“Yeah.” I grinned sheepishly. “It’s been a while.”
She tilted her head to the side, her brow furrowed in confusion. “A while since what?”
I chuckled. “It’s been a while since I went on a date.”
She laughed softly, but the smile didn’t reach her eyes. I wasn’t sure what that was about. However, I didn’t want to dig into it and dampen the mood before the date had even started.
“It’s been a long time for me, too,” she admitted softly.
“We’ll muddle through together,” I teased, earning me a real smile.
Dinner was fantastic, but spending time with Rylin was the highlight of the night. She was sexy as hell, and I couldn’t wait to fuck her again. But it wasn’t just her passion in bed that attracted me. She was obviously smart, funny, talented, and cared deeply about her family and friends. The conversation flowed easily as we got to know each other a little more.
On the way home, I swiped her hand from where it had been resting on her thigh and kissed the back. “I have to say, there was a lot less pressure than I remember for a first date.”
“Oh?”
I grinned and tossed her a heated glance. “I already knew you were coming home with me.”
Rylin laughed, and the sound warmed my soul like it always did.
The rest of the week, we fell into a comfortable routine. I dropped her off at work and picked her up, taking her straight back to my place. Better to ask forgiveness than permission. Rylin never protested, though, and fuck, having her in my arms when I fell asleep and woke up was a heaven I didn’t know existed before her.
Saturday rolled in heavy with sunlight and heat, another September day where breathing the humid air outside was like filling your lungs with bath water. I wanted to spend as much time as I could with Rylin, so I was at The Tight Line. Once Tammi realized I wasn’t leaving, she grinned evilly and put me to work.
With my sleeves pushed up and sweat rolling down my back, I hauled boxes into the storage closet, then worked on inventory. Not that I accomplished a whole hell of a lot since I was easily distracted by my woman, stopping to stare at her every chance I got. Each glance, smile, and time she brushed past me with a tray of food or leaned over the counter to laugh with a customer—I felt it like a pull in my gut.
Between refills and customer deliveries, I frequently stole her attention with small touches and seductive smiles. She’d glare at me and tell me to behave, but there was no real conviction in her tone. I was also trying every angle I could think of to talk her into coming to the game tomorrow. It was our third regular-season game and our first one at home.
She wiped her hands on a towel and gave me a long look when I tried promising her the best seat in the house. “I get off work a half hour before kickoff. You want me to sprint there? Even if I could tap into the powers of The Flash, I’d be a sweaty mess.”
“Could be hot,” I murmured, stepping close enough that her body heat sank into mine. “All those clothes molded to your sexy-as-fuck curves.”
She smirked and shook her head. “You’re relentless.”
“I’m persuasive,” I corrected, letting my fingers slide along her waist as I leaned in. “Come on, baby. First home game of the season. I want you there.” A lopsided smile formed on my lips, and I winked. “If I can’t convince you with words, maybe my cock could do the convincing.”
“You already promised me an orgasm so good I’d see stars if I agreed,” she pointed out. Her tone was flat, but her mouth twitched like she was fighting a smile.
“Still on the table.” I brushed my lips along her jaw. “In fact, let’s put it on the table now. Or the wall. Or the prep counter.”
That got a soft laugh, and her breath hitched when I skimmed my hand along her lower back. She pushed at my chest, grinning, and slipped away just before I could reel her in again.
“Nope,” she called over her shoulder, her voice breathless. “I’m going back to work. Stop threatening me with a good time!”
I smiled devilishly. “You say that like it’s a bad thing.”
She tossed me an admonishing glare, but I was unrepentant. My stare was sizzling with heat, making her shiver.
Then she squared her shoulders and sighed. “I can’t afford to take the day off, Micah.”
Well, shit. I frowned. I loved her independence, but her stubborn refusal to let me help her in any way was starting to wear on me. Why couldn’t she understand that taking care of her was something I craved, something that made me happy?
“If you’d just let me pay?—”
The door to the kitchen swung open, and Derek strolled in, carrying a tray of empty glasses. We waited until he was out of earshot before I opened my mouth to try again.
“Don’t start,” she grumbled, setting the knife down with a little more force than was necessary.
