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“Because I feel like I don’t deserve it,” I whispered, my eyes dropping to the floor.
I was lying to everyone. Grayson, Benji, Winnie, Jo, all of the friends I’d made in Little Falls thought that I was someone I wasn’t. They didn’t even know my real name. Acid ate at my gut when I thought about Grayson finding out that I was no more than poor trash with an abusive father who cared for me so little he was willing to sell me to a man I’d never even met.
“You look at me right now, Lily.” I raised my head and saw anger on Benji’s face. “They do not get to decide our lives for us, not anymore. Who we choose to be and what we do is up to us now. You wanted a business and you found a way to make that happen, if you want Grayson James you can make that happen, too.”
Tears fell from my eyes and I smiled at my best friend. How had I ever been lucky enough to meet this incredible person? “You helped me make the bakery a success, Benji.”
“Damn right I did and now I’m going to help you pick out an outfit that will make that beautiful man swallow his tongue.”
My laugh was watery but my chest felt lighter as he walked back to my closet to pull out more options. Benji was right. I was in charge of my life now and I’d already made one dream of mine happen. Now, it was time to go after the next.
* * *
I scrubbedmy sweaty palms down the sides of my dress, took a deep breath and opened the door. Grayson was standing there looking just as handsome as he normally did but instead of his usual business attire he had opted for a more casual jeans and button-down look. The sleeves of his shirt were rolled up to reveal tanned, muscular forearms that had a light dusting of hair that matched the strawberry blonde on his head.
“Lily…wow.” I tore my eyes from his sexy arms and watched him take me in from head to toe and back again. His Adam’s apple bobbed as he swallowed and I silently thanked Benji for his wardrobe help. I couldn’t help but feel beautiful and sexy when this god of a man was speechless at my appearance.
Benji and I had decided on a pink dress that hugged my breasts tightly and pushed them up, making them swell over the curved sweetheart neckline. I was pretty sure I could balance a full glass on them and not spill a drop. Thin straps were all that was keeping me from flashing Grayson, the way his eyes kept darting to my chest told me he wouldn’t mind one bit if those straps suddenly gave out.
The bottom flared out over my stomach and hips, the material shifting smoothly over my skin when I walked. I had on my gold strappy heeled sandals that I’d bought at a shoe sale when I went shopping one day with Winnie and Jo and a pair of simple gold hoops in my ears. I’d even taken the extra time to curl my thick hair and finger comb the ringlets into soft waves. Benji had called the final look romantic sex kitten.
“Are those for me?” I pointed to the bouquet of pink tulips he was clutching so tightly, I worried the stems might snap.
“Yeah, ugh,” he cleared his throat. “Yes, I didn’t know what your favorite flower was but I thought that lilies were too on the nose.” His full lips tilted in a boyish smile as he held them out to me.
“They’re beautiful, thank you.” I brought them up to my nose and felt the softness of the petals on my cheeks as I inhaled. “I don’t actually know if I have a favorite flower, this is the first time anyone has ever given them to me.” My face warmed with the confession but I wanted to give Grayson whatever truths I could safely tell him.
“Well that just sounds like a challenge for me to keep bringing them.” I smiled up at him, loving how playful and relaxed he seemed. The night was already perfect and I hadn’t even stepped foot outside of my apartment yet.
“I’ll just go put these in some water. Would you like to come in?”
“Sweetheart, I would love to but with how fucking stunning you look right now I’m worried that if I come inside, I’m going to fuck you on the first available surface I find. And I made a promise to myself to take you on a proper date before that happens.”
Now it was my turn to swallow nervously. My skin tingled and heated as I thought about Grayson doing exactly what he just described. He must have been able to see me considering the merits of staying in because he growled and took a step back so that he was pressed against the opposite wall across from my door. “Flowers, sweetheart, then I’m taking you to a nice meal.”
I spun around, embarrassed at being caught, making him laugh behind me as I hurried to my kitchen to put the flowers in a pitcher that I normally used for iced tea. Then I grabbed my small purse off the counter and walked back to Grayson, locking my front door and taking his offered arm as I navigated the stairs to the parking lot in my heels.
We stopped next to his truck and he opened the door for me, holding my hand as I stepped up. “Opening my car door? You’re setting some very high standards here.” I settled myself into the seat and reached for the belt when Grayson’s warm hand wrapped around my own.
“Get used to it, sweetheart. I intend to ruin you for anyone but myself.” The intensity that emanated from him had my breath halting in my chest. He pulled the seatbelt from my frozen fingers and buckled me in before kissing me softly on the tip of my nose and closing the door. Holy shit that was hot. And sweet. Hot slash sweet.
He rounded the hood and jumped into his own seat. We’d pulled onto the main road before I was able to shake myself out of my stupor. “You never told me where we’re going for dinner.”
“I thought about taking you somewhere in town but the likelihood of running into someone we know was way too high. And to be honest I didn’t want to share you with anyone tonight. We’re going to Matthew’s to make sure that we get some privacy.”
“That sounds nice.” I smiled at him when he looked away from the road, loving how much consideration he’d put into making our date special. Matthew’s was actually an old church turned restaurant, one town over from Little Falls. Jo had been on more than one terrible date there but always raved about the food and the atmosphere.
His eyes darted away from the road every so often and I’d catch him staring at my bare legs. Quite a bit of my thighs were exposed thanks to my dress riding up when I sat down. I crossed my legs, exposing more of my left thigh and Grayson groaned, shifting in his seat.
I turned my head to hide my smile and saw it reflected back at me from the dark window. It felt natural to tease and flirt with Grayson like this, any nerves I’d been harboring had disappeared the moment I opened the door.
The truck’s tires crunched on gravel as we pulled into the parking lot of the restaurant. The building itself still looked like a church on the outside right down to the announcement sign that held the dinner service hours. It was incredibly charming with its white wood exterior and warm lights glowing from the large windows.
“Wait for me,” he squeezed my hand that was reaching for my seatbelt buckle before jumping out and running around the front of the truck. Grayson opened my door again and gave me his hands to help me slide out of the seat.
He wrapped his arm around my waist and helped me navigate the gravel easily to the front doors like the most swoon-worthy of book boyfriends. Grayson ushered me in the door first and gave his name to the hostess before gently pulling me back against his chest, chin resting on my shoulder.
“You’re going to have to walk in front of me, sweetheart,” he whispered into my ear. “The way you were teasing me with those sexy fucking legs has me hard as a rock.” He pressed his groin into my backside, emphasizing his words.
