Page 13 of Serendipity

I lean closer to her, my elbow resting on the console between us. “Do you know how long I’ve been waiting to ask you out?”

“Tell me,” she says, leaning in just a breath away.

I could kiss her.

All night.

Not stopping until we’re both completely satisfied, then starting up again.

“The moment I saw you at the grocery store, I felt this—”

“Connection,” she finishes for me.

“Yes,” I whisper. “Leah, I’m trying to be a good man right now. A man who doesn’t take advantage of a woman because she’s had enough wine to knock an Italian mob boss on his ass.”

Laughter bubbles out of her. “Well, I am Italian so I suppose that’s appropriate.”

“I promise you, Leah, tomorrow night, just the two of us, I won’t be so inclined to behave like a gentleman.”

She bites her lip. I want to bite it as well.

“That’s a pretty good promise, Stone.”

“Thinking dinner needs to be at my place.”

“Thinking you’re right.”

“I’m going to walk you to the door because tonight I am a gentleman, and tomorrow night I’m going to pick you up and cook you dinner.”

“What else?” she asks, coyly, placing her hand on my cheek and somehow managing to lean even closer to me. Like a little minx. I like this side of her. The confident and happy woman who knows what she wants.

“Temptress,” I mumble.

She tosses me an exaggerated wink that makes me laugh. She’s a goof. It’s one of her best traits. Good listener. Excellent mom. Kind. Sweet. But definitely a goof.

“Let’s get you inside, shall we? In your own bed.”

She groans. “Boy, I wish I could travel back in time.”

We get out of my truck and start walking to the door. Before she goes inside, I place one hand on her cheek, the other around her waist. “Not me. That was highly entertaining.” I lower my voice and stare into her beautiful deep brown eyes. “And I plan to make good on it soon.”

She stumbles toward me at my words and I kiss her on the forehead before making sure she gets inside safely.

I went from cowardly lion to the bravest soldier on the field and all it took was her saying yes to a date. Now that she has, all bets are off. No more subtlety or friend-zone — she’s about to get the real Stone Montgomery and I hope she’s ready.

ChapterFour

LEA

Leah

“She’s freaking out.”I hear Boone stage whisper.

“She is,” Brock agrees.

They’re both standing in my bedroom, arms crossed over their chests as they watch me rip through my closet like a crazy person. It’s worth repeating that I haven’t been on a date, let alone afirstdate in so long that I forgot what to even expect and how to act. So, yeah, they’re not wrong. I’m freaking out. Last night I had enough liquid courage in me that I was acting out of character, but also still myself. The little flirtations and accepting of our date was completely me, but the confidence is something I don’t feel at the moment. The wine loosened me up enough last night but today I’m in full blown panic mode.

It’s not that I’m afraid to spend time alone with Stone. We’ve done that countless times. It’s the fear of what comes after dinner when we’re alone.

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