Page 88 of Love Unforgettable
“You do?” he asks.
“Yes,” I say.
“Just so we’re clear, I don’t care about the tiny little scar this probably won’t result in. But if you think it makes me look like a bad-ass, then okay.”
“Thank you.” I smile.
He smiles back, and it makes my stomach somersault. He gives me warm fuzzies. What Kat would call vagina butterflies. I put the small band-aid over the cut and run my fingers along the tape edges to make sure they stick. He closes his eyes and sighs lightly.
“Your hands feel good on me,” he says.
“My hands are rough and full of callouses,” I reply.
“And they feel good.”
I smile, but he can’t see me since his eyes are still closed. I smooth over the band-aid one more time then drop my hands. Cole opens his eyes, his look heated.
He’s going to kiss me.
He holds my gaze for a moment, then stands. “About ready to go?”
“Yep.” I try to hide my disappointment, but I’m not sure how successful I am. He makes me feel like a dog in heat, panting after him incessantly while he continues to thwart my advances. Not that I’ve tried to kiss him again. And I’m not going to either. One rejection is enough for this girl. Even if he did have a good reason for doing it.
He takes my hand and leads me through my house to the front door. “I’m going jog down and get my truck, then I’ll come pick you up. Will you buzz the gate open in a few?”
“Of course. But you want me to just walk down with you?”
“No, I do not. I am picking you up at your front door for a proper date.”
“Okay, I’ll be waiting.” I smile. I watch him start to jog down the drive, then run to the bathroom to check how I look.
Harried. Frazzled.
Which is exactly why shots were invented.
I head to the kitchen and pour myself a shot of Jack Daniels because it reminds me of Cole. It goes down smooth. So, I pour one more for good measure. I figure Cole is to the end of the drive by now, so I buzz open the gate. Then I go back to the kitchen for one last shot just to be on the safe side. That tell-tale warmth fills my belly and warms me from the inside out.
Which is when I remember I haven’t eaten since breakfast.
Shit.
But, damn, I feel really good right about now. Three shots good.
I hear Cole pull up. So, I grab my purse and head for the front door. He meets me there and holds his hand out, palm up. I look at him questioningly.
“Keys. I’ll lock your house for you.”
Oh. Wow. That’s a new one.
Okay.” I say. After which he also opens my car door for me, waits for me to get in, then shuts it after me.
“A girl could get used to this kind of treatment,” I tell him once he gets in the car.
“A girl should,” he replies, which makes me smile once again.
He starts the truck but turns to me before accelerating. “I don’t often do this,” he starts. “In fact, I’ve never done this before, but you are welcome to control the music if you would like. I’ve got satellite radio and a few CD’s in this compartment here.” He lifts up a portion of the center console to reveal the CD cover spines.
I look in, then read off some of the names. “Johnny Cash, Merle Haggard, George Strait, Waylon Jennings, you must be a country music fan. Right?”
