Page 11 of Daring to Love You (Priestly Family #3)

“No. He was somewhat of a jerk driving like an idiot the way he was, and his attitude during the date was hit or miss. Still, I don’t think he’s a bad guy.

I just feel like an idiot for agreeing to go out with him.

I’m not sure if Zion has ever told you, but over the years, my mother insists on playing matchmaker for us.

Now that Zion and Nyla are off her radar, she’s set her sights on getting me married so she can have more grandkids. ”

Lynix kept his mouth shut while she told him about the role her mother played in this past date and others.

All he could think was, if Dorian would give him a shot, she wouldn’t have to put up with any of that.

He knew she was attracted to him because there was no way she’d kiss him the way she had if she wasn’t.

Yet, she wouldn’t allow herself anything more with him.

His past whoring ways and being Zion’s best friend wasn’t doing him any favors. Even though Lynix had changed his ways and hadn’t been out with a woman in months, Dorian still believed he was that same guy.

What the hell was it going to take? He was a patient man, but her rejection was something he wasn’t used to. He needed her to take him seriously that he really had changed. Maybe he needed to switch up his approach and think outside the box to get her attention.

“I’m tired of my mother butting into my love life, and I know she means well, but I’ve had enough. I think I’m going to take a step back from dating for a while.”

“What good is that going to do?” he asked, seriously wanting to know.

“I’m tired of going out with this guy and that guy, trying to get to know them. Dating has always been hard for me, but it’s harder now. I know what I want, but I’m just not finding it.”

“What do you want in a man?” he asked, genuinely curious though he believed he was the man for her.

She groaned and shook her head. “I can’t believe I said as much as I have. I’m going to shut up now,” she mumbled.

“Oh no you don’t. You can’t leave me hanging. Tell me what type of man you’re looking for.”

Once again, seconds ticked by without her responding. He wasn’t sure if she just didn’t want to tell him, or if she didn’t know what she wanted.

“Dorian, you can talk to me. Though I want more with you, I do consider us friends. You can trust me. Besides, you can use me as practice in case your mother asks you what you want in a man.”

She snorted and peered out the window. “She won’t. She thinks she already knows.”

“Well, tell me anyway because I’m curious.”

“I want a nice guy who I have a lot in common with. Someone who has a good job, who is kind and trustworthy, a person who cares about what I want and need. He also needs to be fun and a little adventurous, but not reckless like Glen was tonight. I kept asking him to slow down because the way he was driving scared me,” she admitted.

Lynix reached over and squeezed her hand.

“You should’ve told him to pull over so you could get out.

You guys were lucky. With the way he was driving, and at that speed, things could’ve gone sideways real quick.

Instead of me pulling him over for moving violations, I could’ve been responding to a fatal accident. ”

He wasn’t trying to scare her, but some of the horrifying shit he saw while patrolling the streets of Chicago was insane.

It was like people didn’t value life whether it was those who thought it okay to rob someone at gunpoint, or those who didn’t think anything of beating up their spouse or worse.

There were definitely things about the job he wouldn’t miss.

“Anything else?” he asked, steering the conversation back to where they’d left off.

“I just… I’m just not meeting the type of guys who are right for me.”

“Probably because the right man for you is sitting next to you,” Lynix said, unable to hold the words in.

So much for not pleading his case, but he couldn’t help but give it another shot.

“I’m the one for you, Dorian. I get why you’re fighting your attraction to me, but I’m not the guy I used to be.

I’m ready to settle down with one woman, and I think that woman can be you.

“As for your brother, if you and I ever date, we’ll deal with him. I just need you to give me a chance to show you what I already know.”

“What do you already know?”

“That we’d be perfect together.”

She didn’t respond, which was all right. Lynix didn’t want to hear her reasons again for keeping her distance, and he wouldn’t push. At least not right now. She’d eventually come around, and when she did, he’d be ready.

He neared the B&B and slowed. “Are you going inside?”

“No. If you could drop me near my truck, that would be great. I’m parked up there in front of that red car,” she said, pointing at a spot half the block up.

Lynix wasn’t ready to let her go, but he needed to finish his shift. He also didn’t want to overwhelm her. When she finally came to him, and she would, he wanted it to be because she wanted to. Not because he pressured her into giving him a chance.

He stopped on the side of the car parked behind her. “Sit tight, and I’ll get the door for you.” When he opened the door, he extended his hand, and she placed hers in his grasp. Tugging lightly, he helped her out of the vehicle.

If she noticed, she didn’t say anything when he didn’t release her hand as they moved toward her jeep.

The thing needed to be hauled off to a junk yard.

From what he’d heard, it was almost twenty years old and barely ran.

She needed something new and dependable.

Yet, he kept the thought to himself since they’d already had that conversation.

Dorian unlocked the SUV with her key fob, and Lynix stopped her before she opened the door.

He backed her against the vehicle and blocked her in with his hands resting on the roof on each side of her.

They stood that way, with her staring at his chest, until she sighed loudly and finally looked at him.

“Thanks for the ride and the conversation.”

“You’re welcome. Any chance I can convince you to text me and let me know you got home safely? Or do I need to follow you home?” He still might do the latter, but he should get back to patrolling.

“I’ll text you, and…” She swallowed. “I’m sorry I turned down your dinner invite.”

When she didn’t say anything more, he brushed the back of his fingers down her soft cheek, then placed a lingering kiss on her forehead. Though what he really wanted to do was taste her sweet lips again, he refrained. The next move had to be hers.

He eased away from her before he followed through on what he really wanted—another one of her body-stirring kisses—and headed to his cruiser.

“Have a good night, Dorian, and don’t forget to text me.”