Page 13 of Surrender
She’d dressed in a white top with dark-washed shorts and a pair of white Vans. She’d pulled some of her hair up into a ponytail; the rest was left down and in coiled curls.
Dallis had to take her in twice. She looked absolutely gorgeous. He was so caught up in admiring her that he hadn’t noticed at first that she stepped aside to allow him to enter.
Stepping inside, he watched as she closed the door before placing his hands on her waist and pulling her to him. Leaning down, he placed a soft kiss on her lips. He didn’t miss the surprised look that flashed across her face. He found it amusing that she seemed shocked when he kissed her. She was going to have to get used to it.
“One, you look beautiful,” he told her, leaning down and kissing her again. “Two, you’ll have to get used to me kissing you. I plan on doing it often.”
With that, Dallis released her and took a step back. He watched as she licked her lower lip before nodding at him slowly. Colbie walked past him and grabbed her purse.
Dallis waited as she walked around her house, turning out the lights. She turned her attention back to him when she finished.
“I’m ready if you are,” she told him.
Dallis nodded, opening the door and allowing her to walk out before him. He closed the door and moved to the side as she locked it. They made their way to his car, where he opened the door for her. When she was inside, he leaned in and fastened her seat belt. The proximity made her breath hitch.
Closing her door, he walked around the car and slid into the driver’s seat. He took her hand when he pulled out of her driveway and headed toward their destination. Lacing his fingers through hers and running his thumb up and down her index finger.
“So, where are we going?”
He glanced over at her. “To a carnival.”
She shifted in her seat. “In Morristown?!” she questioned a bit excitedly.
Dallis chuckled. “I take it you’re fine with that?”
“Yes, I went to one of their festivals when I lived in Glendale a couple of years ago, but I haven’t been to a festival there since I...” She trailed off, and he glanced at her to see that she was deep in thought.
“Since you?” Dallis probed.
“It’s not important. It’s just been a while.”
Dallis decided to let it drop because she didn’t want to talk about it, and he wouldn’t push. They hadn’t been driving long when she sighed and leaned back in her seat, looking out the window—the music playing softly over the radio serving as background noise.
After about ten minutes of just music, Dallis decided to break it. Bringing her hand that he was holding up to his lips, he placed a soft kiss on it.
“So, tell me something I don’t know about you, Colbie.”
“There’s a lot you don’t know about me, Dallis,” she responded.
He chuckled lightly while glancing at her. “I know that you’re twenty-five. I know that you’ve lived in Chandler for almost three years. I know that you have an older sister. She lives in Las Vegas along with your parents. You have a niece. You-”
“Okay, stop. Did you stalk me?”
He lifted a brow at her. “It probably sounds that way, but it’s amazing what one can find out on social media.”
“The only social media I have is Facebook, and we aren’t friends on there.”
Dallis shrugged. “We don’t have to be. You should make your page private, baby.”
“Hmm. Well, it seems you know everything already.”
Again, Dallis glanced at her. “Not everything. So, enlighten me.”
For the next hour, they got to know each other better. Dallis loved listening to her talk. Her voice was sensual and light all at once.She told him that she’d taught freshmen history for two years at Hamilton High before putting in for a transfer over the summer to Chandler High when the previous European history teacher retired.
“I hope you don’t mind me asking,” Colbie started. “But did your parents decide to hold off on enrolling you in school for a year when you started?”
Dallis shook his head. “No, we were living in California at the time. My dad was going to college there. Their enrollment deadline was later than Arizona’s. Since we would be moving back to Chandler before I started school, my mom decided to enroll me once we got here, but their deadline was sooner, and she missed it. So, I started a year later. I could have tested into the correct grade, but Hayden used to be a timid kid, so I decided not to.”
