Page 66 of Hit the Ground
He took a long beat before answering. “If I were to ask you out on a date, would you say yes?”
“I would.”
He hummed. “As much as I love my boy, I wish this was the week he was with his mother. We’re gonna have to wait until next week.”
“That will give you a whole week to work up the nerve to ask me.”
He chuckled, low and deep. “I like this side of you. You’re getting comfortable with me, aren’t you?”
“Am I? I don’t know.” Then I whispered, “I think maybe I am. You’re not running for the hills after I shared all…that.”
“No, nothing you said changed my feelings for you. Actually, that’s not true. I’m even more curious and eager to know everything about you. I want to know about your sister, and if she’s why you’re scared of hospitals. I’d like to know what kind of books you want to fill your house with, and if you need more bookshelves for all of them. And yeah, I’d like to talk to you about being a virgin, and where you want to go with me.”
“Oh, that last one’s easy. I want to go all the way with you. Over and over.”
His groan was so deep and immediate, I didn’t have the chance to regret my blunt honesty. Helikedit. And me.
I was truly beginning to believe it.
“I guess we should put a pin in that.” I was kicking my feet and grinning wide. “You know, until you actually ask me out on our first date.”
“Didn’t I do that?”
“No, I don’t think you did.”
“Hmmm. I should rectify that. The problem is, I’m not sure I can wait a week to see you.”
“That is a problem,” I agreed, tapping my thumbnail against my teeth.
“I’m having a thought…you wouldn’t happen to be planning to eat at the diner tomorrow night, would you?”
I caught on to where he was going and let out a mock gasp. “Funny you should mention it. I was thinking I might like to go out to dinner.”
“Thatispretty damn funny.” I could practically hear the smile stretching across his face. “If you were to show up there—purelyby chance, of course—it would be downright rude of me not to ask you to join Jesse and me.”
“It would be. Dreadfully rude,” I said solemnly, the corners of my mouth twitching. “It would probably be a serious breach of etiquette if we didn’t sit together.”
“I was thinking the same thing.”
“So…hypothetically speaking…what time are you and Jesse coincidentally going to be there?”
“Oh, I’m not sure.” I could picture him leaning against his headboard, getting a kick out of teasing me. “If I had to guess, I’d say around six thirty.”
“It would be wild if I were to feel a sudden craving for a cheeseburger at six thirty tomorrow night.”
“Funny,” he said, his voice dipping low, “I’m craving one right now. Mostly though, I’m craving the company.”
That was it. My toes curled into the couch cushion, my face was warm, and my chest felt like it had been stuffed full of champagne bubbles. I was giddy, ridiculous, and maybe a little in over my head.
I loved it.
“So tomorrow?”
“Yeah,” he agreed. “You’re not trying to rush off the phone, are you?”
“Seems like I should quit while I’m ahead.”
“I disagree. I think you owe me.”
