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I lowered my mouth to hers, knowing this was my last first kiss. Her kiss was soft, plush, tender, cautious. Everything.
Never before had I savored a kiss like this, but I didn’t want this one to end. Every second that our lips lingered, the more I learned about her. Like how her fingers felt as they fisted my shirt against my back. How her gentle moan of appreciation vibrated my mouth. How delicately she parted her lips before sliding her tongue against the seam of mine.
I deepened the kiss in response, desperate to taste her, to savor her and the faint hints of caramel on her tongue. She was a cautious kisser, and I loved how each second that passed seemed to embolden her.
I wound my fingers into the damp tangle of curls at the nape of her neck, drawing her closer yet. My reward was her hand teasing at the hem of my shirt, fingertips brushing over the bare skin above my jeans. A simple touch had never been so intense before.
I broke the kiss, pressing my forehead to hers. “We should stop.”
Della would be my undoing. And yet, she had no idea she was slicing the strings holding my carefully constructed life together, changing everything for me.
“You’re right,” she breathed softly. “We’re not alone.”
Old Hayes might have made a comment about taking this somewhere more private. But the guy I thought she deserved said, “Let’s get you warmed up.” I disentangled my hand from her hair then reached for her hand. It was warm and soft in mine.
She eyed the rain still coming down past the awning and gave a reaffirming nod. “Okay,” she said and hustled toward the truck.
“Knees to chest, Hayes!” she tossed my way.
Laughing, I jogged alongside her, easily keeping her pace. “Did you run track in high school?” I teased.
“At least I wasn’t hitting on the coach!” she fired back.
I took the jab, laughing, wondering how she could make something like getting caught in a rainstorm so much fun.
We reached my truck, breathing hard, and climbed in on either side. I hurried to turn it on so she could warm up. But since it would take a while for the heater to work, I lifted my arm, the woven seat covers scratching over my skin. “Come here.”
Music played softly over the radio, masking the sloshing of her dress as she scooted into my embrace. I rubbed my hand over her arm to warm her up, thankful for the excuse to touch her. I wanted to touch all of her, now. But I also wanted to be the man she deserved.
And the guy she deserved would take care of her in and out of the bedroom.
“Thank you,” she said, curling into me, letting me know I’d done right. “I should have brought an umbrella, but I thought that might be bad luck.”
“Bad luck? To be prepared?” I asked. “That sounds strange coming from Miss Wear a Helmet Even on Main Street.”
She narrowed her gaze at me. “Haven’t you heard the parable about the guy who prepared his field for rain and then got rain. If I brought an umbrella, it would have been asking for it.”
“That’s an old wives’ tale,” I replied.
She folded her arms across her chest, managing to be huffy while curled under my arm. “Just because wives said it, it’s not relevant?”
I pinched my brow. “That’s not it, its—” I shook my head, realizing I was smiling. Arguing with her was too much fun. “You’re crazy,” I replied.
She grinned like she didn’t mind one damn bit.
“Let me get you home before I pop a blood vessel arguing with you,” I said, putting the truck in gear.
She chuckled. “Looks like you just don’t want to be proven wrong. Again.”
“Again?” I retorted, pulling onto the road.
“But who’s keeping score.” She winked.
Rain spattered on the windshield as I drove, and I flicked on the windshield wipers. We’d be at her house in just a few moments so she could change into dry clothes and get warm. My stomach dropped as I realized the date would soon be over... and I had no idea what to do next.
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DELLA