Page 60 of Hunt for the Roses
“Yeah?”
“Will you hold my hand?” I ask as I look at him.
“Of course.” Then he takes my hand in his and we interlock fingers. I don’t like to admit it, but I’m slightly let down when I don’t feel electricity as we touch. It’s just comfort that I feel. Friendly comfort.
I keep my eyes forward as I think about how I felt when I first started dating Kyle, and how I was like a moth drawn to a flame with him. When Kyle first held my hand, I felt butterflies. When he first kissed me, I felt a surge of warmth in my lower belly. Kyle ignited so many desires and feelings within me, and a smile slowly stretches across my face as I’m reminded of him.
“If I knew holding your hand would make you this happy, I would have held it sooner.” Blake’s voice slices through my thoughts. I feel guilty that Blake thinks he’s the reason a smile is on my face, when in reality, it’s the memories of my past love that have me smiling ear to ear.
I decide to play along as much as I can without being dishonest. “Well, there’s more you’ll get to know about me,” I say.
“I look forward to it,” he says.
I smile back at Blake as we make our way to the doughnut shop, and when we get there, I buy a half dozen assortment as usual before we head back to my house.
When Blake pulls his car up to the curb, I turn to him in my passenger seat. “Thank you for a great night.”
“My pleasure. I’ll text or call you?”
I’m thankful Blake’s not specifically asking for another date because I’m honestly not sure what I want to do yet or how I would respond to him. “Sounds good. I’ll talk to you later,” I say as I hug him goodbye, and then exit his car.
I smile and wave Blake off, then turn around to walk to my porch. When I look up, I see that the lights are on in Dane’s house, and I get an idea. I decide to walk up the pathway to his front porch and knock on the door with my box of doughnuts in hand. I’m waiting a few moments before the door opens, and I’m hoping my peace offering buries the hatchet between us once and for all. Dane was mature enough to come to seek me out to smooth things over, so why couldn’t I do the same?
But when Dane finally greets me on the other side of the door, words are lost on me. His dark wavy hair is a bit messy on the top, and he’s shirtless while wearing black jogger sweatpants that hang just below the waistband of his boxer briefs. Now, I’ve always known Dane was a good-looking guy and that he was fit, but I don’t think I’ve ever reallylookedat him. I find myself momentarily admiring his bronzed skin that’s stretched taut with hard, lean muscle. He has sculpted pecs, and a rippled six-pack that dips into an appetizing “V” at his pelvic area. My eyes trace up his black and gray phoenix tattoo that runs the entire length of the side of his torso and wraps around the back of his shoulder to drip down his pec. I start to feel hot sparks flicker across my skin as I look over Dane’s body, and I swallow a nervous lump in my throat to keep down an involuntary gasp.
“Ari?” Dane’s voice breaks me from my thoughts.
“Oh, sorry. I brought doughnuts.” My response is a statement but comes out more like a question.
Dane just narrows his eyes at me, a little bit confused at my awkwardness, and then my eyes go wide at the idea that I may have just interrupted something. I feel red immediately paint onto my cheeks and I plant my free hand on my forehead. “Oh, my god, I’m so stupid. I didn’t know you had company.”
I go to turn around, but I feel Dane grab my upper arm. “Ari, stop. I’m alone.”
I blush as I respond. “I’m sorry, I just assumed,” I explain as I gesture my hand up and down his body to reference his half nakedness.
Dane just smiles as he pushes the door all the way open, and steps aside for me to go in his house first. I enter the house as Dane follows me in, and I turn around to face him in the foyer. When Dane looks up from closing the front door, I hold up the box in my hand. “Doughnut?”
Dane just stands with his hands on his hips and furrows his brows. “Why are you dressed up?”
I sigh as I turn and walk toward his kitchen to place the box of doughnuts on the island. “I had another date with Blake. If you couldn’t already guess, it went amazing.” I turn to face him as he’s walking into the kitchen. “That’s obviously why I’m here,” I add, sarcasm evident in my voice.
Dane stands at the opposite end of the kitchen island, and plants his palms down to lean over a little. “So what happened?” he asks, and it actually sounds like he’s genuinely interested to hear about my date.
“Chemistry just isn’t there.”
“Sorry to hear that.”
I wave a hand as if to brush off the pity. “It’s not a big deal,” I say as I open the box of doughnuts and retrieve a chocolate frosted with sprinkles. “Nothing a doughnut can’t make up for. Cheers.” I raise my doughnut toward Dane, then take a bite of it.
Dane smiles and leans further over the island to peek into the box. “Am I going to get my hand cut off if I try to take one of the chocolate frosted with sprinkles?”
“I’ll let it slide for tonight,” I say mid-chew.
Dane chuckles as he retrieves a doughnut and walks around the island so he’s standing next to me. He leans his lower back against the counter and takes a generous bite of his doughnut. “So was Blake that awful of a kisser?” Dane asks while chewing.
I swallow my bite and respond. “Actually, he was a complete gentleman. He didn’t try to make a move.” Dane takes another bite of his doughnut and just stares at me like he’s pondering his next words. “What?” I ask.
Dane swallows his bite. “I just thought he would have at least tried to kiss you.” He shrugs before he continues. “If you ask me, he’s a fool.” Then he pops the last bite of his doughnut in his mouth and makes his way to the cabinets to get a drinking glass, as if what he said is the most casual statement ever.
