Page 8 of Stripped Down at the Fair

She was fully looking at me now, her head raised and her eyes wide. She believed me. That was one thing I took from her expression. She definitely believed me. I, meanwhile, was fighting an almost overwhelming urge to shove my chair back, stand, and walk around to where she sat.

“You think so?” she asked.

“I really think so.”

How was it possible she didn’t know how beautiful she was? I didn’t get it.

She smiled and looked down at her plate again. “Nobody’s ever looked at me like that.”

“Well, that’s a damn shame.”

“It is?”

I nodded. “Some man should have been giving you serious attention.”

Not that she needed a man’s attention. It was just a damn shame, as I’d said.

“The men you’ve dated must all be complete idiots. You’ve had guys fall in love with you, right?”

She set down her fork, lifted her napkin from her lap, and daintily wiped her mouth. Only when she’d returned the scrap of white paper to her lap and taken several seconds to straighten it did she lift her head and meet my stare straight on.

“I’ve never really dated,” she said. “Not anything that led to more than a second date, anyway. I had friends who fixed me up. We’d double-date or go out in groups, but it never worked out. Either I wasn’t into him or he wasn’t into me. I guess I’m too picky for my own good.”

“You should be picky.”

But my mind was spinning. She just said she hadn’t dated anyone. Not really. I had to know.

“You have experience though,” I said.

I didn’t know how else to put it without coming across as crude. But I couldn’t go without asking.

“No,” she said. “I’ve never been with a man. Some disappointing kisses is as far as I’ve gotten.”

Disappointing kisses. That was an even bigger shame than men not appreciating her. She deserved so much more.

“I can do something about that,” I said. “Tonight. If you want.”

That last part wasn’t said in the same deep, lusty tone as the first part. I wouldn’t help her with her first real kiss unless she was ready. And it would take everything in me not to go beyond kissing her once my lips touched hers…

“I don’t have protection,” she said. “I’m not on birth control or anything. I guess I should be…”

She dropped her fork with a clang and sat back, taking a deep breath. She was nervous. But more importantly, she’d gone beyond what I was even thinking. She was going straight to losing her virginity tonight, not just kissing.

No way was I going to argue with her. Whatever my girl wanted, my girl got.

I couldn’t finish my dinner fast enough.

5

CATE

Nothing in my suitcase was suitable for a first time. Not a darn thing.

I had plain white panties, plain black panties, and even pale pink panties with flowers. Not a single one would qualify as worthy of a first time with a man like Dustin.

Finally, I decided to stick with the dark gray briefs I was already wearing. I removed my shorts and bra, though. I had no idea if it was customary to leave everything on and let the guy do most of the undressing. All I knew was I’d told him I’d be right back and rushed in here.

I grabbed my toothpaste and toothbrush and looked around. No bathroom. Of course, there wasn’t. I’d have to exit the guest bedroom and go to the small bath I hoped was directly outside. I hadn’t noticed another door, though, so my hopes weren’t exactly high.

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