“Of course.”
The rest of their meal was food-focused, and by the time they deposited their trays in the drop-off spot and wandered back to Evan’s car, Jess was buzzing on happy feelings.
“You look…satisfied,” Evan said as they stopped on the passenger side of his car. He opened the door for her, but he didn’t move, and she didn’t get in.
“I am.”
He leaned in and braced his forearm on the top of the car. “Can we do something when I get back?”
He’d already warned her he was leaving the next day for a week-long work trip. She swayed toward him. “Absolutely.”
He caught her with his free arm and held her close to his body. “I can’t wait.”
Holy,hell. She nodded silently as he ducked his head and brushed his lips against hers.
“More of that when I drop you off,” he murmured.
Yeah.
And then a cold shower, maybe.
Whew.
Halfway back to Wardham, Evan rubbed his knuckles against her hand, resting against her lap. She held out her hand and he laced his fingers through hers.
No matter what happened down the road, she would always have this memory, of sizzling attraction and sweet, pure fun, to remind her that she was attractive and date-able.
Which of course she knew. But it’s one thing to know it in your head, and another to feel it in your heart.
One real, honest-to-goodness date with Evan had done wonders to restore her confidence. As had the fake date, and all the is-he-flirting moments in between.
He was good for her self-esteem, there was no doubt about that.
Again, he only let go of her hand when he had to shift gears. And when he parked in front of her house, he got out and met her on her side of the car to walk her to the door.
“That was a lot of fun,” she said after unlocking the door.
He looked pleased with himself. “I told you it would be.”
“You were right.” She rubbed her fingers over his t-shirt, enjoying the feel of his chest through the thin cotton. “Can I pick what we do on date number two?”
“Absolutely.”
“Cool.”
He leaned in and brushed his mouth over hers, then deepened the kiss when she parted her lips. Every kiss from Evan was a different thing, all of them amazing. When he pulled away, her lips were tingling and all of her nerve endings felt alive. “I should go.”
“Early to bed for the world traveller?”
“Yep.”
She pushed up on her toes. “Okay.”
He groaned asshekissedhimthis time. “Or I could come in for a minute.”
“How about ten?”
He groaned. “At least twenty.”
