Page 11 of Daniel
Nodding, I gasped, “And I’ll be thinking about you.”
He kissed me hard and deep, sending both chills and heat through every corner of my body.
I’d never felt so sensual or so wanted in my life. As if Daniel was actually hungry for me. It was a heady sensation that surprised me.
I absolutely loved it.
As he slowly released me, giving me another kiss before stepping back to look into my eyes, I realized something else.
I was falling completely in love with him.
7
DANIEL
Driving Prairie home, I was delighted to notice she seemed to grow chattier the more time we spent together. As I turned onto a smaller road, nearly at her house, I reached out to take her hand.
“Listen, I want to be really open about something. Does it bother you that I’m quite a bit older than you?”
Prairie grinned, her nose crinkling beautifully. “Not in the slightest. Actually, it’s a bit of a comfort. I’m sometimes a bit shy, so having someone take charge a little is a relief.”
“Okay, good. As long as you know that I don’t expect anything.”
She looked at me carefully, as if she didn’t quite know what I meant.
“Don’t get me wrong, Prairie. I am wildly attracted to you, and want to take you home to my bed right this second. But that’s entirely inappropriate for a first date. I want to do right by you.”
She smiled in the dim light, giving my hand a squeeze. “I think I know what you mean. I guess people are supposed to take their time a bit.”
“Yes. Especially since…” I sighed, turning into the long driveway of their farm. “All of the details of when I can move back to Holly Valley are still up in the air,” I explained. “I might be stuck in Myrtleville for another six months. I’m going to try to be back in three, but there are a bunch of details that are going to take some time to straighten out.”
I parked the truck, hoping her parents weren’t peering out from behind the darkened windows.
Prairie slipped off her seatbelt, then turned to me. “So what you’re saying is that this is a temporary relationship?”
“No.”
My voice was too loud, echoing around the truck as she jumped. I turned and took both of her hands in mine. “I’m saying the exact opposite. There are a whole bunch of things that I can’t say on the day we meet, much as I want to. I know it’s too much too soon, but I know that we can make this work. I just might need you to wait for me for a few months.”
Her beautiful eyes were glimmering as I asked, “Will you do that for me, Prairie?”
Her mouth fell open as she blinked in surprise. “Of course. I mean, I guess it will take some time to get settled here. We could do a long distance thing for a few months, no problem.”
“I have a ton of airline points saved up. I can visit you every few weekends.”
Prairie laughed, shaking her head. “I just can’t believe that you seem so ready to commit to a relationship with a girl you’ve just met.”
I leaned in to give her a quick kiss. “Not a girl.Thegirl.”
The outer corners of her eyes narrowed slightly. “Just because you had a feeling or whatever about my name on the plane doesn’t make us magically perfect for each other, you know.”
“The name made me need to meet you,” I said. “It was when I first looked at you that…” I shook my head. “I’m not going to say that out loud.”
“Tell me,” she said insistently, her eyes blazing. “Please.”
“It is horribly inappropriate, and I don’t want to scare you away.”
Prairie thrust her bottom lip out. “I won’t go out with you again unless you tell me right now.”
