Page 34 of Bourbon Bliss
That seemed to pacify him. He shot the man in green one last glare, then both teams went back to their lanes.
I put my arm around June and gently led her back to our table. “Well, that was some unexpected excitement.”
“And kids think math isn’t important.”
I laughed. This girl was something else. “You showed them, didn’t you?”
11
June
George certainly knew how to take a woman on a date. Although my dating experience was limited, it wasn’t non-existent, and this had been the best date I’d ever had.
I’d assumed he’d take me to dinner, which would have involved a need for a great deal of conversation. Looking back on how I’d felt prior to George’s arrival at my house, much of my anxiety had stemmed from the fear that I’d be unable to maintain a mutually satisfying conversation for the duration of a meal.
But he’d chosen an alternative that had not only been more comfortable, it had been exceedingly enjoyable.
He offered me his arm again as we departed from our table near the shoe counter. This time, he placed his other hand—that large, strong hand—over mine and squeezed. His skin was warm, but not uncomfortably so, and his touch made me want to lean closer. Feel more.
It was odd that despite George’s size, his presence in my personal space didn’t feel intrusive. In fact, since I’d settled the scoring dispute between thePin Pushersand theBall Busters, he’d become increasingly physical. He’d led me away from the bowlers with his arm around my shoulders in a gesture that had felt protective—maybe even possessive.
I’d liked it.
We left the Bowl and Skate and drove home. He pulled up in front of my house and turned off the engine. A wave of disappointment crashed through me as he got out of the car. This was it. The date was over, or on the verge of being so. In mere moments, I’d be back inside my house and George would be gone.
I couldn’t explain why I found the notion of saying goodnight so depressing. There was nothing logical about the cascade of negative emotion that washed over me. It was just a date. It wasn’t as if we had to say goodbye for an extended period of time. My brain seemed to understand the reality of our situation. It was very likely I’d see him again as early as tomorrow.
But there was another part of me—a part that seemed to reject logic and reason in favor of the power of all thesefeelings—that hated the idea of our night together ending.
Gram-Gram had always said that when faced with an unpleasant situation, it was best to just pluck the whole chicken. In this case, there weren’t any actual chickens involved, but I understood what she’d meant.
I got out and walked straight for my porch, trying to fish my house key out of my handbag as I went. George was right behind me. I could practically feel his presence at my back. My heart beat faster and I once again felt vaguely nauseated.
“Thank you for taking me on a date,” I said as I fumbled for my key. “I had a nice time.”
“June?”
His voice brought me up short and I tilted my head back so I could look up at him.
“Yes?”
“Are you all right?”
“I’m fine. Why wouldn’t I be?”
He shrugged, just a subtle lift of his shoulders, and didn’t break eye contact. “I don’t know. I guess that’s why I’m asking. You seem like you’re in a hurry to go.”
“The date’s over.”
“Is it?”
Realization dawned on me and the roiling in my stomach intensified. He expected me to invite him in. He’d taken me out on a date and believed it would end with sexual intercourse.
It felt as if the blood was draining from my face. I had no problem with people—women or men—who chose to have sexual relations on a first date. Or second, if that’s what this was, and last night’s drink at the Lookout counted as our first. But physical intimacy was complicated for me. And that wasn’t something I wanted to have to explain to George tonight.
Was that why he’d taken me out? Was his primary aim to get in my pants, as Scarlett would say?
He blinked once, his eyes still on mine, his gaze intense. I expected him to move closer. To crowd me with his large size. But he didn’t. His expression softened and one corner of his mouth twitched, as if he were about to smile.
