"Not as pretty as you." My lips drift over the top of her hair as she rests her head against my chest. Then I clasp both of her hands, moving back a little so I can take a better look. "Your eyes are magical. You make a jackass like me laugh so easily. You're sweet and beautiful and… Basically, you're a fairytale princess, darlin’."
Even in the dim light, I can see her blushing. "You read a lot, darlin’. What happens when a grumpy-ass man has stars in his eyes for a beautiful woman?"
Her perfect lips curve into a smile. "It depends on the book."
I shake my head. "No, no, no. This is where you're supposed to say he kisses her. You got your line wrong. Want to try again?"
"Okay…?" She looks up at me curiously.
I clear my throat. "What happens when a grumpy-ass man has stars in his eyes for a beautiful woman?” I tilt my head toward her expectantly.
"I guess…" She hesitates, smiling at me. "I guess he needs to decide whether to give her a polite kiss or knock her off her feet with one she'll remember forever."
“And what kind of book are we reading right now?"
She grins. "I think I’d like one where you take charge."
I move slowly, sliding my hand around her waist, then to the center of her back. My other hand caresses her cheek, then slips into the back of her hair. Hanna melts against me, the pressureof her breasts against the front of my shirt sending fire through my veins.
By the time our lips touch, I can hear my pulse pounding in my eardrums.Damn… She tastes like she looks…soft. Sweet. Delicate. Feminine. My head is spinning as I pull her closer, our mouths opening as this impossibly perfect first kiss takes on a life of its own.
Her fingers reach up to caress the short stubble at the back of my hair. Then her hand snakes around, stroking my scruff of beard, exploring my neck, my shoulder.
Someday soon, she's going to be naked in my bed, where we can explore each other completely. Someday soon, I'm going to be telling this incredible woman that we belong together and she's going to be mine forever. That everything is already decided. I don't know why, but I can feel it in the back of my mind.
But not tonight.
I kiss her until she's breathless, then step back. "See you tomorrow, darlin’."
"Oh! Are we going out again?"
My eyebrow lifts. "You said you like me bossy. So, yes." I kiss the tip of her nose. "Now let me watch you walk inside. I want to check out the way you move in that sexy dress.”
Her eyes widen again as her lips tighten in a way that tells me that she's partly amused and partly in disbelief that I just said that.
As Hanna struts across the grass for me I admire every wiggle. Then she flings her hair over her shoulder and blows me a kiss before darting inside.
Holy crap. My brand-new girlfriend already knows how to drive me wild.
4
HANNA
Iswear, if I didn’t have Knox’s number in my phone today, I would have thought that last night was a long, vivid dream.
A perfect first date like last night’s is from a book, not real life. Certainly notmylife – but it really happened. I can still feel the tingle of his lips on mine. My breathless surge of desire as Knox took hold of me with such passion. The man is a bit wild. Untamed. A true mountain man.
I move around Myer’s Fine Footwear in a daze, buffing shoes and putting away boxes. A few farmers have come in for new work boots, and they’re always super polite. But I can't help but notice that any other man doesn't need my help today until it's time for me to ring them in.
Luckily, Aunt Blaire doesn't notice the sudden shift in the customers’ behavior. Or maybe she's just happy she can sit on her butt all day, scrolling on her phone. She rarely has to get up these days unless it's to order me around if she's changed her mind again on how she wants something done.
I quickly run an electrostatic feather duster over the window display, since the afternoon sun highlights every speck of dust. Even though I'm only in the front window for a minute or so,people glance at me curiously as they walk by. I've heard that news travels fast in a small town, but… Do they really know about me and Knox already? Strange.
About an hour before closing, I take a bathroom break and sneak a peek at my phone. I grin when I see Knox has sent me a text.
Knox: Hey, darlin'. May I pick you up from work and take you out to dinner?
Sure! I'm done at six.
