Page 58 of Chasing Forever
Our shared smile probably reveals my secret—that I’m slowly becoming open to this thing between us. It’s weird that we’re married when I feel like we just started dating. But I push away that problem for another day.
“Hey.” His voice is low and has a seductive drawl that makes my insides quiver.
“All done with the third degree, ladies?”
“Brooks ruined the fun.” Poppy pouts, and I laugh, crossing the room, ignoring my sister, two cousins, and Sadie holding a whiny Daisy.
“Are you ready?” I ask.
“Ready and waiting.”
He holds out his hand, and I ignore the comments coming from our audience. They sound shocked that I’m being so cordial to him. I accept his outstretched hand.
“Don’t wait up, ladies. Remember my intentions. After seeing how hot Lottie looks, I’m adding a shower to the itinerary.” Brooks chuckles, opening the front door for me.
“God, you’re a buzzkill, Brooks.” Scarlett huffs.
On the porch with the door shut behind us, Brooks tugs me into his arms.
“Hi,” he says with an even more seductive tone than earlier. “Want me to stop?”
I shake my head, already drunk on him. This is coming so easy, and right now, in this moment, I don’t want it to stop.
“Good.” His lips land on mine, sweet and innocent. Nothing like the other night or this morning at the store. The kiss ends way too quickly for me. “Ready for your date?”
“Where are we going?”
“That’s a surprise.” He opens his truck door for me to climb in. “I’m happy to help you. You know, if you need it?”
“No ass touching yet, Sheriff.”
He clucks his tongue. “I think I touched your ass last night.”
I roll my eyes at him, and he shuts the door before walking around the front of his truck.
He climbs inside and leans over the center console. “Watch the eye rolls, Lottie. I’ve been waiting for the moment when I can kiss you every time you do it.”
Instead of kissing my lips, he kisses my cheek.
“That was disappointing.” I roll my eyes again.
His hand slides around my neck and drags me toward him, pressing his lips to mine, his tongue not asking for permission this time. The kiss lasts until he’s sucked all the breath out of me, and my lips are swollen and tingling.
“Better?” he says, resting his forehead to mine.
“Definitely.”
Brooks straightens and starts the truck, adjusting himself in his jeans. “We need to go before I drive you to my house and do all those things I mentioned to everyone in there.” He nods toward the house.
God, I want to. I want to lose myself in him and pretend we’re already there in this… whatever this is. But I’m not ready. Not yet. And since I can’t seem to keep my mouth—or my body—from reaching for his, I need to say it now. Before I get lost in him completely.
“Brooks…” I say, and his hand stalls on the gearshift. “I’m not ready yet, and I’m not sure when I will be.”
He takes my hand, his calluses warm along my palm. “I was just joking with your cousins. I don’t want to rush into any of this. I have no expectations. You lead, okay? What I’m saying is, you tell me when you’re ready for more.”
“Thanks for understanding.”
“Always, Lottie.” He squeezes my hand, and I believe him. I do.
