Page 32 of Small Town Frenzy
Her eyes search mine as she fists my shirt, but words seem to fail her. Taking a deep breath, she looks down. When she slowly glides her gaze back up, she whispers, “Nights without interruption aren’t something I really have these days.” She takes a quick breath and then opens her mouth as if she wants to say more, but then doesn’t. She licks her lips instead and releases my jersey.
She takes a step back, but I catch her wrist and bring her back. “Hey, I just don’t want you waking up the next day regretting it.”
“Why would I regret it? We’ll use more protection this time.”Ummm, okay . . .
Not sure where that came from, I narrow my eyes, and ask, “What do you mean by more? I wore a condom last time.”
“Did you?” Her brows squeeze together as she stares up at me in question. She seems to have a point to make, but I’m lost on what that might be.
“Of course, I did. I always do.” Bringing her wrist to my mouth, I place a kiss and then another across the soft skin before slipping my hand around hers.
Her head tilts. “All three times?”
“Are we having two different conversations because I can’t make sense of it? What are you getting at?”
She releases a breath and my hand jointly, and then says, “I was on the pill, but that’s not one hundred percent.”
I take a step back, needing space to follow the bricks she’s laying. “Are you saying we didn’t use a condom?”
“One of the times. We ran out because we only had two.”
That’s not a detail I’ve held on to, much less recall at all. “It’s not something I do.”
“Well, you did. The one time,” she emphasizes. “We were drinking, and it was years ago, so I understand why it would slip your mind.”
“But you remember it like it was yesterday. Why is that? Why does it matter now? It’s ancient history.”
She moves out from under the overhang of the large Cypress trees lining the banks of the river. Looking up at the stars, she smiles and then returns her gaze to me. “I just want to make sure there are no accidents, if you know what I mean.”
I nod and move out to see a sky full of stars above us. Texas sure knows how to flaunt her beauty sometimes. “Sure. I know what you mean. That’s another reason not to continue tonight. I don’t have a condom tucked into this baseball uniform.” I crack a smile and give her a wink.
“I’m surprised knowing you.” She laughs. I’m thankful for the sound as it cuts through the silence of the night. There’s my fiery little chirp. I’m not sure she knows me as well as she thinks, but she’s definitely onto me and might have me figured out more than most.
I like the easiness we’ve fallen back into together and run my thumb over my bottom lip while studying her. “I have to admit this isn’t my kind of foreplay if this is the angle you’re going with to seduce me, Dover.”
Walking to me, she touches under my chin with her finger. “If I were seducing you, you’d know it.” She flicks her finger off my chin like a match against the striker. Turning on her heels, she leaves flames in her wake.So fucking sexy.
That tight jersey of hers made it hard to look away, but her backside is giving a damn good show of its own. As if she knows she’s left like a dog with his tongue hanging out and tail wagging, she stops and looks back over her shoulder. I’m given a glimpse of a playful smile toying with her lips. “You going to hang around here all night, Greene, or are you going to drive me home?”
“I’m coming.” I catch up, taking her hand like it’s mine to hold. “But you’re making me think twice.”
She doesn’t pull her hand away. Her fingers wrap around mine as she walks next to me, our arms brushing against each other. “Too late. You had your chance. Now I’m ready to pull on some pajamas and call it a night. No offense.”
“None taken. I only have myself to blame.” I peer over at her to catch her nodding. Her eyes connect with mine just as we approach the truck. Instead of separating and returning to opposite sides of the truck, our arms stretch between us with our hands still clasped.
Standing there, neither of us in any hurry, she asks, “Would it be so wrong to make a night of it another time?”
“I like the way you think, Ms. Dover.”
“I’m matching your energy.”
“No doubt about that.” I’ve never met a woman like her. It’s damn attractive. I pull her close, wrapping my arms around her once more, knowing it’s the last time I’ll get to do it tonight. “Listen, I can respect that you have a comeback quip on the tip of your lips ready to fire at the first opportunity.” The way the moon shines in her eyes and her smile is carefree when I’m holding her like this, it tempts me to kiss her again. I’ve been dying to, actually. I don’t because I’m not going to escalate things between us again when we just wound them down. “But instead of teasing, I’d rather kiss and make up.”
She bursts out laughing. Covering her mouth, she mutters, “Sorry. I’m not laughing at you.”
“Considering I’m not laughing, I’m figuring it’s notwithme either.”She’s downright irresistible.
“No. No.” She pats my chest. “No, for real. You do make me laugh, but in a good way.” Reaching up, she runs the tip of my fingers over my bottom lip, then replaces them by lifting onto her toes and kissing me. It’s gentle and probably placating a bit, but I’ll take anything she’s willing to give me.
