Page 61 of Hunt for the Roses
I take another bite and am looking at him as he goes to the fridge water dispenser. “Well, maybe you should give him dating pointers from your handbook, Mr. Rico Suave.”
Dane’s eyes are focused on pouring his water as he speaks. “You don’t need a handbook to know to take the opportunity to kiss a gorgeous woman.” Once the glass is filled with water, he takes the glass away to take a sip.
As I’m looking over at Dane, my eyes start to take notice of the contours of his bicep and tricep muscles, and I start to think about how it would feel to be in his arms. For a fleeting moment, I’m envious of the girls I’ve seen Dane take home, knowing they’ve been held in those arms before. Arms that are strong, protective, and all masculine. I notice the way his large, rough hand dwarfs the glass he’s holding, and I start to feel myself flush thinking of him touching me, caressing intimate parts of my body. Then, my eyes slowly trail down to his carved stomach, and I begin to wonder how it would feel to touch him there. How it would feel to graze my fingers over the ridges of his abdomen I know he works hard for. Dane’s been such an amazing friend to me these last two months, and we’ve grown so close, that I start to think about how he is as a lover. Is he gentle like he is with me and our friendship? Or is he rough and untamed like he showed glimpses of last week? The thought surprisingly stimulates me, and I start to think about how he’s really been there for me this summer. How kind and thoughtful he’s been. I’ve seen a whole different side to Dane, and it’s like I’m meeting him for the first time, and I’m more curious to know other parts about him. But what’s really overwhelming my mind right now is how I feel being in his presence. I feelturned on.
Attracted.
Wait, what?
“You’re staring.” Dane is smirking as he leans one shoulder against the fridge and crosses one foot in front of the other.
I shift on my feet as if to physically shake the thoughts away. “I zoned out. Sorry.”
Dane looks at me for several seconds like he’s contemplating something. “It’s only ten o’clock. You want to go somewhere?”
I lift the corner of my mouth, and I give the only answer I want to give. “Yes.”
* * *
Dane quickly threw on a pair of dark denim jeans and a black zip-up hoodie over his bare chest to drive us to Crestside Landing. Once Dane parks on the gravel, I exit the car to take in the surroundings of the small dock on the bay. We’re the only car in sight considering it’s ten thirty, and the sky is lit with stars, illuminating the still water in a sparkling, peaceful glow.
“This is beautiful,” I say as I walk closer to the wood planks bordering the gravel lot. When I look back over to Dane, the only part I can see of him are his denim covered legs and white sneakers. It seems he’s connecting his phone to the car stereo, so I just smile as I turn to look out over the water again. “There better be some songs I’m fond of on that playlist,” I say.
I hear Dane’s car door shut behind me. “I think you’ll like some of the country hits I have on there.”
I turn and walk toward him. “Country works. I would even choose it over eighties music for this setting. Crazy, huh?”
Dane shoves his hands in his pockets as he closes the space between us. “Absolute madness.”
I chuckle. “So, what now?” Dane tilts his head toward the hood of his car, indicating we should walk toward it, and once we both do, he holds a hand out to me. I grin as I take his hand and step on the hood of his car, then sit up by leaning my back against the windshield. Dane is tall enough that he just sits on the side of the hood and swivels his legs around to sit next to me. A few inches separate us as I sit with my legs curled to my side, and Dane with one leg straight out and one bent upward at the knee.
“So what made you want to come here?” I ask.
“I know you like to look at the stars at night,” Dane answers as he’s looking up at the sky.
I turn my head toward him and slowly tip the corner of my lips up, then settle my gaze back on the dark sky above. I close my eyes, listening to the music flowing through the speakers of the car, and enjoying the tranquility that kisses the air. “Mmm, I could fall asleep right here.”
I feel Dane’s gaze on me. “Well don’t spoil the fun, we just got here.”
My eyes are still closed when I respond. “Then think of something to do.”
“Alright, twenty questions.” I can hear the smile in his voice.
“You’re activating my PTSD from the Ferris wheel extravaganza. Why would you do this?”
Dane laughs. “Well what would you suggest?”
“Dancing, obviously,” I answer.
“So weird for you to suggest. Would have never thought.”
“Just kidding, you’re spared my dancing for tonight.”
“I’d say there are definitely worse things in the world than watching you dance, Ari,” Dane says. His voice isn’t as laced with humor as it was a minute ago, so I open my eyes and turn my head to face him.
“Oh, really?” I ask.
Dane looks over to me, and I can sense his playful demeanor has lifted slightly. “You look genuinelyhappywhen you dance,” he confesses.
