Page 51 of Love Her

Chapter 23

Connor

“Are you sure about this? I hate to leave you hanging in case you get another swarm of the crazies.”

Dax laughs as he lifts the cocktail shaker over his shoulder, giving it a hearty shake. “Nah man, we’re cool. Get out of here.”

Taylor asked me to start taking on more responsibility and I know part of that role comes with delegating. Dax is trustworthy and a good employee, so I feel good about leaving for the night. When Lis told me her parents were going out of town and then dropped the bomb that both kids were also going to be sleeping elsewhere, I knew tonight would be the perfect opportunity to do some delegating.

Once I’ve double checked everything and loitered long enough to make Dax shoot me a glare or two, I make my way out the back door of the bar and up to my apartment. I could head straight for my truck, but I smell like spilled liquor and stale beer. No way I’m going to kiss Lis smelling like this. Moving around the apartment like the Tasmanian devil, I rush through a shower and then brush my teeth.

Jogging to my truck, I crank the engine and remember she said to text her when I’m on my way. Laughing to myself as I bring my phone to life, I note the time. While it wasn’t the usual two minute military shower, it was damn close.

Me: I’m on my way.

Her response comes quickly in the form of a thumbs up emoji. Not even heart eyes. It is a little late. Maybe she’s tired. Or maybe she’s in the tub again. Nope. I will not allow my mind to wander and envision that scene. Lis naked, lathering soap across her skin. I can’t go there if I want to get to her place and not make a fool of myself.

The drive to her neighborhood is quick but enough time for me to think of what is next for us. I meant what I said. This isn’t just about sex with her. I like her. I want to know more about her. There is an overwhelming need to protect her, to show her how it feels to be cared for anytime I’m with her. I think it may be time to rewrite her history with this town.

Since nobody is home this weekend, I pull into the driveway next to her car. Sitting back in my seat I allow myself a brief moment to see this scene down the road. Coming home from work to a home and a family. As frightening as that thought is at first, deep-rooted somewhere in my soul I know it’s what I ultimately want.

Exiting the truck, I jog to the porch and lightly knock on the door. My hand is still raised, fist curled, when the door flies open. Dressed in a pair of cutoff shorts and a loose fitting T-shirt with the collar cut out, exposing her shoulder and the thin strap of her bra, Lis is a vision. Her face is free of makeup and her hair is loose around her shoulders. Even without cosmetics, her skin is still flushed pink.

“Hi.”

“Hey, beautiful.”

Lis steps aside allowing me access to her home. As I step through the threshold, I lean down and brush my lips across her cheek. It’s then that I smell it. The lingering scent of burnt popcorn.

Sniffing the air I turn to her. “Did you have a little mishap with your popcorn?”

With a loud sigh, she hangs her head. “It’s shameful but yes.” I chuckle and am rewarded with her beautiful smile. “Are you hungry?” she asks as I follow her through the house, eyeing an open bottle of wine, a wine glass on the kitchen counter, and the blank screen of the television.

“Not right now. I’m usually not off for a few more hours. Ask me at two or three in the morning and I may have a different answer. What happened to the movie?”

Lis follows my gaze and shrugs. “I watched The Wedding Planner and then decided to read a little. Did you want a glass of wine? Maybe a beer?”

“I’ll take a beer.”

She moves around the kitchen and takes a beer from the refrigerator twisting the top before handing it to me. Picking up her wine glass, she crosses the room and settles on the couch. Lifting the beer to my lips I follow suit and take the spot next to her. Somewhere in the house I can hear the clicking of a clock.

“Why is this awkward?”

Snorting a laugh in response, she leans her head back on the armrest and holds her glass to her stomach while kicking her feet onto my lap. Holding her ankles with one hand, I down the rest of my beer and place the empty bottle on the table before settling in and grabbing her bare feet and begin gently rubbing the arches.

“I thought I was the only one who felt awkward.”

“Lis, do you want me to leave?”

Letting out a moan when I move my fingers to the ball of her foot, she sighs and scoots down farther into the cushion. “Damn that feels good. If bartending doesn’t work out, you can get a job as a massage therapist. And no, I don’t want you to leave.”

We sit like this for a while, me massaging her feet and her letting out small moans of pleasure. The sound is more than a little enticing and slowly I move my hands up her leg to her calf. Lis lifts her empty glass to me, eyes never opening. With a smile I take the glass and place it on the table. This time, I don’t move my hands to her feet or her legs.

Instead, I turn my head to watch my girl as she slowly opens one eye then another. A slow smile appears on her lips. I’ll ignore the way my heart jumps at the expression and instead pat my leg. Quirking a brow, she tilts her head, her smile turning to a smirk.

Slowly, she rises from her lounging position until she’s kneeling next to me. Her eyes jump from my face to my lap and back, the pink of her tongue appearing between her lips. By the look on her face, I assume she’s contemplating a life-changing decision. Really, I just want to hold her. Keep her close. To my surprise, she slides her leg across mine and straddles herself over my lap. Resting her arms across my shoulders she inhales deeply. The exhale is in the form of a smile and that feeling I ignored minutes ago is back.

My heart thunders as her fingers tickle my neck. Settling my hands on her lower back, I slip them beneath the hem of her loose shirt. Because I’m sunk into the cushion, my eyes are level with her chest. Surprisingly, it isn’t the thought of her perfect tits that I could lean up and place my mouth on that have my attention. It’s the bare skin of her shoulder peeking out of the neck of her shirt and the cluster of freckles just below it that catches my eye.

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