Back in the car and our journey home, it’s a stiff silence but not the kind we are used to. He is probably in shock as much as I am of how tonight transpired.
“Esme, thank you. I mean it. Dinner with you wasn’t so bad, either.” His sincerity melts me. Completely and utterly melts me.
From instinct, I reach over to touch his elbow. “You’re welcome, and dinner was edible. You should cook more often,” I say in jest.
“Maybe so.”
My touch drops from him because it’s too calming.
What? That simply can’t be possible.
“I’m going to have to shower though, I smell like fries,” I say.
“Or you just want to shower because my guess is you ruined another pair of panties due to my presence.”
Licking my lips, I try to hunker down my smile. “Speaking of which, where are my new panties?”
Keats glances to me, and it feels sinful. “The store only had three-for-one, and someone was adamant that only two will do,” he refutes.
“Well then…” My voice is sultry, and it’s unexpected. “Looks like I will run out soon and resort to other outfit options—nothing underneath.”
His nostrils flare, and his hands tighten on the wheel, with perfect timing as we turn onto our street.
“So, you do want that spanking that I can provide?” There is sexiness to his tone.
“Not sure. I would check now if that’s what my body wants but me sliding up my dress would be highly inappropriate for the evening, considering I was promised a gentleman who needed a favor.” I’m trying to prod him, my fingers trailing a line from my neck down. I’m a version of myself that was not planned for in his presence.
Parking in his driveway, he turns the engine off with gusto and turns to me with a serious face. “Out of the car.”
Ooh, bossy.
Out I go and close the door while Keats walks around the front of his car with his face resigned and eyes narrowing in on me. He stops in front of me and swipes his thumb across his jaw. “Exactly… a gentleman.”
That sweltering look that was on my face? It drops.
“Good night, Esme.”
And he walks away.
What the hell?
It takes a few seconds of me adjusting to the fact that he is walking into his house without dragging me along.
And why am I so angry that he’s doing that?
9
KEATS
Searching the fridge, I don’t find what I’m looking for. I completely forgot to pick up strawberries from the store. My sister may be annoyed. Summer gave a list of what to stock since she’s staying over with her boyfriend who just proposed, Nash, and my nephew, Bo. Bo can get a little cranky if he doesn’t have his snacks; in fact, he stomps his feet and is an adorable little one-year-old. They only live a few towns over but staying over means nobody has to worry about alcohol intake or working around Bo’s schedule.
Glancing at my watch, I think I can swing it to the grocery store and back in 30 minutes. Grabbing my phone and keys, I’m halfway down my porch stairs when I see it.
Esme is pissed.
Hair flowing behind her shoulders, arms hanging with fists by her sides, that sexy-as-fuck frown and her near stomp coming my direction. Hurricane Esme, here we come.
“You are the most despicable human on earth.”
