My throat tightened, a lump forming as I nodded. “I’d like that,” I managed to say, my voice barely above a whisper. “I want to make the most of every second.”
Howell brushed his thumb over my knuckles in a gesture that felt like a promise. A simple touch, but it held the power of unspoken words.
“Then that’s what we’ll do.” The corners of his mouth lifted in a smile that didn’t quite reach his eyes. “We’ll pack as much fun into these three weeks as possible. Hikes, movies, dinners…hell, even more pottery if you’re up for it.”
Joy bloomed inside me. He wanted to spend time with me, wanted to be with me as much as I longed to hang out with him. “Very much looking forward to that.”
I wanted to spend every waking moment with this man.
When we got back to Howell’s truck, it had cooled a bit, but the warmth radiating from Howell was enough to keep the chill at bay. Night had fallen, and I glanced up at the sky, where stars twinkled like diamonds across an ink-black canvas.
“I’ve never seen so many stars,” I whispered. “Beautiful.”
“Sure is.” Howell followed my gaze. “But not as beautiful as you.”
Howell’s hand, rough and warm, found its way to my cheek, and I leaned into his touch. His thumb brushing my skin sent a shiver down my spine. “May I…?”
I nodded, not trusting my voice. My heart hammered as Howell closed the distance between us. His lips met mine, gentle, questioning, as if testing the waters. But when I kissed him back, something ignited deep within us both.
We deepened the kiss, passionate and intense, and I wrapped my arms around his neck, pulling him closer. Howell responded in kind, encircling my waist and pressing me against the side of his truck. The hunger in his kiss, the yearning, matched my own. His beard scratched my face softly, a new sensation.
Our tongues swirled, the aftertaste of his Rocky Road mingling with my strawberry. He gently sucked my bottom lip, then surged back into my mouth. God, the man could kiss. I’d forgotten how good kissing could be, how erotic.
Howell’s body was solid and warm, grounding me in the present. I ran my hands over his chest, then slipped them underneath his shirt and caressed his back. Beneath my fingertips, his muscles rippled. Muscles I had jokingly molded clay after earlier in the evening, and I chuckled softly.
He pulled away, breathing hard, and rested his forehead against mine. “What’s so funny?”
“Nothing.” My smile widened. “Just…happy.”
“Good,” Howell said, his voice husky. “Because I plan on making you laugh a lot more.”
And as we stood there, in the quiet embrace of the night with only the faint hum of the town around us, I believed him.
6
HOWELL
The sun showed her glorious evening colors, painting the sky in bright orange and yellow. I laced up my dance shoes, which had been gathering dust in the back of my closet for more years than I cared to admit. The last time I wore them might’ve been at my wedding. Fuck, I was getting old.
But no, none of that now. Not when anticipation buzzed through my veins. All day, I’d been looking forward to tonight’s date. Even when leading a zipline excursion, I’d barely been able to keep my focus. My thoughts had drifted to Onno and how much fun we’d had two days before.
I’d wanted to hang out with him yesterday, but I’d been called in for a search and rescue. A female solo hiker hadn’t made it back at the agreed-upon time, and her family had called in help. Luckily, she’d worn a GPS tracker, which made finding her easy. Though it had required a two-hour climb because she’d been halfway up King Mountain. She’d slipped and hit her head and was still dizzy and confused from a concussion when we found her. We’d made it back safely, but by then, it had been too late to meet up with Onno.
Finding something else to do that was original and fun had been a challenge on such short notice, but I’d pulled it off—with a little help from Bubbles, who’d sent a list of suggestions. I wanted to offer Onno the chance to try new things, but with me instead of alone. Tonight, we’d learn to waltz. I’d double-checked with Onno to ensure he was up for it, but he’d assured me his feet had recovered enough to swirl on the dance floor.
Once again, he was waiting for me outside the bakery, dressed in dark blue slacks and a crisp pink polo shirt. God, he was so gorgeous. He slid into my truck with much more ease and grace, then leaned in for a kiss, which I happily gave. I kept it brief, though. I didn’t want to give Brianna and her husband a show, but that was fine. If the night went according to plan, we’d have more time for longer kisses later. And maybe more.
“You look nice,” he said. His blond hair caught the last rays of light that streamed through the window, giving him an otherworldly aura.
“Thank you. The shoes feel weird, I gotta say. Haven’t worn them in a long time.”
“Mine aren’t dance shoes, but they’re nice enough. I didn’t bring them with me, and I wasn’t about to make the same mistake twice by buying new shoes.”
“Smart.”
He chuckled. “I have my moments. But if I step on your toes, you can’t hold it against me. Gerard used to say I dance like a clumsy giraffe.”
“Your ex sounds like a real charmer,” I muttered, and Onno’s smile faltered. Shit. He’d brought up his ex, but hell if I’d allow that asshole to ruin our date. “We’ll just have to make some new memories. Yeah?”
