“We will,” he said.“Thanks again.”
And then we were back out in the afternoon heat walking to his truck.But I couldn’t help but feel defeated.
“Don’t give up yet,” he said as he opened the car door for me.
“Who says I’m giving up?”
“I do because I can read the look on your face.”
I frowned as I climbed into the truck.“You can?”
“Yes, and it’s adorable.”He closed the door and then rounded the back.A second later, he was getting in behind the wheel.“How about dinner?”
“Dinner?”I asked.
“Yes, Piper.You know.Food?”
“Oh.”A breath escaped me.Like my body didn’t know which feeling to feel first.The exhilaration of him asking me to dinner or the disappointment of not knowing what the book said.
“I’ll cook for you,” he said.“At my house.”
That seemed awfully forward.Then he reached for my hand and pressed his lips against my fingers.“Bring your toothbrush.”
Warmth spread through me the second he said the words.My throat went dry.
“I… I’m not sure I should leave the Red Queen and Tani alone together.Might be disastrous.And then there’s the tree thing.”
“You’re making excuses,” he said good-naturedly.“Then come for dinner.Or I’ll cook at your place.”
“Owen—”
“I’m moving too fast for you, aren’t I?”
“No.”I stared down at the grimoire like it might have the answer.Then, quietly, “Maybe a little.”
The truth was, hewasmoving too fast and I wasn’t ready for all that… togetherness.I’d already agreed to dinner at his parents tomorrow.
His hand never released mine.“I’m sorry.I’ll slow down.”He kissed my fingertips again, his mouth soft and warm against my skin.“I guess I’m making up for lost time.”
Oh, he was killing me.
“Maybe I am making excuses,” I said quickly, “but that doesn’t mean I don’t want to be with you.”
His expression softened as he continued to hold my hand.
“I think you should know I had a someone in New York and… well, it didn’t end well.”
And that was all I wanted to say about that.There was no need to rehash that past or that he was a lying, cheating wretch.
“Oh,” he said quietly.“You don’t want to get hurt again.”
I wanted to look away from him, but I didn’t.I watched his profile as he kept his gaze on the road ahead.His expression was careful, thoughtful.
“Piper.”He said my name so many different ways, but this one sounded reverent.“I will never hurt you.”
Something deep in my chest twisted.I squeezed his hand.
“And,” he added.“I don’t want to rush you, either.”His gaze flicked to mine for one second, then back to the road.“Because I respect you and I—”
