Page 20 of A Date with Fate

“What now?” I couldn’t help whispering, as if I was asking to be let into some great secret. Because perhaps I was. Scott was always so sure, so easily confident and content.

His nose brushed mine again, but this time he didn’t kiss my mouth, choosing instead to slip his arms farther around me. His hand found the small strip of bare skin just above my shorts, and thick fingers traced the hem of his hoodie there. “We’ve got some driving to do.”

My laugh bubbled up before I could stop it, and I turned my face sideways to lay it against Scott’s chest. “Yes, we do. But can we have one more second?”

Scott’s hand stroked my back, spreading heat and happiness in its wake. “Of course, baby. Whatever you need.”

I bit down on my lip. Perhaps what I needed was him.

Chapter Six

Scott

“You’ve got this, baby. Just keep backing up.”

“But how much farther?” Taylor’s worried voice carried out of the driver’s side window.

I carefully kept my laughter hidden as I leaned over to put my palms on my knees. When I’d asked Taylor if she knew how to drive a rig, I hadn’t expected her to want to learn. It hadn’t really been an offering, but as soon as those deep-blue eyes found mine, I hadn’t been able to say no.

I had a feeling that I couldn’t say no to just about anything she said. After that kiss this afternoon, I was a goner.

I held up my arms about four feet apart. “This far.”

The truck slowly began to back again, moving at roughly the speed of a snail.

I stifled a laugh again. “You’ve got this. Keep going.”

“I take it back. I don’t want to learn anymore.”

“You're doing great.”

“You're lying.”

“I’m not!”

The brake let up, and suddenly the truck and camper were moving faster than before, closing in on our little concrete slab much faster than I’d expected.

“Whoa. Ease up, Taylor.”

She must not have heard me, for the truck kept coming. “Taylor!”

“Oh God…” Taylor’s voice was high-pitched and panicked.

My heart leapt in my chest. “That’s enough. Brake, Taylor!”

The brakes squeaked into place, the truck slamming to a halt as she just barely made it over the slab and thankfully didn’t drive our little portable home straight over the edge and into the creek just beyond.

That would’ve been a rough way to start the night.

Taylor was out of the truck in a flash, her hands over her mouth as she stumbled closer to me. “I can’t believe you let me do that. Why would you?”

“What?”

“I don’t know how to do it. I’m stupid for trying. I would have ruined your parents’ new camper.”

My mind was whirling. What was going on? “Taylor, easy. You did fine.”

“Did you see how close I got?”

---