Page 59 of Tinder Embrace
"Sure, okay, then. I'll see you around, Davis."
I waved, holding back my wince over the awkwardness of it all, spinning on my heel and striding for my car. Getting out of his sight, where I could lick my wounds and relive the evening, looking for whatever signs I'd missed, had become my priority. Escaping the scene of my humiliation.
"Wait!"
Davis's palm landed heavily on my shoulder. Not enough to hurt, not enough to spin me around, but enough to stop my head-long flight toward my car. I sighed, turning to face him. Davis’s brow was wrinkled, consternation in the twist of his mouth.
"I really do have an early morning. Carlos and I are starting at five on some equipment maintenance. Can I take you out to dinner tomorrow night instead? I don't want to let you leave without knowing when I'm going to see you next."
Sincerity shone in his blue gaze, and I relaxed. I'd let old insecurities creep in, when I should have remembered this was Davis. Honest to a fault. He wouldn't bother to lie to get out of seeing me; he'd only tell me we were through. I shivered, hating that my immediate reaction to the thought of not seeing him, being with him again was fear.
It had been foolish to think I could mess around with Davis and not get addicted. One bite of the apple, and I was a goner. If he hadn't held me in the palm of his hand before, he sure as heck did now.
I stretched up on my tippy-toes, wrapping my hands around the nape of his neck. His eyes darkened, and he swooped down for a kiss, at once soft and searching.
"Davis, what am I going to do with you?" I asked when we broke apart, breathing hard.
"Recognize that when shit hits the fan, I want to be your soft place to land?" he said huskily.
My heart shuddered to a stop before thundering ahead. Denial snaked through me. It was too much, too soon. I wasn't ready to follow that offer where it led. Five seconds ago, I was questioning if he wanted to see me again and castigating myself for misreading him. Trust took time.
"What if I'm not ready to fly again so soon?" I asked, vulnerability creeping in.
"There's no rush," he soothed. "But if you need a co-pilot, I'm game."
I leaned back, shocked and not sure we were talking metaphorically anymore.
"You mean you'd go up in Bee-gonia with me?" I asked.
He nodded. "Sure, whatever makes you feel safe."
Touched, I couldn't speak for a moment. Maybe trusting Davis wouldn't be so hard after all. Every time I thought he'd pull away, pull back, he doubled down and offered more. No mind games, no bull.
"Has anyone ever told you you're too good for this world, Davis Pruitt?"
"Bee, I think you've got that backwards. In this scenario, I promise, I'm the devil you know. I'm far from perfect."
"Yeah? Convince me."
"Give it five minutes; I'm sure I'll screw up."
"What happens if I forgive you?"
"That, honey, is what I'm banking on." He squeezed me tight, the full body hug more reassuring than I could possibly tell him.
"Now,get. I'm already going to suffer tonight, dreaming of you. Let me get what half-assed sleep I can manage before Carlos drags me out into the fields."
"You charmer, you," I crooned, grinning when he shrugged.
"Told ‘ya I wasn't perfect."
"Somehow, I find that strangely reassuring," I murmured, reluctantly pulling away.
He opened my car door, holding it while I slid inside. In the glow from my interior light, he looked adorably tousled. Wrecked.
Pride filled me. I'd done that. Davis was a mess. Because of me.
"What?" he asked, sensing my examination. "Did I forget to button my fly or something?"
