"The evening gown?" A solid guess, since it’s hard to forget wearing a nine hundred dollar dress on a hike through the desert.
"I guess so. Pink? Long and kind of... curve hugging?" He exhales. "That’s an evening gown?"
I nod and his jaw tightens under my fingers. His voice is rough. “I… liked that dress.”
I will be saving this information for use at a later date.
"Anyway, when I heard you yell out in pain and I got closer to you I thought, She is it. She is perfect. If I could make a list of every physical trait I find appealing and put in a request to God, it would be her. Your eyes, your smile, your… figure. Even the freckles on your nose." He chuckles. "It almost hurt to look at you."
Okay, maybe someone valuing my packaging isn'tallbad. I still don't trust myself to speak, so I wrap my free hand around the back of his neck, burying my fingers in his cropped hair. His hands move to my waist and my breath goes short as I peer up at his dark eyes. I see that serious crease between his brow and his fingers flex on my sides, holding tight.
"May I?" is all he asks in that rumbling voice that absolutely melts me.
I know what he's asking. I close my eyes and nod. "Please."
With my eyes closed I can only sense him coming closer. His arms circle my waist, pulling me against his hard chest.How does he smell so good?I feel his soft breath on my lips for far too long. He has to know he's torturing me. His arms squeeze me tighter like I'm the one torturing him and he can't take much more. Then his lips are on mine.
His kiss is soft at first, barely brushing my lips and moving to my jaw before I've had enough. He works his way back to my mouth and I am going to combust. His lips cover mine now, and combined with his hands tugging my hips, it unlocks something inside me. I sigh and bury my fingers in his hair, pulling him closer. I open my mouth just enough to taste him. I return his kisses softly at first, working my way down his rough jaw. When I reach his neck and feel his Adam's apple move under my lips he groans.
"Indie." His voice is barely audible as I work my way back to his jaw. His hands tighten. "Indie, please."
His hands make their way to my face, gently pulling me away. His serious eyes are piercing. That crease is back between his eyebrows. "Are you trying to kill me?" He chuckles, soft and sweet, and presses a light kiss to my forehead. He holds that soft kiss for a few beats, pulling me in tight. When he backs away he says under his breath, "I guess that answers that."
I tuck myself under his chin and snuggle up to the solid wall of his chest, wrapping my arms around his waist. I am struggling to fully separate myself from him. He really does have his own gravity. "What answers what?" I ask drowsily, completely distracted by the dreamlike feeling of being held by him.
"You're totally into me."
I can't stop my snicker, and I love the feel of his laughter when I'm pressed against him. "Oh, like you couldn't tell!"
"I couldn't," he defends himself. "I thought there was no way. You’re so perfect."
He cannot be serious. "I'm so perfect? You know what a disaster I am. You know about my life. I finally—FINALLY—got a date with you and my bladder had to ruin it. And do you know how many women I have had to hurdle whenever I’m around you?” I shake my head. “I can't believe you're trying to pull this, Obbs." I'm burrowing deeper into his chest so he has to know I'm teasing.
He chuckles and presses a kiss in my hair. "Fine. I believe you."
We sit in silence for so long that I start to come in and out of light sleep. I can feel and hear his steady heartbeat beneath my cheek. I breathe him in, wanting to memorize everything about this moment. That is until his hand, which was resting innocently on my leg, curls around my leg and his fingers gently swipe the soft skin behind my knee. I screech and jump a foot in the air, smacking his jaw with my head.
“I guess I deserved that.” He rubs at his five o’clock shadow, opening and closing his mouth.
I’m rubbing the future bruise on the top of my head when he pulls me to my feet with a smile. “All right, let’s get you home, Cinderella.”
Chapter 10
My phone is ringing. I wouldn’t have known since I've had it on silent, but I’m also using my GPS to navigate to a grocery store for more non-perishables to keep in The Hulk. I stop at a red light and watch it buzz on my lap. The call is coming from a Utah area code. Should I answer it? Did someone die? Curiosity loses and I swipe to reject the call. I woke up with a high from my late night canoodling with Joe, and nothing is going to bring me down. A handsome man kissed me and I’m on vacation. Besides, rebelliously ignoring my phone produces a high of its own.
The phone resumes buzzing on my leg. Same number. I swipe to reject the call again because, vacation. Buzz, buzz, buzz. Swipe. I’M ON VACATION, DANGIT.
The fourth time the call comes in my curiosity and annoyance win. “HELLO?” I’ve worked up a good inner-Karen now.
“Hi… Indie?” The woman’s nervous voice is familiar. “It’s Willow.”
“Oh… hey, Willow!”Inner-Karen, please return to your sarcophagus. I will summon you if you are needed again.
“Hi. I’m sorry to call and call and call.” Her laugh is shaky. Then she whispers into the phone, “Sunny is with some guests and asked me to see if you can come in.”
It’s after ten in the morning, so it seems unlikely she’d need me for a hike. “What’s up?”
“It’s about the guests—” Loud voices interrupt in the background, then the sound of the phone being muffled, and Willow’s quiet, calm voice answering them. I feel instant shame that I almost unleashed an inner-Karen on her. There’s more shuffling of the receiver on her end and muffled, annoyed voices before she comes back on the line. Her voice is low and urgent. “We need you. Can you please come in?” She hangs up on me.
