And yes, the younger generation would probably cut her Feminist Card in half for going all gooey-bellied and googly-eyed over a man just because he was big and strong and courageous.
But so be it. Because…meow.
She suddenly wished she’d encouraged him to try again after theiralmostkiss had been interrupted.
Hehadbeen about to kiss me, hadn’t he?She thought back to his bedroom. To the way his hazel eyes had tracked down to her mouth. She remembered how his tongue had briefly darted out to wet his lower lip.
Yes,she decided.He’d definitely been leaning in to kiss me.
The question now became, how did she get him to do it again?
“Go on,” LT encouraged John with a hitch of his chin, dragging Dana from her calculations.
“Alrighty then.” John pushed up from his chair and extended a hand Dana’s way.
She noted how wide his palm was. How marvelously pale the skin was there compared to the tanned flesh that covered the rest of him.
When she slid her fingers into his, she was keenly aware of how strong and firm his grip was when he easily pulled her to her feet.
A little shiver raced down her spine as brief images of what it would be like to have his hands running over her arms, up her legs, and down her back sprang to instant Technicolor life inside her head.
What in the world? Have you suddenly gone man-crazy, Dana Levine?
She was a little embarrassed to admit that,yes, when it came to John Anderson, she was losing her head. Which was particularly surprising since, after her divorce, she hadn’t had much interest in the opposite sex.
Oh, there’d been dates and a handful of relationships that’d lasted a few months each. There’d even been some sexual partners thrown into the mix for fun and spice. But notoncehad she found herselfwantinga man.
Notwanting,wanting him. Like the kind of want that got into her bones, made her feel drunk with desire, and gave her the urge to throw caution to the wind.
In fact, she’d assumed age and hormonal changes had meant that part of her life was over. Except…
Surprise!It was back.
And with a vengeance too.
Thanks to one Mr. John Anderson.
Just holding his hand made her so excited she would swear her fingernails were sweating.
His bedroom was pitch black when he pushed open the door, but he was quick to light two candles on his dresser. Then he peered into the basket of provisions they’d packed.
“Your choices are Pop-Tarts, canned tuna, a package of dried fruit, or half a bag of Doritos.” His deep voice rumbled in the quiet. Even though Julia was still howling outside, it wasmuchquieter in his bedroom without the space being filled with the wounded men’s snores and LT and Olivia’s hushed conversation.
So quiet she wondered if he could hear her racing heart. Or her rapid breaths. Or the way her throat made a sticky sound when she swallowed.
“The dried fruit sounds good,” she told him, and gratefully accepted the bag when he handed it to her, shivering when their fingers briefly brushed.
He pulled out a pack of Pop-Tarts for himself and then gestured for her to precede him. She resumed her position on the bed, with her back against the headboard, and then waited, breath bated, for him to snuggle down next to her.
She hid her sigh of disappointment when he chose the wooden rocking chair instead.
For a while, they ate in silence, the smell of sugary sweetness perfuming the humid air. Dana was happy to note some of her shakiness disappeared when the fructose hit her bloodstream.
Maybe my giddiness is partially to blame on low blood sugar,she thought.
Then, out of nowhere, his deep voice cut through her thoughts and had her stomach tightening.
Nope. So much for that argument.
