Page 35 of Can't Help Growling in Love
“Can I see you again tonight?” he asks, breaking through my musings.
I can’t help but smile at his hopeful expression. “Yeah, I’d like that. Want me to swing by the station again?”
“That would be great, but if you’d like, I could pick you up at your place? That way, you don’t have to hang around the station and wait for my shift to be over.”
I think of how we spent the two hours this morning, and my body heats instantly. “I didn’t mind waiting with you.”
Asher’s nostrils flare, and he huffs out a laugh. “No, I guess you didn’t. Okay, text me when you’re close, and I’ll unlock the door for you.”
We roll onto my street, and I show him where to stop the car. It’s almost noon, and I really need to get some sleep before tonight’s shift, or I’ll be dead on my feet.
“This one is mine.” I indicate the small house at the end of the street. “Thanks for driving me home.”
I told him I could easily ride my bike, but he wanted to drive me, and I let him. I did say I was working on letting others help me. If I could spend more time with Asher, I wasn’t going to deny myself that opportunity.
“Your home looks nice.” He cranes his neck to see better. “I see why you were so worried about my front yard now.”
I grin as I unbuckle my seat belt. “Gardening is a bit of a hobby for me. I can help you if you’d like. With your front yard, I mean. Just say the word.”
Asher’s warm gaze rests on me. “All right, I’ll take you up on that. We can drive down to the garden center, get some tulips and stuff.”
“Tulips and stuff?” I shake my head in mock despair. “We’re going to need to rent a backhoe first to dig out some of those stumps and brambles. The fine touches will come much later.”
“Deal.” He holds out a hand for me. “It can be a joint project. I’d love to spend more time with you.”
His words echo my thoughts so closely, my heart thumps harder. I lean in and press my lips to his. He returns the kiss immediately, his hand coming up to dig into my hair.
“I’ll help you with your bike,” he rumbles after a long moment. He swipes his thumb over my cheek, then down to my mouth in a possessive gesture. “If I don’t leave now, I’ll probably try to talk my way into your house and kiss you again, and then we’ll both be late for work tonight.”
I let out a deep sigh. “It’s not that I don’tloveyour idea, it’s just that I need my job to keep the lights on.”
It’s a joke, but it comes out sadder than I intended. I want to take the words back, but why would I? They’re true. I do need the money, but if I could, I’d spend the day with him for sure.
Asher kisses me lightly on the lips, then releases me. “Do you get any days off? I mean, are you on for this weekend?”
Warmth spreads through me at his question. He wants to plan the weekend with me?
“I’m working on the night of the full moon, but I’m off the day after.” I push my hair behind my ears, suddenly nervous as a thought occurs to me. “By the way, you’re the only guy I’m dating at the moment.”
He frowns at me. “Uh, okay?”
God, he’s really not used to the current dating scene.
“I mean, I’d like for us to be exclusive if we’re sleeping together without protection.” I stare at my lap, the words tumbling out too fast. “It’s not unusual for people to date around, but if you’re—if you’re sexually active with someone else, I need to know that so I can?—”
“June.”
Asher’s voice cuts through my babble, and I look up to find him grinning at me, his eyes glowing golden.
“You’re the only person I’m interested in dating.” He takes my chin and presses another quick kiss to my lips. “I doubt that’ll change anytime soon. You have nothing to worry about.”
I’m in trouble. If any other man said these exact words to me, I’d be suspicious as hell. But this is Asher, and I believe him.
I don’t let myself kiss him again. If I do, we might get arrested for public indecency, because I won’t be able to stop. The magnetic pull between us grows stronger, but I wrench myself away, and Asher lets me. He blows out a long breath, opens the door on his side, and jumps out, then jogs around to open the door for me, too. He stands back, which is a good thing. That’s what I tell myself, at least. I step past him and my entire body buzzes with awareness.
He’s dangerous to my sanity, and I don’t know if I can afford a distraction like him.
So why am I staring at him as he lifts my bike from the back of his truck? His biceps pop, stretching the short sleeves of his black t-shirt, and my mouth goes dry. I felt some of that strength earlier, and I want him to use some of that strength on me. I don’t know how to communicate that to him without pushing past his boundaries, though, so I bite my tongue and stay silent.
