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I rolled my pelvis against him, my body pleading even as my brain attempted to take back the reins.
Would it be so bad to let him in?
We were adults. Consenting adults. One of us at least was an uber-consenting adult.
“One more minute,” he muttered, rocking against me. “One more minute and then I’m leaving you here. This was not what I had in mind when I said finesse.”
Disappointment mixed with relief. But if there was still an ounce of relief, it was time to stop.
After another sweet, mind-fucking kiss, he pulled back and dragged his palm down the center of my chest, separating our bodies inch by inch.
“Minty,” he murmured, his face tipped down to look at me. He wrapped both hands around my ribcage, settling me firmly on my feet. “Can I see you Sunday?” He dragged his knuckles down the side of my face. “I’d ask to see you tomorrow but I’m not free.”
I studied his light grey eyes. They looked like molten silver in the dark. It was wrong to want to know what he was doing tomorrow. I’d never been the suspicious type. Never been the jealous type. For some reason, I suffered from twinges of both. “You’re busy tomorrow?”
“With the guys,” he said. “I’ll be with Barrett and Lenny. Just rehearsing with the new bass player. No women. Gigs are sporadic until July and then it’s every Saturday.”
I huffed out a laugh, embarrassed to realize I’d been assessing him for truth as he spoke. It would have been better if Willa and Junie hadn’t informed me of his dating or non-dating habits. But then, what kind of girlfriends would they be if they didn’t?
His lips tipped up in a half-smile. “That information did a number on you.” With a sigh, he dipped his knees and stared into my eyes. “I promise I will not lie to you or go behind your back. I wouldn’t do that to anybody, but especially not to you. And not just because Barrett would kick my ass.”
Placing both palms on his chest, I eased him back. “I’m sorry. I believe you. I would like to see you Sunday. I have an exhibit at the craft fair until four, but I can see you after that.”
Serious Lucky transformed into boy-next-door Lucky with a single flash of his dimples. “Come to my place. Five o’clock. Will that work?”
When I nodded, he kissed the tip of my nose and headed to his car. He turned and looked back for a moment before opening the door and sliding behind the wheel.
I slipped inside and leaned against my door from the inside, thinking about our date.
After the coffee shop, we’d driven down to the Bay and walked along the pier. When the waning sunlight was no longer a match for the breeze coming off the water, he took me for dinner.
I’d never talked and laughed with a man the way I’d talked and laughed with Lucky.
Eating at a new place proved to be difficult as usual, and it did not go unnoticed. When Lucky pulled out the dessert menu, he discovered my passion for chocolate. I admitted that while I struggled with eating, I somehow never had an issue when it came to dessert. In fact, when my OCD flared up, I often lived on nibbles of cookies and chocolate.
Especially chocolate.
When our server came to our table, he ordered me the most decadent chocolate dessert on the menu.
“What about you? Are you not having dessert?” I asked.
“Considering I ate my entire meal and half of yours, I think I’m good. To be honest, I’m not much for sweets, but I fully plan to taste the remnants off your tongue before I say goodnight,” he grinned lasciviously, making me laugh yet again.
The fact that he had not lied, made it all the better.
Hands down, the best date I’d ever had.
Chapter Twelve – Baptism by Fire
Lucky
Hope was late. She’d gone shopping for the morning with her girlfriends, dropping Brayleigh off on her way.
After taking Brayleigh to the park and out for lunch, I put her down for a late nap while I tidied up in preparation for Minty coming over.
I planned to take Minty out on my bike. Earlier I texted her to think about it, asked her to wear jeans and flat boots or shoes if she was feeling adventurous.
Everything was going according to plan until Hope called to tell me she was running late. Normally, it wouldn’t bother me in the least, and guilt that it bothered me now weighed heavily. Not once in the past two years had I ever not wanted to be with my daughter. We spent enough time apart that I treasured any extra time I got.
