Page 4 of Forever To Me

I snort. “I’ve never gone home with anyone before or had a fake boyfriend,” I admit as I bite my lip nervously, a habit I know I need to stop. I’m also so nervous that I keep rambling.

“Where’s home?” he asks as he stares at my lips for a beat, then his gaze meets my eyes.

“I’m staying at the Dogwood,” I say, and he slowly blinks, and then looks away. I can’t read his expression, but something in him has shifted. It’s like he’s reconsidering whether he wants to do this or not, and my heart drops with disappointment, the feeling of rejection creeping in.

“I’ll take you home, Red,” he says softly as he puts the truckin gear and looks behind him, the scruff of his jaw sexy and dark.

I wonder what it would feel like on my skin again. What his lips would feel like on my body. My hand goes to my lips, where I still taste him and the last of the whiskey I downed hours ago. I rarely drink, and tonight was an exception. I prefer to be sober and, in my head, writing songs whenever I can, and I don’t like the way I feel when I’ve had too much to drink. But tonight, I felt like having fun and fun is what I had, that’s for sure. It was fun while it lasted, I guess.

Chapter 3

Violet

As he drives, I watch him out of the corner of my eye, wanting to trace my fingers around his biceps and feel the muscles on his forearms gripping the steering wheel. I wonder what spending the night with this hot cowboy bartender would be like. I might not find out now after what he said.

A few minutes go by, and before I know it, he’s pulling into the Dogwood. “I’m in the front in room one-fifteen,” I murmur.

He swings in and parks his truck in the back, even though I just told him my room is in the front. He looks over at me. “I’ll walk you to your door.”

“Alright.” I climb out of his truck as he takes my hand and walks me to my door. Disappointment fills me, as I guess he’s not staying after all. I wonder what changed his mind.

“What changed your mind?” I ask curiously as I walk next to him.

He turns to look at me, surprised. “What makes you think I changed my mind?”

I hesitate. “It feels like you’re walking me to the door to say goodbye.”

“Red, a good guy walks you to your door. I didn’t change my mind,” he says as his warm eyes search mine. “Also, I assume nothing.”

I open my mouth and close it again, not even sure what to say. He’s distracting me because he smells so good as he stands close.

“Why’d you park in the back?” I ask, searching his eyes for the truth.

He chuckles softly. “Well, because Maggie is a close friend of mine, and I don’t want her to give me hell about you. I want to stay with you if that’s what you still want. But I don’t need her in my business.”

I grin, knowing damn well that sounds like my aunt Maggie, the silver-haired owner of the Dogwood who also basically runs this town. And knowing that she’s a friend of his makes me feel even better about him. Maggie is a stellar judge of character.

We get to my room, and suddenly, I’m so nervous. I'm sweating. The way he's looking at me now has me clenching my thighs.

He places both hands on the door frame on each side of me and leans in. He places his mouth close to my ear. “I’m going to kiss you now.” He tips his head back and searches my eyes for permission before leaning in and kissing me softly.

My fists clench his shirt, and I kiss him back with a hunger I didn’t know I had. The current between us is back, pulling him into me, like somehow, we’re tethered together. He smells so good. Like leather and pine, and if I could bottle him up and always keep that scent with me, I would.

I moan into his kiss, the heat of it unraveling me from the inside out. I want him, and it’s all consuming. No one has ever made me feel like this, like I’m on the edge and ready to fall.

“Fuck,” he groans softly into my mouth as he pulls back and gazes at me. “You feel that, right?”

“Yeah,” I murmur as my arms still cling to him, desire filling me like I’ve never felt with anyone. We’re both panting and staring into each other’s eyes. They way I want this man right now is practically criminal.

“What’s it gonna be, Red?” he asks as his eyes search mine as if he’s peering into the window ofmysoul now. And it’s the most intimate thing I’ve ever felt with a man. His vulnerability, asking for permission, and not just assuming and taking as another man in my life has done. And it feels good to be wanted and desired right back in return.

“One night,” I murmur as I reach into my purse and fish nervously for my room key.

Damn, I love it when he calls me Red. Since it’s just one night, sharing names is unnecessary. I kind of like the mystery of us. Just one night and back to our normal lives. Only nothing feels normal about this.

I finally find it, my hands shaking as his hand gently covers mine. He takes the key from me and unlocks the door with ease. He pushes it open for me, allowing me to enter first, his eyes watching my every move as if he can’t take them off me. Something is happening here, and it’s as strong as the current of emotions pulsing through my body.

I waste no time, tossing my purse onto the chair by the table and turning as he shuts and locks the door. His hands gently cup and then trace my chin, pulling me in. He searches my eyes for permission, and he scoops me up. His arms cup my bottom, and lays me on the bed, his eyes lighting up as he admires me.

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