I really, really like fumbling, stumbling, flustered Dakota. I’m finding that I like every version of Dakota. I try to hold back my slight chuckle but fail horribly. I hope he knows I’m not laughing at him, but I find him so fucking adorable that I can’t help but laugh around him. “But how about next week?”
He perks up, and I don’t know if I’ve ever seen him look excited about something, but I think that’s what this is. “Next week?”
I grin and nod, going back to work so I don’t mess up and say something embarrassing—like please give me a chance. Maybe we could call it a date. Honestly, I don’t know if he feels that way about me, though I get vibes. And he has told me he’s gay. He knows I’ve only been with one woman, but hopefully, I’ve put it out there that maybe, just maybe I’m not totally straight. He has to know I can’t stop staring at him. That every time he’s looking away, I’m checking out his beautiful face. Absolutely enamoredby his sharp cheekbones and pretty eyes. His firm, sharp jawline and the little bit of stubble on his cheeks he allows sometimes.
His trim body that’s slight but still masculine and toned.
Yeah, I think it’s safe to say, I’m not totally straight. And I do want it to be a date, but it also scares the everloving shit out of me.
So I take the scenic route on the date part. “How about I invite a couple of my friends to go with us, and then maybe we can come back here?”
“Here?” he squeaks, and I think it’s more about the friends coming here than me, but I can’t be too sure. He’s seems to have softened a bit on strangers being at his place, even offering to allow one other person to come and finish up the firepit.
Something I actually denied because selfishly, I wanted more time with him by myself. “You don’t have to,” I say quickly. “But I did say if you allowed me to build a firepit, I’d bring my friends to enjoy it with you. And it will be finished by next Thursday, for sure.”
He looks saddened by that, and... same. I want to call back the idea of bringing friends along. I want it to be a date. Staring at his face, his full lips slightly parted and his face pensive, deep in thought, I desperately want it to be a date.
I need to take it slow still, but inviting my loudass friends along? Yeah, that’s not the way to go.
Before I can pull it back though, he nods affirmatively and stands up from his seat. “Okay, yeah. Invite your friends to trivia, and then we can come back here and build a fire.”
His hands run over the brick where I’ve been working, and I stand up straight to face him head-on, my eyes searching his. He looks frightened, no doubt about it, but also determined. Like it’s something he needs to do. And who the hell am I to take that away from him?
“Okay. So how many friends should I invite?” I ask, my voice a little raspy. Maybe there’s a little tiny bit of hope that maybe he doesn’t want anyone else here. That maybe he wants it to be a date too. “I don’t want to push you into more than you can handle.”
He scoffs. “So, one friend?” he teases, taking a shot at himself.
“Right,” I say, playing into it.
“I don’t care. It’s okay. I’ve realized that maybe it won’t be so bad getting back out in the world.” He looks a little shy. “Occasionally.”
I smile at that, happy he wants to do that. I meant it when I said it would be a shame if he just hid away here. The fact that he’s willing to go to a crowded tavern and then bring friends back here is a huge step. “You know I won’t let anything happen to you, right?” I say suddenly, my chest going tight at the thought of him being nervous.
I know he’s had a tough past with bullies. I can’t imagine what that does to someone in their formative years. It made him want to hide away. I don’t want that for him. But I don’t want him to be afraid because I mean it. I won’t let a single soul touch him.
He looks surprised, his eyes examining me like I’m foreign to him. He nods slowly. “I know.”
“Good,” I say firmly. “Because I won’t.”
That makes him smile, half his mouth turning up. “Maybe we should exchange phone numbers?” he suggests, but it definitely sounds like a cautious question instead of a suggestion.
“Yeah. That would be good. I mean, I have your number through Oakley’s Crew, but I don’t want to be a creep.”
He lets out a small laugh and pulls his phone out of his pocket, handing it to me.
I add my number to his contacts and then send a quick text to my phone from his, so I’ll have it. “There. Officially friends.”
His smile morphs into a full smile that takes over his face, and it punches me hard in the chest, lighting me up and making me feel on fire. “Is that allowed? Since technically, you work for me?”
I grin and hand his phone back to him. My workday is ending, and I need to get back to the shop, so I start to clean up. “Believe me, sometimes working for someone can lead to a hell of a lot more than friendship.”
I look up when I hear a small gasp come from him and see his cheeks are bright pink now. “Oh, yeah?”
Oh, yeah. There’s definitely more here than just friendship. Or curiosity. So much more.
“Yeah,” I say as I look deep into his eyes and am fascinated by the way his Adam’s apple bobs in his throat with a heavy swallow.
I clean up the rest of my mess and say goodbye to Dakota after giving Mavis a few scratches behind her ears. Poor thing is super pregnant now, and it wouldn’t surprise me if she has her kittens in the next week or so.
