Page 46 of Beat around the Bush
“Hmm. I don’t know.” She hummed, contemplating accepting my apology. She brought a finger up, tapping her lower lip.
She was dragging this out on purpose, which meant she liked me kneeling before her.
The thought had my cock hardening in my jeans.
“Do I need to be a little more persuasive?” I asked.
Her eyes casually studied me before her. “Depends what that includes.”
I smirked. “It wouldn’t include talking.”
Her eyes widened slightly before she cleared her throat. “I’ll go. But it’s not a date, just so we’re clear,” she said.
I nodded. I didn’t care what she labeled it as. I just wanted to spend more time around her.
She pursed her lips, then rolled her eyes. “You can get up now, you know. In case I wasn’t clear, I accept your apology.”
I stood, towering over her again. I wasn’t sure if I liked this angle more, or being down on the ground before her.
“I’ll pick you up at eight so you can get ready.”
I walked her to her rental car after locking up, then parted ways with her and headed for my truck. Unable to help the buzz of anticipation of seeing her again tonight, I smiled like an idiot all the way home.
19
Oakley
It took no time at all to get home with the roads plowed and the rental eating up the slushy streets like it was a sunny day in June.
I had no idea what to wear to Lennon’s family dinner tonight. Given my limited wardrobe at the moment, I didn’t have many options to choose from. I laid out a white wool turtleneck sweater and my light wash jeans, then headed for the shower to wash the smell of the feed store off of me.
After I toweled off, I slipped on my clothes and decided to put on a little bit of the makeup that I’d found in the center console of my Subaru when I first got here and was unloading my belongings.
I put on a bit of concealer and mascara, deciding to skip on the blush since my cheeks did a good job of staining red bythemselves. Since I didn’t have any lip gloss, I opted for a bit of Vaseline. It was always better than chapstick anyway.
After I fixed my hair in the mirror for the third time, I stopped myself. Why was I overthinking how I looked for Lennon and his family? It wasn’t like we were dating, and I had no obligation to impress them.
Yet, a big part of me wanted them to like me. I’d already met his siblings, but I wanted his parents to like me too. As much as I shouldn’t, I cared what people thought of me, so I pegged my desire to be liked by his family off on my people pleasing problems.
I would’ve said no, but how was I supposed to reject him when he was quite literally on his knees begging? His apology was unexpected, but I never once would have thought he was going to invite me to his parents’ house. It all took me by surprise, and I had seconds to make my decision.
Hopefully I made the right one.
A knock sounded at the front door and I grabbed my purse and denim jacket, rushing out of my room to look out the peephole. Lennon was standing there like some sort of gentleman picking me up for a date.
Not a date, Oakley.
Ugh, couldn’t he have just honked his horn or something?
Opening the door, I pasted on my best I’m-not-overthinking-this smile. “Hello.”
“Hey, Oak. Ready?” Lennon asked. He was wearing a Carhartt brown jacket with his typical jeans and cowboy boots. Thankfully for my sake, his hat was facing forward.
“Yep.” I stepped over the threshold, closing and locking the door behind me. I turned and found myself too close to him on my tiny porch.
He was looking down at me like he had something to say, but kept his mouth shut and turned on the heel of his boot to head for his truck.
I followed, getting in on the passenger side after he opened the door for me. He closed it, coming around to his side to get in. The truck was still running with the heat on, so he shifted into drive and headed down my street.
