Page 52 of Tangled

“Yup, but true. Just don’t risk having sex on campus, okay? Getting caught can be detrimental to your career.”

I choke on my saliva with her confession. “Did you and Drew…”

“Almost, until I was the voice of reason and stopped it. Drew didn’t care, but I did. I didn’t work this hard for this job to give it all up for an orgasm or two.”

Her bluntness makes me laugh. “No kidding. Well, thanks for the warning.”

“What are friends for?” She winks. “Well, I hope Kane doesn’t disappoint tomorrow night. You’d better fill me in next week.”

“Definitely. Have a great weekend.”

“You too, Olivia,” she says before gathering her things and leaving my room.

After I finish my grading and inputting the scores into the computer, I shut down everything, lock my room, and head for my car. I grab some takeout on the way home, put my feet up on the couch and turn on Netflix, and gorge until I can’t keep my eyes open any longer. I pass out on the couch and wake up in a panic Saturday morning when I realize I’m not in bed.

Chuckling to myself, I stand up and make my way to the bathroom, showering and pampering my body until I feel human again to prepare for my date. I do my laundry, clean around the apartment, and bask in the routine that I’ve created for myself over the past few weeks. But deep down I know that there’s more to life than this. And I want more.

I want the husband and kids. I want the crazy, loud noise of a family spending time together on a Saturday morning, making pancakes and watching cartoons. I want a man beside me who is my best friend, but also the person I can’t get enough of. And as I envision that scene in my mind, the face of the man I dream of as my husband looks like Kane.

Could he be that person for me? Am I putting all my eggs in one basket because he is the first man I’m dating after Trevor? Or does what I feel for him already honestly make me believe that this could be the real thing? I remind myself to take it one day at a time and try not to put pressure on this. But the ticking clock in the back of mind keeps reminding me that I’m not getting any younger.

Shaking off my insecurities, I put on a playlist on my phone while I get ready for my date. I curl my hair, opt for slightly darker make-up for the evening, and choose a body-hugging maroon sweater dress with cream-colored leggings, dark brown boots, and my heavy brown coat to complete my outfit. I give myself one last glance in the mirror before making myself comfortable on the couch to wait for Kane.

Three minutes before five there’s a knock on my door. I stand, wiping my sweaty palms on my dress and smoothing the fabric over my curves. Taking a deep breath, I open the door to the vision of Kane in all his handsome glory, decked out in his black pea coat, dark denim, and a dark green Henley stretched across his muscular chest. The sight of him warms my insides, and a throbbing commences between my legs. He’s so incredibly sexy and masculine, his beard trimmed to perfection and dark to match his hair—he takes my breath away.

“Hi, Olivia,” he greets me as I usher him inside out of the cold.

“Hi, Kane,” I say sheepishly, wondering how I could be even more nervous now that he’s here.

His eyes dance up and down my body before landing on my eyes. The glint of approval shines just as he speaks. “You look incredible.”

“Thank you. So do you,” I reply, feeling the blush on my cheeks.

“Your place sure looks different since the last time I was here,” he mocks while veering around the room, absorbing the home my apartment looks like now, instead of the heap of boxes that was here before.

“If you recall, Kane… I warned you to what you were walking into that night,” I reply while remembering every vivid detail of that evening. When I make eye contact with him again, I can tell he’s doing the same thing.

Clearing his throat, he continues. “Well, are you ready to go then?”

“Yup. Let me just grab my coat.” Reaching for the jacket, Kane steps up behind me and grabs the material from my hands.

“Let me,” he leans down and voices in my ear, causing goosebumps to erupt all over my skin, even though I’m warm all over from the heat in the apartment and his proximity.

He holds out my coat behind me as I locate the sleeves and slide my arms through, clutching the coat around my body as I hear him inhale behind me.

“You smell amazing…”

Turning around to face him, his face is itching with his need to control himself. With all the anticipation surrounding tonight, I want to see our date through. Although with the way he’s looking at me right now, the thought of staying in and riding his face again seems fun too.

“You smell pretty good yourself there, Garrison,” I joke while grabbing onto the collar of his coat, pulling him closer to me so our mouths are merely inches away from each other. “Now take me on a date before we never leave this apartment.”

Kane throws his head back in a laugh, then leans down to kiss my forehead—the gesture so sweet and innocent, but it makes my heart come alive in my chest. The man has been inside me for Christ’s sake, but something about that move is so much more intimate.

“Yes ma’am,” he salutes before walking to my door and leading me out to his truck. He opens the door for me and helps me inside, like the gentleman he’s proving he is. Once we’re secured in our seats, Kane takes off for the highway and starts to drive out of Emerson Falls.

“Where are we going?” I ask once we’re cruising along.

“Well, you’re favorite food is sushi, right?”

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