Page 46 of Domino
Chapter Seventeen
Ashley
“And here I thought when you said you were going to pick me up that I’d be riding on the back of your motorcycle,” I tell him.
He smiles as he opens the passenger door of a black Dodge Ram. The truck is impeccably clean and detailed, and of course, seems to have all the bells and whistles on it. I’m not really a truck girl, but even I have to say that it’s nice.
“The bike doesn’t have a back seat. The truck does though, and it’s really comfortable,” he says suggestively, making me laugh.
“Pro tip… you should never say something so piggish so early on a first date.”
“Huh. That line usually drops a woman’s panties within thirty seconds,” he says.
“Yeah well, I’m not most women.”
“I know. That’s why I like you.”
He shuts the door and walks around the front of the truck, leaving me to ponder his words. Maybe it’s silly but hearing him say that he likes me with such sincerity in his voice sends an electric thrill through me. I’m just not used to having a man be so genuinely interested in me or pay the kind of attention that Max is lavishing on me, and it feels really nice.
He climbs in behind the wheel and glances over at me, giving me a smile. Max really is a handsome man. Gorgeous, would probably be a better word. And I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t feeling a tingling warmth growing between my thighs. But I clear my throat and push those feelings away since I still haven’t decided whether or not I can be that kind of a girl yet. I have needs and desires—and I definitely desire Max and have a feeling he can meet my needs quite well—but I’m not sure if I’m ready to throw caution to the wind like that.
Sister Ashley Margaret is still very much alive and well, apparently.
“You’re not wearing your little leather vest,” I notice.
He laughs softly. “It’s called a kutte.”
“Oh, sorry, I didn’t know there was an official term for it. I didn’t mean to offend your manhood by calling it something so effeminate,” I say, rolling my eyes.
“Oh, you’re welcome to offend my manhood anytime you’d like. But you have to kiss it and make it all better afterward,” he says, a mischievous twinkle in his eye.
“You are incorrigible. Seriously incorrigible,” I tell him.
“And yet… you agreed to go out with me, anyway. So, what does that say about you, I wonder?”
“That I apparently have some issues.”
“Good thing I like ’em a little crazy,” he says, making me laugh again.
He starts the truck, and we pull away from the curb, and I can almost feel Missy’s eyes on me. I’m picturing her hiding behind the curtain in the living room, peeking out around the corner like my mom used to do whenever I went out with somebody back in high school. It’s kind of adorable.
“That’s a really nice house,” he says. “Have you lived there long?”
“Oh, it’s not my house. It’s my friend’s. My son and I are just staying in her guest house for a while. My friend is watching him tonight.”
He cocks his head and looks at me. “I didn’t know you had a kid.”
“There’s a lot you don’t know about me,” I tell him.
“Touché,” he replies.
Something about the set of his body changes, and it seems obvious that he’s uncomfortable with the idea of kids, which is a clear problem. And if it’s going to be an issue, it’s probably best we address it now and go our separate ways, so we don’t waste each other’s time.
“Do you not like kids or something?” I ask.
He shrugs. “I’ve just never been around many kids in my life.”
“You just seem… tense. It seems like you don’t like children.”
