Page 30 of Homebody
Chapter Fourteen
Just down the road from his parents’ house Dean parked along the curb in front of the address Tessa had texted him, but he hadn’t even reached the porch stairs yet when she opened her door and stepped outside.
The change in her since the last time he’d seen her that morning in the library had him speechless.
She looked great. It wasn’t just the clothing she wore either, though her outfit didn’t hurt. It was everything.
Tonight, unlike this morning, Tessa emitted a confidence. It was obvious from the way she carried herself. The surety in her stride, even the lift of her chin as she pulled the door closed and walked forward to meet him on the path leading up to the house.
From the loose-cut wide-legged cream-colored pants cinched at the waist with a shiny red belt, to the tight tank-top she wore beneath the open button-down long-sleeved blouse in the same color as the pants, nothing she wore was overtly sexy.
Nothing was obviously revealing. To the contrary, she was mostly covered from the flipped-up collar of the shirt to the closed pointed toes of her red leather shoes that peeped out from beneath the long legs of the pants as she walked. Yet the overall effect was sexy as hell.
Dean knew nothing about fashion but he knew what he liked. And he liked what he saw.
In fact, it was becoming painfully obvious to him that he just plain liked Tessa. In spite of the obstacles. In spite of his vow to not get involved, he couldn’t deny he liked her. All of her.
She was smart. Pretty. Funny. But all in a way that made it seem as if she didn’t realize all the assets she possessed. Didn’t notice how heads turned her way, like they had when she’d been playing pool at the bar the first time he’d laid eyes on her.
She paused in front of him now and all he could think washoly shit.
Luckily those words didn’t actually come out of his mouth. Instead, he managed a calm, cool, “You clean up nice.”
The color in her cheeks deepened before she finally cocked up a brow and said, “Do I? Thanks. So do you.”
His gaze moved past her to the house she’d emerged from. “So, you’re the one who lives in the infamous pink Victorian on Main Street. What’s that like?”
He’d love to see inside the big old turn-of-the-century house firsthand. See if the inside was as ornate as the outside. Strictly out of architectural curiosity, of course. Not because he wanted to get inside Tessa’s bedroom…
Ha! Yeah, right. That was exactly where his mind had gone.
Dean squelched that thought. This wasn’t supposed to be that kind of date. That wasn’t why he’d originally asked her out, although it seemed his motives had changed of late when it came to spending time with Tessa.
“Infamous, huh? Well, a bunch of other people live in there too. Not just me. I rent a one-bedroom apartment. That only takes up half of the first floor. It’s pretty nice… if you don’t mind people walking around above your head day and night and playing music too loudly.” She lifted one shoulder.
“Ah. Yeah. I can definitely relate.” Dean nodded. “Try living aboard a ship with a couple of thousand sailors for a few months.”
He realized she was staring at him, waiting as they stood facing each other on the walkway in front of the house.
She was probably wondering where they were going…andwhenthey’d be leaving since he stood there, not moving, making inane small talk like he’d never been on a date before.
“So, uh, I had a few ideas of where to go for dinner tonight. But I thought I’d let you pick.”
“Me?” Her eyes flew wide. The move was made more prevalent by the length and thickness of her lashes. “Oh, no. You pick. Please.”
“All right. Dealer’s choice it is. I hope you’re hungry.” He turned toward the curb where he’d parked the car.
Spotting his mother’s knitting bag on the floor of the passenger side, he reached in, grabbed it and tossed it in the back seat. “Sorry about the toy car. It’s Mom’s. I didn’t bother renting a vehicle for this trip, but this thing is way smaller than what I’m used to. Beggars can’t be choosers, I guess.”
“I don’t even own a car so I’m not in any position to judge,” she said as she sat.
He lifted a brow at that information.
Once around on the driver’s side, he slid in behind the wheel and then turned toward Tessa. “Really? You don’t have a car? How do you get around?”
“I walk or ride my bicycle. If I need something that’s too far away, I have it delivered.” She shrugged.
“Hmm. Good for you,” he said as he started the engine.
