“Walk me to my door?”
I smile and open my door, stepping out, and help her slide out to the driveway. I take my copies of the pictures and leave them on the seat while carrying hers and the bear with us up the front porch.
It’s hard not to feel a sense of accomplishment at knowing I’ve given her something she didn’t get with her rich suitors. It’s been a great date—one she compared to a movie.
“I had a great time tonight, Rhett,” Brynlee says as she looks up at me with her back to the front door. “It was the best date I’ve ever been on. Even if it was forced upon you.”
Smiling, I take her hand and rub my thumb over her knuckles. “I wasn’t sure if you’d want to go out with me.”
“Want to hear a secret?”
“Sure.”
“I was anxious for the parts you ordered to come in because I wanted a reason to see you. I felt silly for everything I thoughtto call you for, and Mama’s voice kept reminding me that I don’t chase men. But I wanted to call you every day.”
I chuckle and bite my lower lip. “I paid for expedited shippin’ to see you again sooner,” I confess. “I about flew here to see you when Hardy called to tell me the parts were in.”
Her mouth tilts up, and I lower my face to hers, everything around us falling silent as we kiss. When our lips touch, it’s like the world stands completely still, and the only thing I’m aware of is Brynlee. The fruity scent of her perfume to the flowery smell of her hair. The softness of every inch of skin I’ve touched to her taste. How easily her tongue dances with mine as I hold her as close as humanly possible.
Pulling back, she smiles up at me. “You’re really good at that.”
“The beard doesn’t bother you? As much as I don’t want to, I’d shave it if you asked me to.”
Her fingers run over the hair I keep trimmed and clean. “No, I like it. It tickles a little. And it’s a lot softer than I imagined. I’ve never kissed a man with a beard before. Stubble, sure, which… no thanks. That hurts. But this? I like it. It also makes you look manly, and I really like that.”
“I also worry I’ll scratch you with my callouses,” I whisper and open my palm.
She runs her fingertips over my skin, and it tickles before shooting need straight to my groin.
“I like it,” she whispers back. “I like everything about you so far, Rhett.”
I chuckle and stare, mesmerized, as her fingers continue to caress my palm. It’s so innocent but so erotic. “You don’t know me that well yet.”
“I know you’re kind, even though you hate when people call you nice. You’re good with your hands, and you’re an incredible kisser. There’s also that whole gentleman thing. No one’s goneout of their way to open every possible door for me before. Not unless it was their job.”
“Thank you for leadin’ with nice,” I say and look into her eyes. “That’s usually the beginnin’ of the end for me. I’m not the type of guy women tend to fall for. Not for the long run.”
Sighing, Brynlee gives me a look of determination. “Those other women have no idea what they’re missing. You won me a pink bear at the fair. Heck, you took me to the county fair, and you never once made me feel as though I was too much. And you kissed me senseless before giving me your shirt. Frankly, I don’t know how you’ll ever top this date.”
I laugh and marvel at the pride I’m filled with. “I hadn’t thought about that, but now I am.”
“I’m just kidding. I just like being around you. And as much as I want to invite you inside, I kind of have a rule that I don’t take a man to bed until we’ve dated for a while. Or defined our relationship.”
I run my hand through her ponytail, loving how fast her heart beats as I graze her neck. “I can control myself, Bryn. If you want to just watch a movie and keep things PG, you can trust me.”
“I’m sure I can,” she says and gently touches my cheek. “It’s me I don’t trust.”
Hold. The. Phone. “You don’t trust yourself? With me?”
“I’ve never wrestled with breaking my rule for anyone before, but the entire drive here, with your hand on my thigh, I couldn’t stop thinking about what your hands would feel like all over me. I don’t know that I’ll stick to my convictions if I let you inside right now.”
I’m sure I look like a moron as I stand there blinking at her, but no one’s ever said anything like this to me before. Hell, I’m not sure anyone’s ever desired me, really. But the way her eyes darken slightly as we stare at each other, her chest heaving, tells me she doesn’t lie. “You want me?”
“More than you know,” she whispers. “It’s kind of new for me.”
“I’d never want you to go against your principles. I mean, as a man, of course, I want you to. Especially now that you’ve put the image of my hands all over you into my mind, but I respect you.”
“I kind of wish you didn’t. But it’s probably better if we wait until the third or fourth date.”
