Whatever I’d expected,flowershad been the last thing on my mind. An unusual state for a florist, maybe, but Damon tended to bring out murderous or lecherous thoughts, not work-related ones.
“My parents have an anniversary party coming up, and I’ve kind of procrastinated on getting the arrangements made. We’d like something similar to what you did today.”
“How soon?”
“Three weeks.”
“Damon! I live right next door. Why would you put it off?”
He grimaced, hands tightening on the steering wheel. “I just… I don’t know. Maybe I’ve been a little preoccupied lately.” He sent me a sheepish smile. “Every time we talked, we were arguing about your terrible dates.”
I rolled my eyes. “And the date with you is going to be so much better, right?”
“Somuch better,” he said, pulling up in front of Rainbow Garden. “I’m going to hit it out of the park. Home run, baby.”
“Uh-huh. Word of advice, Damon?” I waited until he looked at me expectantly. “Lose the sports metaphors if you want to impress me. I’m not your bro.”
He looked chagrinned. “Right. It was just an expression. I know you’re not into that shit, Mav. No worries. We won’t be drinking beer and playing darts on our date.”
“Well, that’s a relief.” I reached for the door handle. “I’ll see what I can do about those flowers for your parents.”
He touched my arm, and goosebumps rushed over my skin. “Thank you, Maverick. It means a lot.”
I turned toward him, a tension thrumming between us as our eyes met. Damn, but I wanted to kiss the man stupid. But thatwouldbe stupid, considering I had no idea what his intentions were. If this date was just another prank…
My chest grew tight at the thought.
I was probably a fool to hope for anything else. But right now, he looked so sincere that I couldn’t help it. My heart gave a stupid-ass flutter.
“Thanks for the rescue today, Damon. That meant a lot, too.”
He smiled. “Anytime, darlin’.”
I hopped out of the truck before I gave in to the impulse to do something stupid. Maybe I should cancel the date. If I got this twisted up over a favor, what would Damon wining and dining me do to my head and my heart?
CHAPTER 16
Damon
I steppedup to Maverick’s door and took a deep breath to settle my nerves. It was finally date night. Time for me to prove I was the master and show Maverick what he really deserved.
I’d spent the week making arrangements, but now that it was here, I was suddenly second-guessing everything. I’d dated plenty of women, but I’d never tried this with a guy before. Would he laugh at me? Tell me I was ridiculous?
I swiped my sweaty hands on my distressed jeans, then tugged at the blue tank under my jean jacket. Fuck. Was this outfit too boring? I raked my fingers through my hair, then realized I was messing it the fuck up.
Where the hell had all these insecurities come from? I was Damon fucking Cassidy. I was hot as fuck, and Maverick was lucky to be going on a date with me.
I shook out my arms, ridding myself of nervous energy.
The door opened. “You going to just stand out here all night?”
His hair was a metallic pink—but shinier and with highlights of purple as if he’d recolored it since I’d last seen him—with matching lip gloss. He wore a V-neck white T-shirt that was so thin I could see the shadows of his nipples through it, along with the dips and curves of his abs. He wasn’t a woman, so there was no cleavage, but somehow the jut of his collar bones and the swell of his pecs were sexy as fuck. He’d paired it with red shorts that hit him mid-thigh and were snug too, hugging muscular thighs.
“Damon?” He waved a hand in front of my face. “You okay? Did you blow a brain vessel?”
Maybe Ihad.Damn. Maverick had looked nice for all his dates, but this was next level.
I grinned, reassured. “You put a little extra effort in for me, huh? New hair color. Clingy clothes.”
