Each direction and stroke intertwined, sending a ripple of realization through me.
The awakening steadied the rhythm of my heart, leading my hands instinctively to where I knew without a shadow of a doubt I wanted him most.
My heart.
With my hands stacked over my sternum, I got lost in the moment. Absorbing the tranquility behind each breath and the knowledge I’d laid myself bare to a man who accepted my flaws and uncertainty and never once looked at me like I was damaged.
“I want to be there more than you know, beautiful.” Boden’s words broke the spell I was so clearly under.
I rolled onto my stomach and angled my head in his direction. Feeling slightly nervous about his response as I’d accidentally chartered the vibe of this phone call way off course. Once I’d settled and brought the phone closer, those worries vanished because Boden’s unmistakable eyes, filled with reverence, were staring back at me.
Butterflies fluttered in my stomach with glee while my smile matched his beaming back at me.
* * *
God, I was so nervous.
I fussed for hours about what to wear. My bedroom looked like a tornado had swept through as a result. What does one wear on a date with a man who is too good to be true? A man who had seen her at her lowest, stood by her, and offered her a shoulder for her tear-stained cheeks.
While it was technically our first official date, we’d spent the past month in each other’s company in the most relaxed settings, so tonight, I wanted to dress up for him. I curled my hair, put just enough makeup on to even out my skin tone, lightly coated my eyelashes with black mascara, and topped off the natural look with my favorite rosy-hued lip-plumping lipstick.
I intended to show Boden my feminine side, void of lounge and yoga gear. While he’d made no secret he desired me, the confidence of putting a real effort into my attire was worth every second I’d spent fretting all day when he answered the door.
I fidgeted with my hands as he leisurely dragged his heated eyes down the length of my body before stepping out onto his front porch. He pulled me close with one hand wrapped softly around my nape and the other securely around my waist as he leaned down and brushed his lips across mine.
“Lakelyn.” He audibly groaned, pulling my bottom lip between his teeth.
I snaked my hands over his broad shoulders and pushed up on my toes, bringing us almost eye level.
“Hi, handsome.”
“Hi, beautiful.” He smiled back. “You’re early; I thought I was picking you up?”
“I can always go back home,” I offered, hooking my thumb over my shoulder.
“Don’t go getting crazy on me; now you’re here, I’m not about to let you go.”
“I was impatient.”
“That makes two of us.” He kissed the tip of my nose. “Come on in.”
Once I stepped inside his humble abode, I gasped, and my heart swelled.
Boden knew I had an aversion to going out in public, but that didn’t stop him from pulling out all the stops when it came to setting the ambiance for our date night.
Over in the living room, the coffee table, framed by his oversized sectional, was set up for an intimate dinner accented by a delicate lace cloth in the center adorned with a vase filled with fresh pink tulips. The scene before me was lit up with sparkling tea lights, reminiscent of a picnic but indoors. My heart smiled, loving everything about the effort he’d put into creating what I already knew would be a magical night I’d never forget.
“Would you like some wine, red or white?”
“Guess that depends on dinner.”
“Pinot noir, it is, then. Please make yourself comfortable.” Boden directed me further into the space with his hand on the small of my back before making his way into the kitchen.
When Boden returned, he took up purchase kitty-corner to me on the other throw pillow he’d set on the floor.
“What’s on the menu tonight?” I asked before taking a sip of my wine.
“It’s a surprise.”
