Page 139 of Tempting Promises
Charlotte gives me a quick kiss, and then I extend my hand, guiding her to the truck. Like the gentleman I am, I help her up, which allows me to put my hand on her ass before closing the door and going around to my side.
She pulls at her skirt, shifting against the leather seats. “I hate your truck.”
I shrug. “I love it.”
“I know. You get to pretend you weren’t copping a feel when you oh-so-gallantly put me in the passenger seat.”
“Perks of my life, sweetheart.”
She rolls her eyes. “You’re lucky I love you.”
“You’re lucky I love you, but sure, I’m lucky too.”
Charlotte ignores me, fixing her hair in the mirror. “Where are we going?”
“On a date.”
Her gaze cuts to me. “Clearly.”
“You asked,” I tease.
Tonight we’re going on a real date. A date where we will officially show the town of Sugarloaf that we do, in fact, like each other. We keep the fighting for the bedroom.
Charlotte wanted to sort of show up at the diner for lunch and let it happen. I thought we needed a little more. So, while my beautiful girlfriend thinks we’re going to dinner at Sugarlips Diner, she’s actually about to get a rather different surprise.
Which I’ll pay for later.
We pull in and she sighs heavily. “What the hell is going on in the diner? This place is packed!”
“It’s a Friday night.”
She ducks her head, trying to get a better angle at the crowd inside. “Yeah, but it’s never likethis.”
“I don’t see that many more people than usual.”
Charlotte jerks her head back. “What? It’s like every damn citizen of the town.”
She’s not incorrect. “I figured it’s better to get it over with in one fell swoop. You can thank me later.”
“I’m going to kill you.”
“I expect nothing less.”
She opens the truck door, not waiting for me to help her down, and jumps from the running board. I wince as she slamsthe door, wondering if she didn’t break the damn hinges, and rush around to catch her as she’s making her way toward the road.
My arm wraps around her waist. “Oh, no you don’t.”
“Put me down.”
“You’re being ridiculous.”
“Me?” she yells and then squirms out of my grasp before turning to face me. “I told you I wanted to do this slow.”
“Give me one reason. Why?”
“Because!”
That’s really a great answer. “Listen, I don’t see why the hell it matters if we tell everyone today or in small batches. The whole town has probably already figured it out since my truck is parked at your house or yours is at mine every night. Not to mention my brothers, their women, and my sister know, and none of them are known for keeping secrets. Your sister knows, and if she has a single friend in this town, you know she’s bitched about it. And . . .” I pause for dramatic effect. “Faye knows. Therefore, everyone knows because Joey knows.”
