He had his window down and she went to do the same, looking for the button, and realized she had to crank it manually.
“Takes some getting used to,” he said.
“Totally worth it,” she said, buckling up. “Is this the only vehicle you’ve got?”
“No,” he said. “I’ve got a truck. When the weather is iffy I park this. I don’t drive it much in the winter either.”
“You never said where you lived. Only that you didn’t live above the bar.”
“A few miles from here in an apartment,” he said. “Like you, I pay for a garage and keep this in there. Ready?”
“You betcha,” she said. “If I get a kiss first.”
She’d been thinking about that kiss all night, and the anticipation of another was building fast.
She leaned across the seat, and he met her halfway, like they’d done it a hundred times before. His hand found her neck again. Firm, possessive, and completely in control. God, she loved that move. Even if the kiss was brief, it lit her up like a live wire. Short, hot, and full of promise.
He returned to his side, put the car in gear and took off. Not the way she remembered him doing in high school in a beat-up old Camaro. Guess his love of muscle cars carried over into adulthood.
“I thought we’d take a ride if you’re cool with it, then get some food. I’ve got to cover at the bar tonight and be there by four.”
“Oh,” she said. “We didn’t have to do this today if you had plans.”
“I’ve always got stuff to do,” he said, turning to look at her. They were driving through town and had to speak louder thannormal, not just because of the windows being down, but the sound of the car.
“A warning?”
“Just making it clear. Is that a problem?”
“No,” she said. “No one knows what this is. I’m not putting a label on it. We’ll figure it out the best we can. I can always stop into the bar for dinner or will that be a problem for you?”
He grinned, his dark eyes lighting some, his hair blowing in the breeze. Not as crazy as hers. She should put it back but enjoyed the freedom of it slapping around her face like fingers gone wild.
“You’re more than welcome to pop in any time you want.”
“I might do that,” she said.
They got to the outskirts of town, him hitting the gas and getting the car up to speed, taking turns on a country road, her hair now cascading behind her and over the seat.
He took a curve at a higher speed, her arm going to the doorframe to brace her, then her hand out the window, a squeal along with it.
“Okay over there?”
“This is aweeeesssssommmme,” she yelled.
He laughed, his voice loud. “It’s nice to unwind like this.”
“Need both hands on the steering wheel, huh? Bet it’s difficult to drive.”
“It’s power steering,” he said. “I upgraded it too, but the car is heavy in the turns. Just built differently.”
He was on the straightaway now, one hand on the wheel, the other coming over to rub her thigh.
She winked at him.
She wasn’t sure she’d ever been on a date like this before. Would have never considered it either.
Most times she was dressing up and going to dinner, a movie, maybe a play, a game. Some activity that was meant to impress.
