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“I hate even thinking about the way you were treated and the life you were living, but I can’t hate that it brought you here to Willow River. To me,” he adds, glancing over before putting his focus back on the road.
“I know this sounds terrible, but I don’t even miss them. My parents, I mean. Or Robert, for that matter. I just… They were never good to me. No matter how hard I tried to be what they wanted me to be, they just didn’t care about me.”
“You know you’re not alone, right?” he asks. “Ramsey, you will never be alone again. I know with absolute certainty that the Kincaid clan will never let that happen. They’re good people. I’m not sure where the relation comes in. I don’t know if it’s your mom’s side or your dad’s, but they are nothing like the family you left behind. You have Palmer, and you have me.”
I nod because there is a lump in my throat. I know it’s dark in the car, and he can’t see me, so instead, I reach over and place my hand on his arm, giving it a gentle squeeze. Without taking his eyes off the road, he links our fingers together, placing a tender kiss on my knuckles before resting our joined hands on his muscular thigh.
The remainder of the drive is quiet but comfortable. In fact, I’ve never felt this overwhelming sense of calm with anyone else.
When we pull into my apartment complex, he rushes around the door to open mine. It’s weird to have a man do it when no one is watching. The only time Robert ever did anything remotely nice for me was when it was for show. I shouldn’t compare the two, but they’re light-years away as far as their differences go. It’s just going to take some getting used to.
“Thank you for tonight,” I say when we reach my door. “Do you want to come in?” I offer. I’m nervous, but I’m not ready for the night to end.
“Yes. But I won’t,” he quickly adds. “I don’t trust myself to not want to take things further, and we’re not there yet.”
“What if I said that we were?”
He leans in and kisses just below my ear. “You’re making it really hard for me to be a gentleman.”
“Is that what you are?” I ask.
“That’s what you deserve.”
“It’s okay if you don’t want me or if you’ve changed your mind,” I blurt.
“Ramsey, baby.” He takes my hand and places it over his very hard cock. Heat pools between my thighs. “I want you. I’ve never wanted a woman the way that I want you, and I’m so proud of you for asking me in, but I want to do this right. You’re not a sleep-with-the-guy-on-a-first-date kind of girl, and I know that anything worth having is worth waiting for.”
“What if I want to be?” I challenge. I’m not sure where this confidence is coming from. The only explanation I can come up with is that it’s him. Deacon gives me strength.
“Do you?”
“I had such a good time. I’m not ready for the night to end.”
“Tomorrow night.”
“What about it?”
“Instead of going out, we can have dinner at my place. That will give us more time together, just the two of us.”
“That’s a long time from now.” I don’t know what I’m saying because he’s right. I’m not the kind of woman who jumps into bed with her date on the first night. I’m also not the type to be so vocal about what I want or how I’m feeling. All courtesy of the man standing before me.
He smiles. “I know, but it gives us something to look forward to.” Slowly, he lifts his hand and places it on my cheek. “Good night, sweetheart.” His kiss is soft and slow, and it leaves me wanting more. “Lock up behind me.”
His kiss has stolen the breath from my lungs. I take a minute to regroup before saying, “Thank you for tonight.”
His eyes soften. “You’re welcome. Go in and lock up.”
“Will you… will you call me when you get home? Or just text me? I-I want to make sure you make it home okay.”
“I’ll call you,” he agrees. “Night, Rams.”
“Night, Deacon.” I step behind the door and quickly close it, clicking the lock into place. My fingers touch my lips, and I can still feel his pressed to mine. I don’t have to look in the mirror to know that goofy, happy smile that only Deacon can pull from me is lighting up my face.
fourteen
Deacon
“Is everything okay?” Palmer answers.
“Yes. Why wouldn’t it be?”
“Because you’re calling me when you’re supposed to be working.”
“I left early.”
“What? What happened? Are you sick? Is it Mom and Dad? Piper?” I can hear the panic in her voice.
“Palmer, calm down. Everyone is fine. I’m fine.” I’m quick to reassure her.
