“Whenever you are,” he whispered back.
She lifted her head and studied him like she was afraid he was just trying to be a good sport. Oh, how the roles had reversed. She was the one embarrassed, afraid she’d talked him into more than he’d bargained for.
They stayed for one round of Catch Phrase, and then she stood and beckoned for him to follow. “Love you all, we’re heading home.”
Several curious sets of eyes followed them to the door.
“Nothing to see here,” Lina called as she shut the door behind them. She let out a long sigh that turned into a yawn. “Take me home, driver.”
Dillon saluted and went to open the truck door for her. After he got in, he synced his phone and handed it over so she could pick the music.
They didn’t talk for several minutes. She scrolled through his playlists, choosing country songs and singing along.
“I like your voice,” he said finally. There was a warmth and depth to it, and she added her own harmony, rather than just overpowering the original singer.
“Will you sing too?” she asked. “I bet you do when it’s only you in the car. Don’t be self-conscious on account of me.”
He did sing when no one else could hear him, but there was a reason for holding back. He had no singing ability whatsoever.
“One song?” She gave him her best puppy dog eyes and took her seatbelt off, scooting to the middle.
Great, now he’d have to help her re-belt. The middle seatbelt was so stiff and unyielding, especially when you weren’t used to it. They reached a red light, and he put the truck in park before reaching across her and pulling until the seatbelt could reach the buckle he’d pulled out from between the seats earlier. Their faces were inches apart, and the scent and feel of her did funny things to his breathing.
Lina’s eyes flickered to his lips and she tucked her lower lip in, biting it just slightly. Dang, woman. She was tempting him, though he wasn’t sure if it was on purpose or not.
BEEP! The driver behind him tapped his horn, and Dillon straightened in his seat. The light had turned green, and had probably been green for a while. He put the truck in drive and moved through the intersection, feeling like an idiot.
Lina gave one more strong tug and clicked her seatbelt in on her own. “Sorry. I just figured I could beg better from the middle seat.”
Beg for what? He almost asked before remembering her plea for him to sing with her.
“Okay, I’ll sing. But I pick the song.” He scrolled to “All My Exes Live in Texas” and turned it up. It was the type of song that almost sounded better when you sang it off-key. Lina didn’t know the verses, but she came in on the chorus, laughing at the goofy lyrics with him.
When he pulled into his parking spot, he got out and went to get her door. He’d be walking her to her apartment. Like this was a real first date. There was no reason to be nervous about it, but he definitely was. He’d be lying if he said he wasn’t thinking about the possibility of kissing her again.
They fell in step together, and he linked his arm with hers, wishing he had an excuse to take her hand instead.
“I like your family,” she said.
“That’s because you’re delusional.” He laughed and so did she, but he suddenly felt terrible, remembering that she didn’t have a family. He hadn’t missed the wistful way she’d talked about finding her dad. “I like your friends. Even the nosy, pregnant one.”
Lina wrinkled her nose at him. “Ashley’s protective because she wants to see me date someone decent. She hasn’t liked my past boyfriends much.”
“And was she justified in that?” he couldn’t help asking.
“Unfortunately, yes. I have terrible taste in men.”
He pretended to be wounded.
“Don’t worry. You don’t count. We’re just workout buddies.” They reached her door, and she put her hand up for a high-five. “Good night, Dillon. See you in the gym first thing tomorrow morning, if you dare.”
She slipped in her door without a backward glance. If there were any doubt as to her true feelings toward him, that had clarified things. A high-five. Was there any more platonic way to end a date?
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Chapter 7
Lina thought Dillon would be a no-show for Black Friday’s morning workout, but halfway through her stretches, he came into the tiny gym, his hair adorably disheveled and his eyes blinking at her like he couldn’t quite focus.
