Page 20 of Before the Storm
If she wanted it.
But her only experience with what that looked like was a few couples she met along the way and Anne Marie and Jason.
They were an adorable couple. They held hands. Gazed into each other’s eyes. Jason would kiss Anne Marie’s temple. He would hold doors open for her and he treated her with respect.
Anne Marie did the same for him.
And Janelle never saw them yell at one another. She did see them argue, but she couldn’t describe it as a fight. More like adisagreement that ended with them hugging. It was strange at times for Janelle to watch because she didn’t understand. Anne Marie wasn’t obedient. Or submissive. She was her own woman with her own thoughts and Jason valued them.
“Well, it’s too late to do anything about it now,” Phoenix said. “I’ll drive you home. In the morning, I’ll have it towed to a friend of mine who can replace the tire at a fair price. If you’re that low on funds, I can advance you some money against your paycheck.”
“Thank you for not offering to pay for it.”
“I wouldn’t dream of it.” He laughed. “When my dad first started dating my mom, he made the mistake of offering to do something similar. My mother told him to take a leap off a bridge and almost didn’t go out with him again.”
“I really like your mother. She makes me laugh.”
“Just don’t get her going on stories about me and my brothers when we were little.”
“Oh, now I’m going to have to ask.” She found herself taking Phoenix’s hand as he helped her into his massive truck. It was higher than normal and she needed to use the step to get in. But the really weird part was the electric shock that crawled across her skin from his touch. It ignited a flame in her belly. All her muscles tingled. She remembered Anne Marie telling her about the first time Jason kissed her and how magical it had been.
He likes you.
What exactly did that mean? And why did she want it to be like all the romantic movies she’d watched on television?
It was as if she’d stepped out of her body and was watching someone else experience all these new sensations.
“Please don’t,” he said. “She likes to start off with the most embarrassing ones.”
The truck roared to life. He pulled out onto the main road. The streets were dark and windy as they made their way toward home.
“I don’t know what you were planning on doing on your day off, but if you need a car, you can borrow my truck. I have a second car I can drive.”
“I’ve never driven anything this big. I don’t think I could handle it.”
“I’m sure you’ll be fine, but if you know how to drive a stick, you can take the other one.”
“I saw that fancy thing in your garage. No, thank you.”
He laughed. “I just bought it. Picked it up three weeks ago. I’ve only had it out a couple of times.”
“All the more reason I shouldn’t be behind the wheel. Besides, I don’t know how to drive a stick shift.”
“You should learn,” he said. “It’s fun. I’m working in the morning but will be done after lunch. I can take you for a drive in it. I bet you haven’t been able to see much of the town.”
She stared out the window into the darkness. She wanted to go so desperately. She felt safe in his presence. Enjoyed his company more than anyone she’d met in a long while, but she was so confused by the way every fiber of her being responded to his voice. And now his touch.
She found herself wanting to know what it might be like to feel his lips pressed against hers, if only for a few seconds.
The world she’d come from had made her a wife at seventeen. Pregnant at eighteen. She’d miscarried numerous times and had a stillbirth, making her a failure at the one thing she had been put on this earth to achieve. Technically, she was an experienced woman, and yet she had no experience at all.
“I’d like that,” she said.
“Good.” He rolled to a stop in front of the detached garage next to his home. “Before you go up to bed, I do want to mention something to you.”
“What’s that?” She turned, holding his gaze, which sucked the air right out of her lungs.
“I’m sure you noticed that Veronica had to leave early today.”
