“I like that,” she says, and rattles off her direct email address.
I write it down and we say goodbye.
Crap.
Looks like I’m making some wedding flower collections and have to figure out how to photograph them.
But hey, at least I got interest, that’s something.
The apathetic part of me wants to ask why I’m bothering. But I agreed to a year. I need more cash flow, and this is how that’s going to happen.You can do this, Mae. You can do it. No, it’s not anything you were prepared for, but you can do this.I write down some ideas, and by the time I finish, it’s time for me to get ready for my date. I also need to call my parents. We’ve texted back and forth, and they’re telling me everything is fine, so I’m trying to take it for what it is and focus on things here.
Excitement bubbles in my stomach, and I smile to myself as I get in the car.Hysteriaby Def Leppard starts playing, and I bob my head to the beat driving down the open road.
The Paxton breeze blows through the windows, and I don’t think I’ve been this excited for a date before. Cooper might be right. Instead of focusing on the end of us, I should live in this moment with him. I know I’m getting attached, but I don’t want to think about the repercussions of what that means for us. So instead I put it away in a box, behind my wall of insecurities, and let the excitement flow through me.
***
I look at myself in the mirror one more time, contemplating my outfit. He didn’t tell me I should wear pants, so I’m assuming we’re not going hiking.
I picked a jean skirt with a slit up the middle that hugs my hips, my brown belt, and matching cowboy boots. Instead of the tank top I was planning on, I went with a light long sleeve shirt since the evenings can be so cool up here.
A knock echoes through the house, and I put my earrings in before answering it.
I flip the lock and open the door.
Cooper whistles, looking me up and down, and heat creeps over my face. He wasn’t kidding about the compliments.
But I wasn’t either. I’m terrible at taking them.
“Is this okay? I wasn’t sure what we were doing.”
Cooper chuckles, dragging a hand over his light beard, still staring at me. “Well, now I’m contemplating other things. But I’m taking you to dinner at Perry’s, is that okay?” he asks.
“I don’t know. I’ve never been there. Is this not dressy enough?”
He huffs and slides his hand around my hips as he steps through the door and walks us backward. “Nah, it’s perfect,” he says and kisses my cheek.
“Okay,” I say a little to breathy. My body tingles every time he touches me.
“Ready to go?” he asks.
I hum, still in his grasp, happy to stay here. Our eyes are locked together and my heart punches through my chest.
We don’t move, frozen in each other. I’m starved for words and he looks hungry for more.
“I’m trying really hard to be a gentleman right now,” he says, voice husky.
“I don’t know why,” I whisper.
“Be careful what you ask for, stubborn.”
“I know exactly what I asked for.”
The corners of his mouth tip up, and he slides his other hand to the back ofmy neck and hauls me to his lips. I grab the collar of his shirt and mentally curse myself for wearing a skirt that keeps me from being able to do anything with my legs.
Cooper claims my mouth as if he owns it, and in this moment he does. His tongue dips and sweeps against mine, and despite my inexperience, I follow his lead, chasing him.
He groans into my mouth and kicks the door shut before spinning me around and pushing me against it. My knees go weak, and I take a leap, exploring with him. I bite his lip and he hisses.
