt to play coy doesn’t have the same effect as when Bailey does it. With Jess, I always know what he wants and what he wants to hear. Mostly because Jess wears his heart on his sleeve, and it’s the best and worst thing about him. Bailey still keeps me on my toes and I fuckingloveit.

“We could get some fair food, visit the beer garden, maybe even check out the 4H building and the midway.”

“How about rides?”

I lean in so close my lips brush his ear. “You’ll have to wait until after for the ride.”

Jess looks back up at me, his eyes hooded with lust. He licks his lips while he stares at my mouth. Just like that, he’s too busy thinking of sex to be mad. Too easy.

Later that night, I’m in my car and back in front of the wrong house to pick up Bailey, who’s waiting at the end of the driveway. I’m not sure if I should be impressed to see him so committed tothe lie or questioning his sanity. Who am I kidding? The fact that I even know this isn’t where he actually lives is a testament to my loose grip.

Bailey climbs right in and shuts the car door, and I find it hard to tear my eyes away. I can’t get over how good he looks, no matter what he wears, no matter what he’s doing, and no matter the lighting. I’ve never met anyone else like that.

“Okay, I have a proposition for you,” I say before I throw my car back in drive.

“We haven’t even had dinner and you’re already propositioning me?” Bailey smiles and I am starting to really enjoy him teasing me.

“We can get dinner. Anywhere you want in the surrounding area. And we can see a movie at the cinema in the next town over either before or after. I checked and they’re doing showings past ten tonight, so we have plenty of time.”

“Okay…” Bailey says.

“Or, and I have a feeling you may object to this, you can take a chance and let me surprise you.”

Bailey raises a brow. “This feels like a bait and switch.”

“Still dinner and a movie, honest. All I’ll tell you is we’re likely going to be out late and it’s much farther than the triplex is.”

“Bigger one with more options?”

“No.”

“One of those fancy theaters with leather couches and a liquor license?”

“Still no, but we can do that next time because I didn’t even know those existed.”

“Next time?” Bailey smirks at me but continues before I can respond. “Okay, I’ll take the chance.”

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