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She made a face at him. “Classy imagery.”

Blake chuckled, having more fun bantering with Hannah than he’d had in . . . well, years probably.

As they started walking again, Blake had to admit that he liked the way his hand linked with Hannah’s; Jenny had been barely five one, so it had actually been more comfortable for her to just slip her arm through his, but Hannah was probably five five or five six, so the height difference wasn’t so major.

They just seemed to fit together. To complement each other.

Whoa, I’m getting a little ahead of myself on this.

They stopped in front of the white tablets, and Blake grimaced a bit at the price. It wasn’t that he couldn’t afford it, but that was more than he’d spent on his laptop.

“Can I help you?” a young guy in glasses and a blue Best Buy shirt asked.

“No thank you, we’re just browsing,” Hannah said.

Blake picked up the iPad, weighing it in his free hand.

“It’s not ideal for reading. The sun glares off the screen like a laptop.”

He set the tablet back down and wished that he could nibble the spot just below her ear. It was so bare, and pink, and tempting. “That’s okay, if I’m outside, I’m doing something.”

“What about the beach?” she asked.

“I’ve actually never been to the beach,” Blake said.

Hannah looked so surprised, he laughed. “Is that bad?”

“No, it’s just . . . Didn’t they have beaches in Texas?”

“Yeah, we had the gulf, but I grew up closer to Dallas.”

“Well, California has some pretty spots. I’m going to make it my mission to get you to the beach.”

Blake really liked the sound of that and decided he wouldn’t mind taking a trip where he lay in the sand all day with Hannah. Of course, in his daydream, she’d be wearing a tiny little bikini.

Or nothing at all.

When they walked out of Best Buy, Blake had a new iPad and case and was almost a thousand dollars poorer, but he decided that it was the most fun he’d had in a while, so it was money well spent.

He drove Hannah back to her place, and when he found himself in front of her door, he debated on what to do. He’d held her hand, which he’d figured was the clearest way to let her know he was interested in being more than just friends, but if this was considered their first date, did he kiss her?

If I’m going to take this slow, then I need to actually think with my head and not my dick.

“Thanks for going with me,” he said.

“You’re welcome, I had fun.”

She seemed to be watching him expectantly, and he dipped his head, kissing her on the cheek softly.

“Good night.”

He walked back to his car without looking back, fighting the urge to back her up against her front door and give her a real, toe-curling kiss.

But if he was going to do this with Hannah, he was going to do it right.

Chapter Eighteen

ON FRIDAY AFTERNOON, Blake walked out onto the field with Charge to find his guys already working with their dogs. He’d spent the morning decorating the ballroom of the Hilton and listening to his friends and their girlfriends make sugary-sweet love talk to each other.