“It’s a perfect gift, Kent. But I can’t accept it.”
“Why the fuck not?” My brow puckers as we shuffle forward in the line.
“That stuff is super expensive. I can’t let you spend that much money on me.”
I peer into her eyes, searching for evidence of the truth, and it’s blatantly staring back at me. She actually means that.
This might be the moment I truly fall for this woman.
“What if I want to spend it on you and it will hurt me if you continue to refuse it?”
“That doesn’t make it right.” She tucks her hair behind her ears, and I want to be the one to do that.
I lightly touch her elbow as we move one step closer to the front of the line. “It’s a gift, Pres.” My eyes flit momentarily to her lush mouth, and I want to kiss her so badly. My dick strains against my zipper again, and I force myself to focus on the conversation, not her tempting as fuck lips. “I saw the way you looked at the box. I know you want it. Accept it. It would make me happy if you do.”
She stares at me, her eyes roaming my face, her gaze lingering on my lips a little longer, in a way that pleases me. “Why are you doing all this?” Her breathy, raspy tone unravels me, and my cock is rock solid now.
“You know why. I want to spend time with you.” Swallowing a bout of nerves, I put myself on the line. “We have a connection. There’s something there, and I want to explore it. I know you think I’m a manwhore, but—”
Her lips tilt in amusement, cutting me off mid-sentence.
Dragging a hand through my hair, I expel air from my mouth. There’s no point denying this. The proof is plastered across the web. “Okay, Iama manwhore. A reformed one, because I haven’t so much as looked at another girl from the minute I met you. I won’t pretend I don’t want to fuck you, because you’re beautiful and sexy, but it’s more than that, and I’ll do whatever it takes to prove I want this to be different with you.”
That might possibly be the longest, most genuine speech I’ve ever made, and this girl now holds my heart in her hands. As well as my balls, because I’m in scary danger of losing those too.
She opens her mouth to reply when the guy behind the counter shouts, “Next.”
I glare at him, because his timing fucking sucks, and I’ve a sudden desire to swing my fist in his face, but I restrain myself. I order two chicken burritos and two bottles of water, and we take them back to the car.
“This is so good,” I say in between mouthfuls of the succulent, spicy chicken wrap.
“Told ya.” She smiles before diving in with gusto.
Even her appetite for food turns me on.
I’ve got serious issues.
She hasn’t made any reference to my little speech, and I’m too chicken shit to bring it up, so I say nothing, switching the radio on so we can listen to music as we eat. But it’s not awkward. There’s a certain level of familiarity with Presley that comes naturally, and I’m relaxed in her company in a way I rarely am with women.
Balling up her wrapper, she shoves it into the paper bag before taking my empty water bottle and wrapper and dumping it inside. Her fingers brush against mine, igniting the same fiery tingles like every time our skin comes into contact. Her touch literally electrifies me, and it’s like nothing I’ve ever experienced.
“Tuesday night,” she says, turning in the passenger seat to face me.
“What?” I splutter, confused.
She graces me with a knockout smile. “I’m free Tuesday night.”
“You’ll go out with me?” I’m sure I’m rocking the whole deer in the headlights look, because I can’t believe she’s agreed. I thought I’d have to grovel for much longer than this.
Guess I’m just that good at this wooing shit.
I give myself a proverbial pat on the back.
“I will. One date,” she cautions.
“And you’ll accept my gift,” I add, throwing my gaze to the box in the back.
“I will but, Kent.” She leans in closer, and I stop breathing. Her mouth is so close to mine it would take nothing to close the gap and slam my lips against hers. But I summon restraint from some long-forgotten place inside me, using all my willpower to focus on her gorgeous eyes. “You don’t need to buy me expensive gifts. Little gestures work just as effectively. Like your notes.”
