“There’s some in the cabinet behind where we store the coffee.” I picked it up on my way home, just in case. “And there’s half and half in the fridge. She likes half a teaspoon of sugar.”
“Got it, Dad.”
***
Creed and Greer kept the conversation rolling while I ate veggies for breakfast and watched just how easily she fits into my life. It’s terrifying and exhilarating.
“I’ve got to get to school. See you later, Greer. Dad, I’m taking the SUV.”
“Sounds good.”
“I should probably be going, too.” Greer stands up.
“No. Stay. Dad doesn’t have anything to do today.”
That’s so not true, but I’d probably ignore everything to spend the day talking to Greer. Did she have a nice time? “I’ll walk you home.”
She glances down and then back up at me through her lashes…
You’re giving her time and space.
She just got out of what was probably a messy divorce.
Taking her in your arms and ravishing her lips would be…a bad idea. Everyone thinks bikers are bad. Why can’t I live up to that one little stereotype just for a minute or ten?
Would I be able to stop?
She’s in a fragile place. Step back and give her space.
Or step forward, take her hand, and walk her to her door like a gentleman.
“This feels kind of silly.” But she doesn’t pull her hand from mine.
“How am I supposed to teach my son that a gentleman walks a lady safely to her door if I don’t model that behavior?” That’s a pathetic excuse, but I’m grasping at straws.
“He can’t even see. He’s on his way to school.”
As close as it is, Creed’s probably already there. “You do what’s right regardless of who’s watching or not.”
Greer stops and pivots so that she’s standing in front of me. “Is this really about doing the right thing?”
“No. But I’m afraid if I tell you I want to hold you and kiss you hard, it’ll be too soon and scare you off.” That was far too honest.
She takes a step forward. “I don’t scare easily.”
I reach up and brush a lock of silky hair behind her ear, trailing my finger down her cheek. “That’s becoming very clear.”
“My marriage was gone years before our divorce. I just didn’t want to acknowledge that what I fought so long for was never real. Finally, saying the words opened my eyes to so much more than Darrel’s troubles with fidelity. It made me realize I was a person who has her own thoughts. That I can do what I want and not what other people expect me to.” Greer leans a little closer.
“And what do you want?” I lean down so that our eyes are level with each other.
“I want you to kiss me like I’ve never been kissed before.”
Say no more. My lips land on hers, which taste faintly of herbal tea.
Don’t overwhelm her. Don’t push too far, too fast. I fight to keep my arms to my sides and let her set the pace, when all I want to do is feel her hair threaded through my fingers.
Greer, it seems, doesn’t have the same worries as she moves her hands from my side to my shoulders and then right into my hair, tugging my head down so that she can deepen the kiss.
