“Yeah, I tend to do that. An ex of mine broke up with me because he said I talked too much and that most guys don’t like that sort of thing.”
“He was an ass.”
She gasped before letting out another round of laughter. “You’re right; he was an ass.”
“I enjoy the sound of your voice.”
Her tawny brown eyes gazed up at me, a doe-eyed expression emerging. “You do?”
“What’s not to like? It has an airy, melodic sound to it.”
She gave me a shy smile before lowering her lashes. I loved that I could make her feel shy. I’ve watched her in her element at the bar, welcoming every patron who visited, there didn’t seem to be a shy bone in her body. Dancing, serving up drinks, and conversation in one fell swoop. She has a magnetic energy about her that most people wanted to be around.
Pulling her face closer to mine, I took her lips. I lined her bottom lip with my tongue before going all in, allowing myself to get acquainted with her taste. Her soft hands tightened around my wrists, and I pushed my body in closer to hers. When she moaned into my mouth, the sensation shot straight to my cock.
Shit.I rarely had this much of a reaction to a woman so soon. It was time to say goodnight. I reluctantly pulled back.
Her surprised eyes looked at me, questions swirling in them. Instead of answering them, I asked one of my own.
“The guy at the fair… what’s the story with him?”
“Oh.” Her eyes widened as if she forgot all about him. “We’ve gone out on a couple of dates. He asked me to go out tonight, but I’d already said yes to you.”
I poked out my lips and stared at her contemplatively for a second. “That’s too bad.”
Her eyes drooped, a sullen expression appearing on her face. “I wasn’t leading you on. He and I aren’t?”
“I meant, that’s too bad forhim.”
Her head popped up.
“I was raised to be a gentleman. Ordinarily, that would mean being okay with you dating Matthew?”
“Marshall.”
“I don’t care.”
Her mouth snapped shut.
“But I’m not feeling very gentlemanly or patient when it comes to you.”
Her eyebrows shot up. “After only one date?”
“My parents were married after only knowing each other for two weeks. We move fast in my family.”
She dipped her head but not before I caught her grin.
“Don’t worry,” I moved in close to her ear, “I’ll give you a little more than two weeks.” I pressed one last kiss to her lips, unable to stop myself, and then paused to rein in my unruly emotions. I meant it about not feeling very gentlemanly. My brain was screaming at me to stake my claim already right here and now, but I knew that would be moving entirely too fast for her comfort. Summoning all the strength I had at my disposal, I let my hands drop before taking a step back, putting much-needed distance between us.
“Go inside.” I jutted my head to the door.
She hesitated but eventually turned and used her key to unlock the door. She flicked on the light just inside the door, illuminating the living room.
“I need to give you my phone number so you can text me that you got home safely.”
I stared at her for a moment before pulling out my phone. I scrolled to the contact section and typed in the name “Angel” before handing it to her to put her number in.
Her face lit up when she saw the nickname.
