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Dex’s truck stopped, the lights illuminating the driveway. It was that weird, dusky time where the sun couldn’t decide it if were up or down, and I was glad I didn’t have to drive, I had to be honest.
I drew in a deep breath as three, loud knocks sounded on my door. Steeling myself, I let it go and opened the door.
He stood in front of me, looking like a completely different person. He still had that five o’clock shadow over his jaw, but his hair was slicked back and held in place by wax or gel or something.
A bright, white shirt stretched across his body, and the top two buttons were open, giving me the hint of a glance at his collarbones at the base of his neck. I sent my gaze downward to where his shirt sleeves were rolled just above his elbows, leaving me full view of those veiny forearms of his.
It was tucked into a pair of dark jeans that hid suede, dark brown boots.
And he was…clean.
So was I.
Miracles did happen.
Dex shifted uncomfortably on my doorstep. He kept looking at me and glancing away, and he brought his hand up to his hair only to stop and drop it again.
“Hey,” he said after a long moment of us both looking to the side awkwardly. “You look…”
I waited for him to finish, and when he didn’t, I fought a smile. “Wow, you know how to compliment a girl.”
He grimaced. “Would you believe I practiced telling you look beautiful just to be a good date?”
“Not in the slightest.” I hid a laugh. “You don’t have to pretend to be a good date. Neither of us want to be here. Let’s just focus on getting through the night without killing each other.”
“Sounds like a plan to me.” He glanced at my feet. “I will help you get in the truck, though, because if you break your neck in those things, I’m the one who’ll get the blame.”
I snatched my clutch from the windowsill and stepped out onto the doorstep right next to him. As I locked the door, I said, “I can climb into your truck, Dex. I don’t need you to throw a rope down to help me.”
“Actually, I was going to give you a hand in the hopes I could touch your ass.”
“And there he is.” I checked my phone when I tucked my keys away. “Five minutes before you let your inner jackass out. Go you.”
“I try,” he admitted, stepping onto the gravel. “Come on.” He walked to his truck and opened the door.
“Hold on.” I held up a finger as I drew level with him. “Ground rules, since you’re already being a dick.”
He sighed. “I can assure you I’ll be doing everything possible not to talk to you tonight. You don’t need rules.”
I raised my eyebrows. “One,” I said. “If you must touch me under the guise of being a gentleman—”
He snorted.
“—then you can touch my hands, my waist, or my back. If you touch anything else, even knock my foot with yours under the table, I will junk-punch you.”
“I’ll do my best not to touch you at all. I can’t think of anything worse.”
“Two.” I held up two fingers. “If you mention anything about me being inferior to you at work, I will junk-punch you.”
“I’ll make sure you’re out of earshot when I do.”
“Three.” A third finger went up. “I don’t have a third, but I don’t think I need one.”
He held his hands up. “You’ve got a deal. I happen to like my junk, and I don’t want it to get hurt anytime soon.”
I rolled my eyes and slipped past him, only just brushing up against him as I did. He stepped back muttering under his breath, and I hauled myself up into the cab.
“Hey…You said I can’t touch. Does that mean I can look?”
I slammed the truck door.
He held up three fingers and nodded.
There was point three.
Not that it would stop him if he really wanted to, but still.
I needed those points in place.
Chapter Thirteen – Dex
Don’t touch.
Don’t talk.
Don’t look.
The first two? Doable.
The last?
Fuck me dead and serve me on a platter—that was impossible.
How the fuck was I supposed to not look at her? If she was beautiful in denim shorts and covered in oil, she was fucking beyond that dressed the way she was right now.
That jacket. That dress. Those shoes.
Her.
I rubbed my hand across my face as I got out of the truck. It was dark in the parking lot of the bar-restaurant, and thank fuck for that. I needed to take a moment and compose myself.
If she smart-mouthed me tonight when she looked like that, I wouldn’t be able to resist her. And shit, if she kissed with the passion she cut me down, it’d be worth the junk-punch.
No doubt about it.
