Page 15 of Lady Luck’s Kiss

“Well, it doesn’t feel like nothing.”

“Open it.” Jack sat up and Charlie followed, looking at him. It wasn’t gift wrapped, it was just a small paper box that looked dented. Pulling off the lid, she saw tissue paper inside.

“What is this? The closer?”

“I should have never said that,” he said with an embarrassed laugh, ruffling his hair nervously. “I was joking when I said it and it came out wrong.”

“I’m not going to fall into bed with you, you know? I don’t do that,” she said bluntly, pulling the tissue paper away from the box. “Oh, my word,” she breathed, staring at the box, shocked. Inside was a tiny hammered star on a silver chain. “Jack, it’s too much.”

“It’s nothing.”

“It’s not nothing! This is beautiful. Where did you get it?” she marveled, staring at the delicate, little star and pulling it out of the box. Opening the clasp, she felt his hands take it from her as he gently draped it around her neck, fastening it.

“I made it.”

“How? You did?”

“I like to work with my hands when I have some time between gigs. It’s not much, but I thought I’d like you to have something to make you think of me. To think of tonight and how it went.”

“But I don’t have anything for you and I feel like I should have something now. This is too much.”

“Charlie, all I want it one of those lovely kisses tonight when I drop you off at home. That, and I want you to think of me and our time together when you look up at the stars.”

“I think I’m going to be thinking of this for quite a while,” she admitted shyly, dropping her hair back down as the tiny star lay at the base of her neck. “It fits perfectly.”

“A pretty star against a beautiful canvas,” he whispered tenderly, kissing the side of her neck. “Just like above us now.”

“You are definitely a romantic,” she breathed, feeling intense pleasure at his breath on her throat.

Her hand reached up and curled in his hair to hold him in place behind her.

His other hand crept around her waist, pulling her seated against him.

Leaning back and arching her neck, she felt herself melting at the intimacy that was between them.

“You make me feel that way,” she heard him whisper in her ear.

Her heart beat loudly in her chest as she felt herself wanting him to kiss her again, to touch her.

She craved the sensation and the roughness of his shaven chin against her neck was driving her mad.

Suddenly, his warm hands grasped hers as he leaned away, breaking the moment.

“Is something wrong?” she asked, glancing over her shoulder at him.

“Yes. No. Oh gosh, Charlie,” Jack groaned. “You are killing me, little one.” She saw his hand shook as he rubbed the back of his neck, looking away from her.

“If this was the closer? It was a darned good one. So far, it’s working.”

“That was a poor choice of words for me to use. I will drive you home,” he said quickly, standing up in the truck.

“What? What’s wrong? I thought you wanted something like this,” Charlie practically yelped, getting to her feet to join him as he moved towards the side of the truck to get down.

“I do, but I want to do it right.”

“Well so far, it’s pretty darned right!”

“Charlie, this is not…” he bit off and looked away. “You deserve better and I want to be that.”

“I know you said there weren’t any other girls from the rodeo, but I thought you wanted more and-”

“Charlie! No!” he bit out, his intense eyes looking back at her. “I do want to more - so much more. There have been no other girls, ever. Don’t think that and don’t ever compare yourself to anyone else. Yes, I want you.”

“Right now, I want you, too.”

“But, I want you to want me later on, as well. When I’m hurt or you’re sick, I want us to want each other.

I knew it when I saw you standing there, from the very first. I was in awe and humbled by your smile.

You’re my star, my beacon,” he breathed, his chest heaving as if he had run a marathon.

They stared at each other for several minutes in the dark silence.

“I’m ruining it all, aren’t I? It’s too soon and weird, right? I will take you back.”

Jack sat down on the side of the truck, silent. She stared at his figure in the darkness.

“You had better not,” she bit out suddenly, feeling her heart pounding in her chest nervously.

The feelings she had just experienced at his kiss and his touch were still working their magic on her.

This might be the biggest mistake of her life or the best decision ever.

“You promised me a goodnight kiss first and that we were going to talk. Well, there was talking between us and I’m waiting for my kiss now. ”

“I don’t think that’s a good idea and I don’t want our first time to be in the back of my grimy pickup truck. I’m afraid if I kiss you that I won’t stop. I want more from you,” he breathed, looking up at her.

She saw the battle in his eyes and knew that it was all coming to a head between them. He stood up and took a step towards her in the truck bed.

“I want so much more with you than something casual.”

There was something in Jack’s expression that bothered her, speaking softly directly to a part of her soul… and she felt that flutter of unease.

She wanted more from him, too.

Respect, love, all of it… and this was wrong.

“I don’t want to ruin what is between us by rushed sex. I want to make love to you for hours on end and smear that lipstick everywhere, little one.”

““I want everything too. I’m scared sometimes and doubt myself quite a bit, but when I see you… I know it’s perfect. There are no rules. No time frames. Just us. You and me. That’s what we had said, right?” she hesitated, hoping that he understood how torn she was.

She wanted more between them, but had always dreamed of waiting for marriage…

but he wasn’t exactly offering it either.

It was like they were at a strange impasse between them, leaving her wondering if maybe she’d ruined the best thing that had ever happened to her or pushed too hard.

Just as she was about to open her mouth, to explain that she wanted to wait until they were in a committed relationship - he spoke.

“I think I’m falling for you,” Jack admitted softly, dropping the most gentle kiss on her lips before taking a step back. “And that’s why I’m taking you home.”

Well, there’s that bombshell, she thought silently, trying not to freak out. What guy mentions the ‘L’ word so quickly… and now he’s taking me home?

Yeah, maybe this was a perfect time for them both to retreat to their corners… for multiple reasons.