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“That means more than you’ll know,” I replied and stared at his lips.He was right, there was something between us.I wouldn’t deny that, but this was not something I was ready to share.The moment was heady enough.I couldn’t look away.All I wanted were his lips on mine.
As though he knew, he leaned down ever so slowly and continued searching my eyes.I met him halfway, went on my tip-toes, and closed my eyes.The warm and soft touch of his lips made me feel comforted and safe.It also made me ache for more, so I parted my lips, giving his tongue access to slip inside.We were in sync, our tongues sliding across one another, exploring.He tangled his hands in my hair, the gesture making my heart pound.With our bodies pushed up against one another and the wild images of what this could lead to flashing in my mind, I was on the brink of telling him to forget salsa dancing and take me to my bedroom.When we parted, we were both out of breath but couldn’t help smiling.I knew we hit the point of no return.I wanted him more now than before and I was sure he felt the same way.
His voice was deep when he commented, “We should probably get going.”
I bit my lip knowing there was no way I was getting through this evening without wanting to kiss him again.But if we didn’t leave soon, we never would.
After I finished locking up, we walked hand-in-hand outside, and that was when I noticed the silver Chevy Corvette and gasped.“Get out!This car is awesome.I love ’vettes.”
He laughed.“You like it?”
My mouth was still agape.“Like it?This is a hot car.”He was just staring at me, smiling.“Wait, I thought you had a Cadillac.How many cars do you own?”
He laughed.“The Cadillac is Wyatt’s,” he explained, “my brother.When one of us is deployed, we take care of each other’s cars.Take them out for rides, keep the oil clean, stuff like that.Maintenance.So when we get back they still ride like a dream.”
Now I understood.“That makes sense.Brandon gave me his car, but not for the same reason.Mostly because I needed transportation and we shared it when I was in high school, so once he went away it seemed like the most practical thing instead of being saddled with another car payment.”Okay, I just killed the mood.“Sorry, didn’t mean to ramble like that.”
“Don’t apologize,” Colt whispered.“You can talk to me about whatever whenever.It’s fine.”
I tucked a loose strand of hair behind my ear and waited for him as he unlocked the doors and opened the passenger side.“After you,” he said and gestured for me to get in.
“Don’t mind if I do,” I joked.
I’d never actually been inside this exact sports car before, but some of the popular kids at school had one, or another sports car, and I fawned over them.Cars were always interesting to me.I used to know the make and models as well as most of the guys.“My dad loved restoring cars.In his spare time, of course.It was just a hobby,” I commented.
“No kidding.”
“Yeah, he used to sit in the garage for hours after work, and on the weekends if you couldn’t find him in the house, you knew that was where he was.My mom used to get so upset.She couldn’t understand why he’d want to sit out there and play with cars.He said it was like a puzzle that he never tired of.”Reminiscing, I added, “I sat in there and just watched him work.He never let me get my hands dirty and help, said there were too many things that could go wrong.So I just watched.”
“You’ll get along great with Damon, then.He’d love to have someone to talk about cars with.I know the basics, but Damon, he’s on a whole other level.”
I sat up, pulling on the seatbelt.“Tell me about your brothers.I know Damon, but then there’s Wyatt, right, tell me about him.”
He grinned and I could tell he liked the topic of his family.“Wyatt’s the second oldest.He’s a tough nut to crack, but once you get to know him, he’s a real teddy bear.Though, you didn’t hear that from me.”
“And you said he’s the second oldest, so Damon is the oldest?”
He chuckled.“No, he wishes.He’s only a few years older than me.In a line up, it goes Deacon, Wyatt, Damon, me.”
“Deacon?”
He turned into the studio.“Deacon’s everything you’d think the eldest would be.He’s serious, well-mannered, mature.A real planner, never likes surprises.He has a steel-plated armor vest that protects his heart.Coming home, going back to civilian life was the hardest for him.He’s better now, but for a second there, we weren’t sure the old Deke was in there.He grew melancholy and that wasn’t usual.”
I cleared my throat, unsure what to say, but knowing that crickets weren’t going to help.“Did all of you go into the Army?”
“Yes, it was what our father wanted.He’s a vet and he expected us to all follow in his footsteps.We all fell in line, of course.For some of us it was out of duty, but for others it was because we wanted to better the world and believed that fighting for our country was the only way to do that.”
“Which one were you?”I asked, knowing this would be pivotal to really knowing this man beside me.
Sitting in the parking lot, he looked around and waited for a moment as he responded, as if making sure he could speak his truth.Suddenly, I knew before he even answered and my heart broke for this good man, this loyal man.“Duty,” he finally said before opening his door and walking around to open mine.
I nodded my understanding, grabbed his hand and squeezed.Changing the subject, I asked, “Do you have moves or two left feet?You know, we never actually talked about that.”
The smile returned to his face.“Honestly, I have no idea.The last time I danced was at prom and it was really just holding each other up, swaying.”
“That’s cute.”
“I don’t need to ask you, because I already know you’re going to be amazing.”He opened the studio door and continued, “I saw all of those pictures on your wall of you and your friends.You were a cheerleader.”
