Page 77 of Some Kinda Romance

I got there a few minutes before she did, and I took the liberty of ordering our first round of drinks while I waited. I was wondering if I should’ve texted to ask her what she wanted instead of deciding to get us each a beer, but then she walked in and my brain exploded.

At least, my thoughts scattered as if my brain had exploded.

We’d chosen a low-key, laidback restaurant for dinner, and Serenity was wearing jeans that fit her like a glove paired with a flowing white top that reminded me of the stuff my mom had worn in her bohemian phase. But Serenity’s showed off her deep cleavage, which mercifully, Mom’s never had.

With low slung ankle boots on her feet and her hair hanging in loose waves to her waist like a golden curtain, she looked amazing. Like a wholesome country girl out to have a good time.

She smiled, striking a pose when she reached our table by putting her hand on her hip as she jutted it out. “Take a picture. It’ll last longer.”

I laughed, once again wishing I could kiss her but simply getting up and pulling the chair out for her instead. “If you don’t want me staring, stop looking so damn hot.”

“I would, but this is just how I look,” she joked as she sat down.

Once I’d pushed the chair back in for her as well, I rounded the table, amazed by the fact that she’d been here for all of about a minute and she’d already made me laugh. Somehow, she often did, which was unusual for me.

Batting her lashes innocently, she propped her elbow on the table and rested her chin on top of the back of her hand. “How was your day, sweetheart?”

I chuckled again. “Sweetheart? If you’re giving me a nickname, I think I’d prefer Sexy. Or Hotness. My mother calls me sweetheart.”

“Hotness, really?” She doubled over laughing, shaking her head at me. “You are really hot, but I’m not sure I could ever call you that. How about Handsome?”

I rocked my head from side to side. “I guess that could work, but only if you said it with conviction.”

“I’ll keep thinking,” she promised, her eyes sparkling as she looked at me from across the table. “I heard a rumor this afternoon that you guys are going to be hosting the Davidson Cup this year. Is it true?”

“How? We only found out about that this afternoon.” Our beers arrived, and since Serenity immediately picked hers up and started sipping it without complaint, I figured I’d made the right call. Pleased with myself, I couldn’t be too annoyed about word already having gotten out. “I swear, nothing is a secret for long in this town.”

“Except us.” She winked at me playfully. “We’re still a secret. For now, anyway.”

“Sure, at least until I stop fighting the urge to kiss you in public.” As it was, I could barely wait to take her home and get her out of her clothes. “It’s going to happen soon. I can feel the slip coming.”

“Bullshit.” She giggled. “You’ve got more self-control than anyone I’ve ever met. You’d never slip up like that.”

“Fine. It won’t be a slip.” I shrugged, a smirk on my lips. I leaned across the table and lowered my voice. “Are you really that hungry, or are you up to a midnight snack at my place later instead? We could⁠—”

“Well, actually, I have other plans in mind for us tonight,” she said coyly. “We should go out. I’d like to see you having fun. You never let loose and you need to.”

“Let loose?” I asked, my forehead puckering as I tried to imagine what that would even look like. “What do you want to do?”

“You, but before we get to that, I’d like to see you dance.”

“I don’t dance.”

“Oh, Hotness. Tonight, you do,” she murmured as she leaned closer too, her eyes on mine. “We’re blowing off steam tonight, right? So it’s dinner, dancing, and then, if you’re lucky, we’ll get lucky.”

I sighed, but even as I did, I knew I wasn’t going to argue with her. I was willing to give this woman whatever she wanted, and if what she wanted was to grind on me on a crowded dance floor, then I guessed it wouldn’t be the most terrible thing that ever happened.

“Okay, I’ll do it,” I said. “For you. I’ll do it.”

What I should’ve said was that for her, I’d do anything, but I had a feeling it was still a little too early in our relationship for that. So tonight, it was dancing. Eventually, she’d realize that she had me. Hook, line, and sinker.