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Did she… did she want this to be a date?
She gulped water, and I did the same to cover the awkward silence between us as the last song wrapped up and the DJ rattled off the congratulations to the newlywed couple.
“Do you need to say goodbye to everyone?” I asked.
“No. I don’t think I can take more well-wishes about us. Uncle Luke kept asking if we were having a fall or spring wedding.” She rose and smoothed her dress. “He even said it’s not too late for a summer wedding. It’s June.”
I was listening to her, but I also registered that she was close. I could lean forward and my head would be on her abdomen. Which would be totally inappropriate. She was done with tonight. She’d made that clear.
I walked her out. The air was fresh and cooler than when the sun was up. I opened the pickup door for her and earned a small smile. When I climbed in, her eyes were closed and she was resting her head on the headrest.
Had I fucked up? Would it have been worse of a mess if I had come on to her and she’d shut me down? But if she hadn’t, then what? I was moving in a couple of weeks. I couldn’t learn she was the woman of my dreams and then leave. Her job was here. Her family. Her life.
“Tired?” I asked. The drive wouldn’t take long.
“Mm?” She inhaled. “Yes? Not really. More… I don’t know. Isn’t it like the wedding thing? You go, see how happy the couple is, and then…”
“Go home to your empty house, wonder why you don’t even have a dog, and then get into bed and tell yourself that maybe it’s for the best since you like to sleep naked anyway?”
She giggled. “I don’t sleep naked, but I just learned something about you.”
“I don’t either, but I can if I want to.”
She rolled her head to the side. “Thanks for going with me. It was the most enjoyable reception I’ve been to.”
“It was definitely better than my buddy’s with all his exes.”
She laughed again, and I grinned. A guy could get used to that sound.
A guy could try to get that sound out of her for forever.
I parked on the street. The neighborhood was quiet, but I got out when she did. “I’ll walk you to the door since it’s so late.”
“Okay, thanks.” She’d taken her shoes off and was trudging up the concrete path barefoot. She faced me when she reached the door. “Thanks for tonight. I mean it. It was nice to get to know you a little better, Kiernan.”
I towered over her, but all I’d have to do was dip my head and I could capture her pink lips. The shiny gloss was gone, and that dress would be too easy to get past.
Her eyes were luminous. Was I imagining the disappointment? She’d made it clear tonight wasn’t an ordinary date. I would be a gentleman and leave it at that. “Good night, Emma.”
That got me a hint of a smile and a small sigh.
I pivoted on my heel and marched toward my pickup. I didn’t want to leave her. But tonight wasn’t about us, not like that. Then why did it feel wrong to leave? Why did it feel wrong to walk away when words were crowding on my tongue?
Words likeI finally let myself see how sexy you are, Emma.
You felt so good to hold in my arms, I can’t stop imagining how you’d feel naked against me.
Would you ever take a chance on a cowboy who’s gotta go run the family ranch?
I reached my pickup and dug in my pocket for the keys. Addy’s words ran through my mind.Sometimes the girls with the biggest hearts get overlooked.
Fuck. I spun and strode up the path. The door had just clicked shut, but I knocked firmly.
Emma opened immediately, her eyes wide. “Something wrong?”
“Yeah. I forgot to tell you something.” I did what I’d been dying to do all night. I claimed her mouth. Wrapping an arm around her waist, I cinched her to me and delved my tongue inside.
She opened for me, and I groaned.
