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He shakes his head. “I’ve never had any girl cross my path who’s tempted me—that is, until you. There’s something about you that draws me in, and I can’t stop myself from wanting to be around you. Ever since that night I gave you a ride home, you’ve been on my mind almost constantly. You are the most beautiful woman I’ve ever seen, and what’s even more surprising, you’ve got a big heart. I’ve seen how easily you get hurt, and I think that’s the sign of someone who is passionate and loves wholeheartedly. I find that unbelievably attractive, making you really hard to resist.”

I bite my lip as I stare into his eyes. “You think I’m tempting?”

He takes my other hand in his and threads his fingers through mine while he faces me. “Let’s just say now I totally get why Adam gave in to Eve and sinned. If he was attracted to her half as much as I am to you, there’s no wonder that he risked God’s wrath to be with her.”

I don’t even know how to respond to that. No guy has ever poured his heart out to me like this, and it’s taking every inch of willpower that I possess to stop me from jumping his bones here and now.

I need to change the subject to get my mind off of how much my body craves his touch right now.

“So you want to be a country singer? Is that why you want to go to Nashville?” I smile. “You got the voice. And I bet you know all those twangy, ‘I shot my dog’ country songs.”

He laughs. “Yeah, I know a few.”

We stand there together, still holding on to one another while we gaze into each other’s eyes.

So it’s not that he finds me repulsive, because he said that he does want to sleep with me. He just made a pact to stay on the straight and narrow path until he gives his dream a try. I can respect that.

I’ve disappointed my dad in the past with my promiscuity. Dad actually cried when he walked in on Chance and me making out hot and heavy in my bedroom once. He wasn’t even mad at me. He took all the blame. Which puzzled me, because don’t parents worry about their nineteen-year-old daughters becoming sexually promiscuous? Dad told me he was sorry he wasn’t around to teach me to value myself more than to throw myself at boys. Talk about a low blow. Nothing opens your eyes to your slut activities more than your Dad crying over it. I promised myself to slow it down, and I guess that’s when Chance decided that Charity was a better, sluttier option to date.

I really shouldn’t be sleeping around with random guys either. Maybe this staying celibate thing is a good idea. I wouldn’t mind trying it out, but I know that I’ll still crave closeness with a guy—I need human contact. Kind of like now, we’re close and touching. And if I were to really do this celibacy thing, kissing would obviously be allowed. We just couldn’t have sex. Perhaps, we could do this together, like a partnership, and I could get to know him without the pressure of having sex looming over me, and when he leaves I won’t be completely devastated because we’ll never be intimate. “I have a brilliant idea,” I say and hope he doesn’t think it’s completely crazy. “Let’s do this together.”

He tilts his head. “Do what together?”

“You know . . . be a sexless couple together. We both need to stay away from sticky relationships with people in this town, because I don’t see myself living here forever either. No one else will understand why we don’t want to be tied to this place because of a relationship but us. While I’m here though, I don’t want to be a complete hermit. I would still like to go out and enjoy the company of the other sex. So . . . I like you. You like me. We can, you know, be friends with limited benefits.” I smile, seeing the brilliance in my own plan.

Tyler quirks one eyebrow. “You’d still date me, knowing that I won’t have sex with you?”

I lift one shoulder in a noncommittal shrug. “There’s no one in this town I’ll like more than you.”

“But you could,” he challenges.

“That’s not possible. No one will ever be able to serenade me like you can, or be there for me when I decide to break out a crowbar and do something stupid the way you do.” That statement causes Tyler to chuckle, but I’m not done telling him what I like about him. “But besides all that, you’re quite possibly the hottest man I’ve ever seen, so I doubt you’ll have any competition in that department either. So like I said, I’m sure.”

He nods his head as he thinks about my offer. “As crazy as it sounds, I like your plan. Are we allowed to kiss, because I’ll be honest, now that I’ve tasted your lips I don’t think there’s any way I won’t want to do that again.”

My heart does a double thump against my ribs. “That’s definitely allowed.”

He has no idea how bad I want to attack him right now. I don’t think I’d be able to do this little plan if I wasn’t able to kiss him, so I’m glad we’re now on the same page. Hopefully this works out like I see it going down in my mind—me ending all of this with a good guy friend—a totally hot, kissable friend—and a relationship that’s guaranteed not to break my heart.

AVERY

So after it’s decided that we’re going to give this new friendship thing a real shot, we decide to head home. I climb into the beat-up old Ford truck and wait for Tyler to crank the engine. It fires with a rumble that’s starting to sound very familiar. I snuggle into my seat and click the seatbelt in place. I’m actually excited about this friends-with-limited-benefits plan. I’m tired of being hurt by men, so this arrangement works out great for me. For all intents and purposes it’ll look like I have a totally caring and loving boyfriend, just no one will know our dirty little secret—that we’re not really a couple. I’ll appear to be a one-man kind of woman.

“We should have some rules,” Tyler says while he drives me home.

“I totally agree. Setting boundaries is an excellent idea.”

“We obviously go on dates, and hold hands, but we should limit everything else to keep from getting carried away.”

I nod and smile. “That’s sounds good. Anything else you planning to allow other than hand-holding and kissing?”

A mischievous grin lights up his face. “I don’t think much else should be allowed, considering I find you insanely attractive. If we allow anything other than kissing, I can’t be held responsible for my actions.”

I laugh while I think about how nice his lips felt pressed up against mine, and a shiver rushes through me as I think about going any further than that. He has a good point. Anything other than a few simple kisses might cause us to veer off the plan. “Noted.”

He guides the truck up the overgrown driveway leading to Granny’s and then parks before he turns the key and the engine rumbles to a stop.

“So . . . should I walk you to your door?”

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