I paused, driving past the fields, wondering whether it was too soon to say what I was thinking. “Of course, I don’t quite know where the boundaries are yet, but I think I’d like to make things official with you,” I said, pulling into her long driveway. “I’d like to be your boyfriend.”
Her rosebud lips fell open. “Really?” Lorena smiled, but looked a bit tense as I parked the truck and turned to her.
“What’s the matter? Please, be honest. Don’t you want to be my girlfriend?”
“I do! Really I do. I’m just sort of surprised, I guess. I mean, I saw you talking with Esther.”
I made a disgusted grunt that caused her to laugh. “That nosy bi... woman is pretty much the only nasty person in this town besides her crony Verity.”
“So you don’t listen to them?” she asked hopefully.
“Not in the slightest. I listen to you.” I chuckled. “And Iris, to some extent.”
Lorena smiled. “Iris is sort of the town’s Mom, isn’t she?”
“Yeah.”
“She likes you,” Lorena said, squeezing my hand. “So as far as I’m concerned, you have her seal of approval. I’d love to be your girlfriend.”
I grinned, then ran around to lift her out of the truck. Holding her hand, I walked her to her front door. “Would you like to come in?” she asked softly. “I’m so wired from that adrenaline rush today that I might actually have half a glass of wine to settle down. I think I have a bottle of whiskey, if you’d like.”
“I don’t touch hard liquor,” I said, following her in the front door and pulling off my boots. “But Lorena, I’m going to need you to ask me to leave after one drink.”
She spun, her hair swirling out behind her as she nestled in my arms. “Why? I mean, would it be so terrible if you stayed the night?”
Dammit, I wish she hadn’t said that first. My fingers clenched around the firm swell of her ass, pulling her tight against me as I kissed her. Her soft moan tightened every muscle in my body as I picked her up, carrying her to the couch and setting her on my lap.
“Lorena, if I stay the night,” I murmured, kissing under her ear, “I won’t be able to keep my hands off you.”
“That’s okay,” she whispered, but she sounded a bit nervous.
“Angel, I can’t touch you if you’re jumpy about it.” Yet my hand was caressing her knee under her dress, as I tried not to wander up her inner thigh more than a few inches.
She swallowed hard, looking at me with those big, bright eyes. “Cody, I’ve had feelings for you from the first time I saw you.”
“Really?”
“Yes. You’d just sat down at the bar, then suddenly jumped up to get the door for an older lady with a walker. You settled her at the best table at the window, pulling out her chair and listening to her ramble on about her cat for a few minutes.”
“Mrs. Hartley,” I said, shaking my head. I couldn’t believe she remembered that.
“You’re quiet, but you’re so kind,” she said gently. “Everyone knows that you’re a good man.”
Staring into those heavenly eyes, I forced myself to speak. “Lorena, what if I’m not good enough for you? What if I’m not everything you need?”
She laughed, slipping her arms around my neck and holding me tightly. “Cody, you’re everything I’ve ever dreamed of and more. I like the way you seem to want to take care of me, but you don’t want to change me.”
I nodded, then she held my face between her delicate hands. “But you’ll have to tell me now – are you going to be upset when I find a band to sing with? It’ll probably be mostly guys, and I might be traveling a bit. You’re not going to freak out or be jealous, are you?”
I shook my head. “I trust you completely, Lorena. I might ask to meet the band. I might ask for you to
text me so that I know you’re safe. But I’ll try not to go overboard. Is that fair?”
“Absolutely,” she said. “Oh!” She jumped up and grabbed her purse. “Just before the band started, I wanted to text you so you knew where I was, but I didn’t even have your number.” I took her phone from her, entering my name as a contact, and my number, then texted myself so that I’d have her number.
“Thanks,” she said. “I was so glad that you appeared just in time. You really do make me feel safe.”
Setting her phone and purse on her coffee table, I held her close to me. “You shouldn’t feel safe around me when we’re alone, and this near to your bedroom.”