Page 8 of Shake Your Love
Chuckling, I nod. Everyone knows Blair and Brenden make way more sense than her and his —. It is not as scandalous as it sounds anyway. They were married on paper alone. Never even shared a bed, it turns out. Which I am sure Brenden was relieved to find out, considering how in love with Blair he had been for so long.
To be honest, I envied his relationship with her even before they got together. They were close friends, hanging out even more than we did sometimes, and they shared something special. We were shocked when his dad married her, but they were both alone, a little scared, and it gave Blair a home when she lost hers. It caused a rift between Brenden and his dad, but they’ve been working on repairing that since he and Blair got married.
Knowing he loved her the way he did, even through her sham of a marriage to his —, showed me love can happen anywhere. That true love, if you mean it, if it matters to you, can survive anything. I never believed it might happen to me of course. Thinking of Paige, I wonder if I could have something with her that is evencloseto what he has with his wife.
“I bet. Does this work? Am I trying too hard?”
Posing in some acid wash jeans, a light blue polo shirt—collars turned up—with some loafers, I wait for his opinion. Brenden chuckles, shaking his head. Standing, he comes to fix the collar, laying it flat. Grabbing a battered brown leather jacket out of the closet, he hands it to me, and I slip it on.
“There. It’s a little bit better. Laid back a bit. Not trying toohard, can we ever try too hard for a woman we want to impress?”
“Speaking of that...can I borrow your car? I cannot skateboard us all over town, man.”
Laughing again, he nods, handing me the keys. Icandrive. I do drive if my beat-up van is cooperating. There is no freaking way I am taking Paige out in that beast. With wall-to-wall black shag carpeting, glow-in-the-dark stars on the ceilings, and a small waterbed, she would think I am just trying to get laid. I am not that guy, but my shitty van tells a different story.
“Don’t want to take a new girl out in the shag van, eh?”
“Shut up. I don’t want to take anyone out in that thing, dude.”
“Dude, I love the van. It’s wicked cool. For tonight it might be best not to show the girl the doublewide waterbed, though.”
Tossing me his keys, he tells me good luck and heads out. I take off the leather jacket three times before leaving it on. Brendenisa married man, after all, he knows a little more than I do about impressing the ladies. Noting the time on the lock, I rush from the room, anxious to see Paige again.
Almost skidding to a halt outside of her place, I curse myself. No flowers, no wine, nothing. How am I screwing up a date before it even starts? Kicking myself, I start to turn back, to go find some flowers or perhaps another stray kitten to give her. Before I can, I hear her soft, sweet laugh.
“Bailing on me before the date starts?”
Flushing hot, I shake my head with another curse, turning back. I almost swallow my tongue once I see her. Because there is no wayanymanin his right mind would bail on her looking as good as she does. My jeans get too tight as I take in the vision of her waiting for me.
Paige wears a short, white linen skirt with peekaboo floral patterns that show off her creamy skin. The top is cut high beneath her breasts, flashing her soft stomach. Paired with thighhigh white stockings and bright red shoes, she looks like every man’s wet dream. I take a few steps forward, wanting to scoop her up, shove her inside, and tear the cute outfit off her.
Tear it off with my teeth, to be more specific.
“No. No. No way I am bailing, babe,” I tell her at last.
Beaming up at me, she nods her head. “Good. I did not do all this work for nothing.”
Unable to help myself, I reach out, sliding my hand around the back of her neck. Her face is beautiful, her cute tiny nose, her full pink lips, and those stunning green eyes. There is evidence she put work in with her made-up eyes and her glossy lips, but I ignore it all. Bending my head, I lick her mouth and she moans, opening to let my push my tongue inside to taste her.
“Paige,” I growl before I deepen the kiss, sliding my arm around her to pull her flush against me.
Her tongue takes over, stroking mine, her teeth nipping at my bottom lip. Kissing her is like touching magic. Having it wind its way around me, setting my senses on fire is faster than a shot of whiskey or a hit of weed. I cannot get enough of her mouth, how sweet she tastes, how good she feels pressed against me, giving me these soft, little sounds that make me ache.
“Behave now, Pierce. We have a date tonight. Wouldn’t want me thinking you don’t want to take me out on the town, would you?”
Grinning at her, I trace my fingertips over her mouth. “No, babe. I most definitely want to take you out tonight.”
Taking her hand, I lead her from our hallway towards the parking lot. It takes me a minute to find Brenden’s car. Unlocking the battered truck, I help her in, kissing her gently before I close the door. Rounding the back of the truck, I do a little dance, my spirits soaring.
“Don’t you drive a van?”
Surprised by her question as I slide behind the wheel, Ihang my head. I could lie, claim this is mine and not Brenden's. I decide not to start out with lies. With the car idling, I turn towards her, taking a deep breath.
“I do. It is...it is not fit for a date night with you, Paige.”
Paige tilts her head, reaching out to touch my face. “Oh, honey. I do not care what you drive. Could have taken me out on a skateboard,” she teases, making my chest ache because, damn, I almost had to.
“I want to have a good night, Paige. I want it to be ourfirstdate, not our only date. I just want tonight to be perfect...”
