He grinned. “Okay.”
“Okay,” I echoed, smiling back.
And then he leaned in to kiss me. This time, I didn’t even think about stopping him.
eleven
JACK
In the last twenty-four hours, I’d thought a lot about what might happen with Bonnie.
She’d agreed to come over tonight with a very specific purpose in mind. Yet I wondered if she might get cold feet. If, when the time came, she’d fail to show or she’d chicken out before she got what she wanted.
I’d thought about the length of her relationship with Danny and how she’d probably only ever been with her husband. Admittedly, that hadn’t been a deterrent. Maybe it was my arrogance or pride talking, but I wanted to make this good for her.
I’d considered the fact that despite her assurances, she might catch feelings or be interested in more than I could give. Or the very real possibility that she might be unable to handle something casual.
There were a lot of thoughts swirling around in my head, most of them giving me pause and raising red flags. So I didn’t knowwhat it said about me that I hadn’t once considered calling this thing off.
Bonnie’s directness had taken me off guard yesterday. People were rarely so inclined to ask for exactly what they wanted. There hadn’t been any subtlety on her part, but she’d also skipped over any scheming or game playing, which was kind of refreshing.
Part of me thought that Bonnie and I had been on a collision course since that very first night, with her drunk on a barstool and me completely baffled by her sudden appearance in my life.
She was someone I was attracted to, yes. But I also liked her. I enjoyed spending time with her—talking, texting, getting under her skin. And I hadn’t had that with a woman ... ever.
But a little voice inside warned that the timing could have been better. Even if we’d made it here on our own, naturally, without a roadside proposition, I didn’t know if it was the right choice.
She was fresh off a heartbreak, still flailing around in it. Someone like her wouldn’t just fall out of love with someone. She’d admitted as much, sick and miserable on my bathroom rug. I was more than prepared for a post-sex freak-out or even tears.
I was selfish enough to know I wouldn’t turn her away, though. I liked that she’d asked for what she wanted, and, even more, I liked knowing that what she wanted was me.
So when—if—Bonnie got here, I’d do my best to put her at ease and make sure a night in my bed was really what she wanted. And if it was, then I’d make it a night she wouldn’t forget.
A knock sounded just after eight.
I ignored the bright rush of anticipation as I made my way to the door, opening it wide to see Bonnie standing on the other side.
“Hi,” she said softly.
“Hi,” I replied, taking her in.
Bonnie wore a dress the color of the leaves on the Japanese maple tree in my grandmother’s front yard. The deep red complemented her blond hair and made her pale skin glow. The hem of her skirt hit mid-shin, and the fabric looked soft. Everything about her looked soft and sweet.
The good girl standing on my doorstep, wanting to be bad for the night.
“Come in,” I finally said, pulling my attention away from where her fingers were twisting themselves into knots.
She hesitated a beat, and if I had to guess, I’d say it was nerves keeping the soles of her ballerina flats glued to the floor.
The television was already on, and Bonnie’s attention snagged there.
She smiled and looked at me. “I love this show.”
That’s what I’d been counting on. She’d mentioned the 2000s sitcom in our previous texts, and I thought it might go a long way toward taking the edge off any nervousness she might be feeling.
“Make yourself comfortable,” I called as I went to grab her drink from the fridge.
Bonnie’s attention stayed on the screen as she made her way into the living room. A moment later, she laughed, the sound familiar and happy, like she’d heard that joke before but couldn’t resist her reaction.
