Page 22 of Body Checking
I step closer and wrap her in my arms. “Yes. I want to have mornings waking up next to you and having coffee on your couch. Or mine. It doesn’t really matter as long as it’s with you.”
She laughs uncomfortably and sets the mugs down. “Moving a little fast, don’t you think?”
“Not when you know you’ve found the woman you’ve always dreamed of.” She takes a couple steps back and I wince, having pushed a little far. “I’m sorry. I don’t mean to scare you. I just…Maren, I don’t think you understand. The moment I saw you on that video, my life immediately changed. Do you know when the last time I smiled was?” She shakes her head. “Me neither. Not until you. That’s how I know I have to hold on to you with all that I’ve got.”
I watch her throat work as she swallows. “Are you ready to go?” she asks, changing the topic completely.
“Yeah. Let’s go.” I take her hand in mine and walk to the front door.
She grabs her purse from a hook hanging on the wall then locks up behind her. Escorting her to my truck, I watch her amazing ass as she climbs in. She catches me and I don’t even apologize.
The drive to the restaurant is slightly awkward thanks to my big mouth. I can tell I made her a little uncomfortable, so as soon as we sit down I quickly apologize.
“I’m sorry I was so forward with you. I thought the gift would be funny. I hope you forgive me.”
“No. I mean yes. Yes I forgive you. But no, it wasn’t forward. I get that it was more of a joke than not. It’s just…I’m not used to that kind of attention. I guess I don’t know how to react to compliments.”
“What are you talking about? I’m sure you get boatloads of compliments.”
Her eyes drop to the table and she turns solemn. “Not even a little. Look at me, Cade. You think men are lining up to compliment me?”
“Yeah. I do. And if they’re not, they’re fools. You say to look at you, but I am. You’re stunning, Maren. Your gorgeous eyes called to me through the phone. I was hypnotized. Then you stood back from the camera and I about died from your pure perfection. If you didn’t think I was a creep before, this will most certainly convince you, but I don’t care. After watching your video several times, I had to take care of mysituationin the shower. My reaction to you was visceral. It still is. Every time I lay my eyes on you, it’s like I’m experiencing your beauty for the first time. I’m smitten, Maren.”
Her eyes glisten with tears and I reach across the table and take her hand in mine.
“What happened to the grumpy guy everyone talks about, because I don’t see him anywhere,” she says with a wobbly smile.
I shrug and tell her, “He disappeared when the clouds cleared and a bright light named Maren Thompson shone down.”
Her white teeth sink into her plump red lips and if it weren’t for the server walking up at that exact moment, I would’ve jumped over the table and taken that mouth for myself.
“Hello. Welcome to Burnt Ends. Can I start y’all off with a local IPA or our famous spiked sweet tea?”
I sigh and stamp down the growing erection popping up under the table. “Sweetheart. What would you like?”
“Um. Could I just have a water for now?” I order the same and the waitress walks away, returning us to our little bubble.
“Maren. I have a pretty important question to ask you and if you say no, please know I won’t be offended.”
“Shoot. Whatcha got for me?” She props her elbow on the table and rests her chin in her free hand as I still hold on to the other.
“Will you spend the night with me?”
Her mouth drops and her eyes widen. Once again, my extreme haste to fast forward this relationship about three months ahead is showing, as is my crazy.
“I…well what if…we haven’t even had dinner. I mean, you could change your mind after you see me tear into some ribs.”
“Fuck, Maren. Do you even know how sexy that is? You sucking on juicy meat, licking the bone clean and enjoyingevery morsel? There is no fucking way I’m changing my mind. The only thing you should be worried about is me locking you in my house and worshiping you daily. Several times a day.”
She diverts her eyes to our hands locked on top of the table, and her shy laugh is my undoing. I push up from my seat and she lets her eyes follow. Leaning in close, I zero in on her lips and capture them in a deep kiss. No tongue. No teenager groping. Just a kiss that tells her this isn’t some flight of fancy. I want her.Allof her.
We’re interrupted, again, by the server as she places our drinks down and takes our order. We laugh and laugh throughout our meal, and I can honestly say it’s the best time I’ve had on a date. We have more in common than one would think a twenty-six year old woman and almost forty year old man would. Music, movies, sports, but not our feelings on chocolate. Those stand strictly on opposite sides.
I pay the bill and hold my hand out to help her from her seat. “I never got an answer.”
“To what?” she asks, slightly confused.
“To spending the night with me.”
