Page 69 of Out to Find Freedom

He touched his lips to mine quickly and started for the door. He glanced over his shoulder. “Pick you up at six,” he said as he opened the door.

“Okay,” I whispered. Distractedly, my fingers pressed against my swollen lips. I caught Ryan’s soft smile just for me, and that spread goosebumps over my arms from the excitement that flooded my body.

His gaze ran over me. He nodded and left, closing the door behind him.

“Holy fuck,” Julian drew out.

My face heated when I turned to them. To be completely honest, I’d forgotten they’d been there. Mattie stood close beside Julian, who held Mattie’s hand out in front of his chest—no doubt Mattie’s hand had been over Julian’s mouth.

“Did that really happen?” I asked, unsure if my mind was playing tricks on me. My body still wasn’t acting normal, my pulse was up, my hands shook, and I couldn’t stop smiling.

“It happened,” Mattie said.

“It sure did. That was…. I have no words. You were crying. I could see how much he hated to see it, how your words were crushing him. I could see the pain, the feelings, and then bam! He caved. He’s been feeling the same as you all along.”

Had he?

That kiss told me he had, but I’d wait and see what happened tomorrow night.

On my date.

With Ryan Warden.

“I have a date tomorrow night.”

“You do.” Julian smiled.

Mattie rolled his eyes, but he was smiling when we both did a little jig and cried out in joy.

Chapter Twenty-Three

Warden

I’d never in my damn life been nervous about seeing a woman before. Until then. I even felt like I could puke as I walked up to Emmie’s front door. That kiss the night before had me staying up most of the night replaying it in my head.

What I’d also been replaying, and I wished I hadn’t, had been her words. How she thought she wasn’t enough for me. Christ, it nearly broke me to hear the sorrow in her voice as she spoke to me, thinking I deserved better than her scarred self. She didn’t understand, but she would. I didn’t give two fucks about her scars; she was stunning inside and out. The thought of how she got them twisted my gut, but seeing them on her wouldn’t stop me from feeling something for her.

Like I’d told her, what held me back the most was her age.

Not only the worry of what people would say to her about being with a man my age, but what would she do if something happened to me on the job? It could crush her in a way I would never want to. It was something I’d have to bring up one day with her if this was going to work out.

I knocked on her door and heard Julian say, “You’re supposed to make him wait a little bit before answering.”

The door swung open. Emmie stood in the doorway, smiling up at me. Fuck, she couldn’t wait. She wasn’t one to play games. She was excited to see me. I could also tell she was nervous by the way the hand that wasn’t holding the door rested over her stomach and how she shifted from one foot to another.

“Baby doll,” I said softly.

“Hi,” she whispered.

Fuck it.

Reaching out, I slid an arm around her waist and tugged her towards me. As soon as her hands hit my chest, I leaned in and pressed my lips against hers.

It was quick. If I’d made it longer and got a real taste of her, I’d want more time just tasting and claiming her mouth.

“You ready?” I asked, grinning down at her.

“Yes,” she said, her voice soft and light.

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