Page 37 of Declan
He was dressed in a long-sleeved maroon dress shirt, paired with dark blue jeans and rugged, distressed cowboy boots that added a casual yet polished touch to his outfit.
“Thank you.”
“Where’s your coat?” she inquired, noting his lack of outerwear.
“In the truck,” he replied. “I rarely wear one unless I’m out for a long period of time. It’s too confining.”
“You mentioned it was cold,” she pointed out, arching an eyebrow.
“It is,” he admitted, grinning. “Were you planning to leave me on the stoop?”
Elise laughed, closing the distance between them. She wrapped her arms around his waist and gazed up into his eyes. “No, I like you too much to let you freeze.”
“I’m glad to hear that. Are you ready to go?”
“Yes, just let me put the rose in some water.” She walked to the sink, filled a small vase, placed the rose in it, then set it on the table.
When she walked to the hatrack and lifted her coat from it, Declan took it, and held it for her, making her mentally shake her head. Then she picked up her purse and turned to face him.
“I’d love to kiss that lipstick off you,” he murmured as hestepped closer.
“You can… later.” She chuckled when he grinned.
“Let’s go before I decide to stay here and say the hell with dinner.”
“Okay.”
He opened the door for her, nodding for her to step out, then he took her keys, locked the door, and handed them back. He took her hand in his and led her down the stairs.
“You better get some salt for these stairs soon. We’re expecting snow tomorrow.”
“I’m sorry, what?”
Declan chuckled. “It’s October. What do you expect?”
“I heard it snowed last June. Is that true?”
“Yes. We’re in the mountains, so it has happened.”
“Unreal.”
“Sometimes, you can see snow on the mountains, but it doesn’t reach town.”
“They’re beautiful snowcapped.”
“Yes, they are.”
At the bottom of the stairs, he led her around to the passenger side of his truck, opened the door, helped her inside, then closed the door and walked around to the driver’s side.
Elise watched him through the windshield. What wonderful manners he had. When he opened the door, she got a whiff of his aftershave.
“You smell so good,” she said.
He grinned. “Thanks, so do you.”
“I’ve been thinking all day about what to get tonight.”
“I know what I’m getting.”
