“See you Monday. Thank you for everything.” His hand rests over my heart, and I’m trying to tell my feet to move, but I can’t seem to. I get lost in a kiss with him again and again until we both finally pry ourselves away.
I put the cooler in the truck, along with the folded-up blanket. I left the projector and screen in the barn because I plan to do this again very soon, then force myself to drive away once I see Dakota has made it safely inside his house. A dopey smile covers my face as I fight with myself about not going inside after him.
Oh yeah, I’m gone for this man.
18
DAKOTA
Okay, he’s working. This is his job. I can’t mess with that.
But does he have to look so good doing it?
Sweat has soaked through his T-shirt, and the amount of times he’s lifted that shirt to wipe his brow should be illegal. I’m drooling.
And I don’t even bother hiding it because the way he’s looking at me, while digging out the spot for my new hot tub, makes it very clear he knows what I’m thinking and wants it too.
“So that next date...” I start as I grab a shovel to help him out. I really wouldn’t mind other members of Oakley’s Crew coming out to help him now, but he seems content being the only one, and who am I to argue?
“Well, I have Amber this week.” And while he does look happy about that fact, I can see the hint of disappointment there too, which should make me feel guilty, but I can’t lie.
“So next week?” I ask, far too eager.
“Definitely next week,” he says affirmatively, and it sends a shiver through my body. How he could think he was incapable of giving me pleasure is beyond me. I could probably come just watching him work.
Which I won’t. Professionalism and all that. But I could.
The man is sexy. Watching him fall apart under me the other night, letting go like that. His deep, sexy pleasure-filled cry.Phew...Yeah, it was easily the sexiest thing I’ve ever witnessed.
And I want to do it again.
And again.
As often as he’ll let me. But I understand he’s a father, and his weeks with his daughter are a gift. One I’d never interfere with.
“I was thinking about bringing her out here some time.”
I falter, nearly falling flat on my face as I miss where I was trying to dig, and the shovel slips. “What?”
He just grins at me, probably very used to me being a fumbling fool most of the time. “Well, she wants to meet the kittens to help give them names.”
I think about the four chubby little kittens and smile. They don’t have their eyes open yet, but I think they’re getting close. “That would be nice,” I say, but my voice shakes, and he’s studying me.
“Would it?”
I huff and then try to go back to shoveling dirt. He has a big contraption thing where he can dig large holes, but he said he wants to focus on getting it just right, now that the initial hole has been dug.
“You look a little sick.”
I wipe my brow with my forearm, then glare in his direction—though I don’t think my glare holds any actual malice in it, and he’s looking at me like he does Mavis when she gets pissy. “I’m just working hard. Isn’t that what I pay you to do?”
He just chuckles and yup, looking at me like I’m a pissy little cat. “I want you to meet her, you know?”
He stops working, laying his shovel down and walking toward me. My breath catches because no, I did not know that.We just had our first date. And okay yes, if I’m being honest, it feels like we were dating long before that. That I’ve let him in more than anyone else in my life and told him things I wouldn’t dare tell anyone else. But... his kid?
That’s a big deal.
Even I know that.
