Page 18 of Daring to Love You
Once again, seconds ticked by without her responding. He wasn’t sure if she just didn’t want to tell him, or if she didn’t know what she wanted.
“Dorian, you can talk to me. Though I want more with you, I do consider us friends. You can trust me. Besides, you can use me as practice in case your mother asks you what you want in a man.”
She snorted and peered out the window. “She won’t. She thinks she already knows.”
“Well, tell me anyway because I’m curious.”
“I want a nice guy who I have a lot in common with. Someone who has a good job, who is kind and trustworthy, a person who cares about what I want and need. He also needs to be fun and a little adventurous, but not reckless like Glen was tonight. I kept asking him to slow down because the way he was driving scared me,” she admitted.
Lynix reached over and squeezed her hand. “You should’ve told him to pull over so you could get out. You guys were lucky. With the way he was driving, and at that speed, things could’ve gone sideways real quick. Instead of me pulling him over for moving violations, I could’ve been responding to a fatal accident.”
He wasn’t trying to scare her, but some of the horrifying shit he saw while patrolling the streets of Chicago was insane. It was like people didn’t value life whether it was those who thought it okay to rob someone at gunpoint, or those who didn’t think anything of beating up their spouse or worse. There were definitely things about the job he wouldn’t miss.
“Anything else?” he asked, steering the conversation back to where they’d left off.
“I just… I’m just not meeting the type of guys who are right for me.”
“Probably because the right man for you is sitting next to you,” Lynix said, unable to hold the words in. So much for not pleading his case, but he couldn’t help but give it another shot. “I’m the one for you, Dorian. I get why you’re fighting yourattraction to me, but I’m not the guy I used to be. I’m ready to settle down with one woman, and I think that woman can be you.
“As for your brother, if you and I ever date, we’ll deal with him. I just need you to give me a chance to show you what I already know.”
“What do you already know?”
“That we’d be perfect together.”
She didn’t respond, which was all right. Lynix didn’t want to hear her reasons again for keeping her distance, and he wouldn’t push. At least not right now. She’d eventually come around, and when she did, he’d be ready.
He neared the B&B and slowed. “Are you going inside?”
“No. If you could drop me near my truck, that would be great. I’m parked up there in front of that red car,” she said, pointing at a spot half the block up.
Lynix wasn’t ready to let her go, but he needed to finish his shift. He also didn’t want to overwhelm her. When she finally came to him, and she would, he wanted it to be because she wanted to. Not because he pressured her into giving him a chance.
He stopped on the side of the car parked behind her. “Sit tight, and I’ll get the door for you.” When he opened the door, he extended his hand, and she placed hers in his grasp. Tugging lightly, he helped her out of the vehicle.
If she noticed, she didn’t say anything when he didn’t release her hand as they moved toward her jeep. The thing needed to be hauled off to a junk yard. From what he’d heard, it was almost twenty years old and barely ran. She needed something new and dependable. Yet, he kept the thought to himself since they’d already had that conversation.
Dorian unlocked the SUV with her key fob, and Lynix stopped her before she opened the door. He backed her againstthe vehicle and blocked her in with his hands resting on the roof on each side of her. They stood that way, with her staring at his chest, until she sighed loudly and finally looked at him.
“Thanks for the ride and the conversation.”
“You’re welcome. Any chance I can convince you to text me and let me know you got home safely? Or do I need to follow you home?” He still might do the latter, but he should get back to patrolling.
“I’ll text you, and…” She swallowed. “I’m sorry I turned down your dinner invite.”
When she didn’t say anything more, he brushed the back of his fingers down her soft cheek, then placed a lingering kiss on her forehead. Though what he really wanted to do was taste her sweet lips again, he refrained. The next move had to be hers.
He eased away from her before he followed through on what he really wanted—another one of her body-stirring kisses—and headed to his cruiser.
“Have a good night, Dorian, and don’t forget to text me.”
Chapter Nine
Dorian loved when she and her sisters got together, and now that Raven had married into the family, Dorian had four sisters. The way her sister-in-law fit in with the Priestlys, it was as if Raven had been a part of the family forever.
They all had just left the spa, and Dorian felt well pampered after receiving everything from a full-body massage to a French pedicure. It was amazing how taking a few hours out of the day to sit back and relax could make you feel as if you were riding on a fluffy cloud. Their monthly spa days were not only a treat for her body, but also her soul. It wasn’t a cheap expense, but with Cree being part owner of the luxury spa, they were treated to a couple of services. Otherwise, Dorian knew she wouldn’t be able to afford the lavish experience.
Now they were getting ready to have brunch at her sister, Essence’s, favorite restaurants located inside a downtown hotel. Dorian hadn’t been there before, but she had heard the food was scrumptious, and as a foodie, she loved trying new dishes.
