Page 60 of Finding Home
She stops and continues to wash me. “When we get home, I’m working on those. You’ve got those knots all across your shoulders and down your back.”
Just the thought of having someone—not just someone, Chloe—work those knots has me slightly relaxing.
When she finishes washing me, she places a soft kiss on my shoulder. I turn off the shower and grab a towel and wrap it around her, placing a kiss on her forehead before wrapping one around my waist and heading upstairs to change. Before I make it to the bottom of the stairs, Chloe calls my name, and I stop and face her.
“What am I supposed to wear?”
I shrug. “Whatever you want.”
“That’s not really helpful. Where are we going? Should I be wearing something super casual or dressing up?”
“You can wear literally whatever you want, Chloe.”
She gives me pouty eyes, but I just walk backwards with a smirk before taking the stairs two at a time. I quickly throw on a pair of dark jeans and a navy button-down shirt and head back downstairs. Iwait on the couch until Chloe comes out and takes my fucking breathe away.
She’s wearing the same black dress she wore that night out with her friends, but the picture she sent did not do her justice. I drag my hand down my face as I take in every inch of her. The dress hugs her every curve and, paired with her heels, makes her legs look a mile long. Her hair is in a half-up, half-down look that makes her eyes pop. The eye shadow she’s wearing makes the blue sparkle.
“Fuck,” I groan, and her lips tip up in a grin.
“You like?” she asks, and I shake my head.
“I don’t just fuckinglike. I’m kicking myself for not driving out to you when you wore that last weekend and dragging you back here. I’m not sure how I’m going to be able to go out and not embarrass myself with a constant hard-on or stop myself from punching any man that looks at you. You’re stunning and fucking sin wrapped in a dress.”
She strides towards me, taking her time before stopping in front of me and pushing on my shoulder until I lean back against the couch. She bends to meet my eyes while giving me a good look down her dress.
“You think you can keep it together if I promise to wear something even better for you when we get back?”
My hands find her hips, and I pull her closer. She stumbles slightly, her knee finding purchase between my legs as I whisper over her lips, “Such a tease.”
She nips at my bottom lip. “It’s not a tease if I follow through.” She steps back and runs her hands down her dress. “I’m ready when you are.”
THIRTY-THREE
CHLOE
The strength it takes me to not let out an excited little squeal when Everett’s hand finds my thigh as he drives us out of town is immeasurable. His thumb strokes over my bare leg, and goosebumps erupt across my skin. Soft music plays from the radio as he drives us in the direction of West Bridgejaw. I stare out the window, taking in the familiar view as we leave town and start on the highway that looks like it’s in the middle of nowhere.
It’s only a twenty minute drive, and the minute you enter West Bridgejaw, you can see and feel the difference to Willow Valley. The highway goes right through the middle of town, and there’s so many more businesses here. There’s a couple big box stores, but a lot of them are small mom-and-pop shops, many that have been around for generations. Businesses sprawl on each side of the highway, with the residential areas further back.
Everett takes us a few blocks south of the highway, pulling up outside a restaurant I’ve never heard of. The outside looks like it’s probably a popular date spot. Tinted windows make it hard to see inside, but the flickering of candles spread throughout are visible.
When Everett pulls open my door and offers me his hand, I take it, following him inside. Soft instrumental music plays as people enjoy conversation. We stop in front of the hostess stand, and he gives her his name. I raise a brow, but he doesn’t look at me as she gathers menus and asks us to follow her. Everett’s hand finds thesmall of my back as she leads the way to a table in the far corner. I thank her as she leaves the menus on the table, and Everett pulls out my chair before taking his across from me.
“You made a reservation,” I say.
He grabs his menu and starts browsing it. “I did.”
I try to fight my grin but can’t. When he asked me out, he didn’t half-ass it. He took the time to find a nice restaurant and make sure we could get a table even though it was a last-minute decision. I stare at him for a minute, taking him in. His navy-blue button-down brings out his eyes and fits him perfectly while his black jeans had me wanting to walk behind him earlier so I could ogle his ass.
I look over the menu, making my decision before closing it and setting it to the side. When Everett does the same, I reach for his hand, running my nail up the top of his finger and across his hand. He watches me and doesn’t say anything. I’m not sure what to say at this point. I have questions for him. I want to know more about his past, his hopes and dreams, but I also don’t want to push him away by asking too many questions. I know how private he is, and I’m worried that not letting him tell me things in his own time will push him away.
“North,” he says, and my eyes flick from where I’m tracing his skin to his eyes. I don’t understand the nickname, but it makes my heart skip and race. “You can ask the questions.” The way he can read my mind like that has some of my earlier worries fading.
Before I can ask him anything, our server comes and takes our order. As soon as they leave, Everett’s attention is back on me. He takes my hand, his thumb now moving in slow strokes over the back of my hand.
“I feel like I know so little about you,” I say.
He nods and takes a deep breath. “I told you the night we met that I never really had one place to call home growing up, my parents were always moving us around.”
