Page 54 of The One You Want

He chuckled and led her back to where they had parked.

“I’ll follow you.”

He frowned but nodded, then gave her a quick kiss and went to his car where he pulled off his sweat-soaked T-shirt, wiped it over his chiseled chest and abs, then grabbed a clean one from the back seat of his Tesla and pulled it on.

She stood there drooling over the gorgeous display of muscles. “Smart, honest, and built like a god.” She sighed, astounded he was real, even as she stared at him.

He lifted his shirt a couple of inches, teasing her with another glimpse of his taut abs. “We could skip tacos and go to my place.”

“So tempting.” She wanted to, but felt like everything was moving so fast that she wanted to savor the building anticipation between them. And she didn’t have much time before she had to head back and meet up with Maggie again. She didn’t want their first time to be something rushed before she dashed off for more maid of honor duties.

And if they were racing to being boyfriend and girlfriend and going to sleep together, he deserved to know the truth about her and Marc. That was not a conversation she wanted to have in a public parking lot while they were flirting with each other. So she stalled. “After that hike, I need sustenance. And so do you if you’re going to fully recover from that hangover.”

He let her off easy. “I’m dying for some tacos. And you. But one of those things will have to wait. Probably better this way, because I’m not likely to let you go once I have you in my bed.”

“Thanks for understanding.”

Gray held her gaze, his sincere. “There’s no rush, Rose. We’ve got all the time in the world to be together.”

“I don’t need all the time, just enough that it doesn’t actually feel rushed.”

He gave her a sexy grin. “I will definitely enjoy taking my time with you.”

With that promise and two dozen steamy thoughts filling her head, she followed Gray down the main road into town and to the little hole-in-the-wall taqueria. Gray took her hand the second she exited her car and they walked into the place, ordered, and took a seat at one of the small café tables outside on the sidewalk in the shade.

The girl behind the counter brought over their iced teas, a basket of chips, and a bowl of salsa.

Gray drank half his drink and sat back in his seat. “We forgot to pick up your hat.”

She touched her hair, feeling the loose strands Gray had pulled from her ponytail. “I totally forgot about it.”

“We can go back after we eat. It will probably still be there. Sorry about that.”

She shook her head. “It’s no big deal and kind of a long way back.” She pulled her hair loose, gathered it all together at the back of her head again, then redid the ponytail holder. “Is that better?”

Gray nodded. “You’re always beautiful.”

“You’re sweet, but I’m a sweaty mess.” She took a long sip of her tea.

Gray dug into the chips and salsa. “Did you enjoy the hike?”

“I love hiking.” It was another of those things they’d discovered they both liked when he called and asked her if she’d like to go with him this morning. “I haven’t been to Del Valle in a long time. But I really love going to the redwoods near the coast. It’s hot out here in the valley.”

“I love those hikes, too. But today I really needed to sweat.”

She laughed. “I guess you won’t be drinking again anytime soon.”

“Not like that.”

The waitress came out with their food and set the steak street tacos and chicken enchilada in front of Gray and the chicken flautas in front of her.

Gray held up a taco, she picked up a flauta, they toasted with their food. “To another good day together,” Gray said, then stuffed half the taco in his mouth.

She giggled. “Hungry?”

“Starving,” he said around the too-big bite.

They enjoyed the shade and the good food.