Page 77 of Tinder Embrace
He grunted, following me inside. "Just remember to give me grace next time I have to bail on plans for a work emergency or smell like ass because I've been cleaning out the hops kiln. Every job has its drawbacks."
"Yeah, but there's a world of difference between growing hops and fostering head lice,"I grumbled.
Davis shrugged. "Bee, this won't even make the top ten gross things I’ve handled compared to what I've dealt with at the farm. I promise, it's not a big deal. Were you able to find shampoo? Shall we hop in the shower?"
"Together?" I choked out.
"Up to you," he said smoothly. "If you want someone to wash your hair for you, I volunteer as tribute."
"Davis, that is the weirdest, nicest offer I've ever had." I shuddered. "I admire that you can say that, given the current circumstances. I think for my own self-esteem, we should take turns in the shower. I don't want to associate head lice and being naked with you."
He chuckled, the low sound somehow soothing my jangled nerves. "Fair enough. You go first."
I showered quickly, lathering my head multiple times, trying to rinse away the itching sensation and purge myself of the disgust I felt every time I thought too hard about my hair.
Davis smelled strongly of the medicated shampoo when he joined me in the kitchen after his shower. Without the scent, I could almost believe this was just a regular date for us.
"Want me to comb your hair out?" Davis offered, his voice husky.
I shivered at the idea of his fingers in my newly-clean hair. "Sure," I said, "can I offer you a beer while we wait for our pizza?"
"Sounds good."
I grabbed a beer for him and cider for me and followed him into my living room. "Do you want me to sit on the floor in front of you?"
"Please."
I set our drinks on the coffee table and slid down to sit between his knees. My shoulders grazed his inner thighs, and a fresh rush of longing raced through me. It was ludicrous to think of sex at a time like this, but I couldn't help the way I reacted to him.
Davis placed a gentle hand on my shoulders, easing my hair across his lap, and I sighed, trying to relax. Trying to forget exactlywhyhe was combing out my hair.
"Tell me about your day," Davis said, his voice soothing as he began running the fine-toothed comb from my scalp to the ends of my hair.
He worked slowly, taking his time to work out tangles, the steady movements hypnotic as he tugged and stroked.
Davis listened as I prattled away about my errands. I relaxed under his ministrations, admiring his gentleness, marveling at how much Davis, or at least my perception of him, had changed.
I used to think of him as unreachable and gruff, a surly loner who didn't need anyone. Didn'twantanyone, least of all me. Spending time with Davis these last weeks, seeing him in unguarded moments, had revealed more of the man than I'd ever suspected existed.
I'd known he couldn't be joyless, not with the way Jo spoke about him. He might be terse and get grumpy with me, but it was obvious he loved his sister and would do anything for her.
As I wedged my way into his inner circle, it became clear that Davis cared fiercely but quietly. I felt honored he numbered me among his friends. I wasn’t sure then how my crush would end, or where we might lead – all I knew was I'd become wildly attracted to my handsome farmer.
Every gentle stroke as he eased his hands and comb through my hair only served to reinforce how wrong my first impressions had been. He didn't turn away from the hard things in life. When he committed, he did it with his whole self. He was brave that way, inspiring me to take greater risks with my heart.
Slowly, it dawned on me that Davis had already shown me he was no risk at all.
A man who didn't dump you at the first sign of head lice was a keeper, full stop.
If he hadn't owned my heart before tonight, he sure as hell did now.
Feeling full enough to burst, it was all I could do not to turn and climb up into his lap to tell him how much I loved him.
A knock on my door signaled the arrival of our pizza, and I sighed, reluctant to leave Davis's gentle ministrations and face reality. My feelings for him may have grown bigger than I'd ever imagined, but that didn't make now the right time to tell him.
He’d no doubt take a while to arrive at my inevitable conclusion: we belonged together. Maybe I'd trusted too easily and fallen too fast in the past, but I couldn't imagine a single ex doing any of the things for me or with me that Davis had. Not taking care of me after my crash landing, not helping me test my balloon again, facing his own fears in the process, and certainly not reacting with such grace to the announcement I'd shared head lice.
"We should probably get that." Davis squeezed my shoulders before maneuvering around me to answer the door. He tipped Becca for delivering our pizza and thanked her before shutting the door.
