Page 48 of You’re Mine

“Really? You mean it?”

“Oh yeah sweetheart. It’s your time to drive.”

She squeals and then jumps on me, almost knocking me over.

“Calm down, baby,” I laugh. “There’s plenty of time.”

Time is something that the two of us never had before, but now an eternity stretches before us, and I’m grateful. Who knew I’d get this lucky with a son and a beautiful woman on my arm? Haley squeals again, almost bouncing on the tip of her toes.

“So, I can just get into the driver’s seat?” I give her a nod, and she takes off like a rocket. When she notices I’m not following, she turns back around and beckons me. “Come on, slow poke!”

I don’t know what I’ve gotten myself into, but it’s too late to turn back.

My girl and I are in the truck, and she inserts the key in the ignition. Her hands are on the wheel and she’s still practically vibrating with excitement. I don’t know if this is a good or bad thing.

“I know you don’t have a driver’s license back in South Carolina, but you know something about driver’s ed, right?”

“Nope,” she answers cheerily. “Nothing at all.”

Uh oh, this is starting to feel like more of a bad choice.

“Okay, okay. So before you take the truck out of park, you’re gonna want to put your foot, lightly, on the brakes. This way we don’t end up rolling if there’s any kind of incline.”

Haley puts her foot on the brake and goes into drive.

“Just ease forward slowly. We’re going to turn down the road just off the driveway. It goes through my property, so you won’t have to worry about other cars.” Haley lets go of the brakes, but then pushes on the accelerator a little too quickly. The car lurches forward and she screams.

“Don’t freak out, it’s okay. Just be gentle with it.” Haley tries again, and this time, we slowly start moving forward. She gets us to the off-road, and we keep moving. The further we get, the more confident she becomes.

There are a few ‘Jesus Christ’ moments, I’ll admit. It’s not that I’m afraid I’m going to die, it’s more that I’m in awe of the woman Haley’s become, not to mention her natural eagerness at the wheel.

“Should I just keep going straight?”

“You can do whatever, but be careful, okay?” My hand rests on the parking brake, just in case. I trust my girlfriend, but watching her drive is going to take some getting used to.

We’ve gotten pretty far from the house when Haley finally stops the car.

“Make sure it’s in park.” She moves the gear shift back to ‘P’ and turns the car off.

“Did I do a good job?”

“For your first time, yeah. You did pretty well.” Actually, given that this was Haley’s first time driving ever, I have to give her her props.

She claps with excitement.

“When can I do it again?” Wow, she really wants to move fast.

“Well, the truck typically stays in Connecticut, and I don’t know when we’ll be back, but that’s okay. I also keep a car in the city, so we can practice there as well.”

Her eyes go wide.

“I don’t want to drive in Manhttan. There are way too many people, not to mention bikes and other cars.” Totally get it. Handling a car in New York could give anyone a heart attack.

“We can practice in some more remote places, so you don’t have to worry about Manhattan. But you will need to get a permit. You’ll like driving, sweetheart. Don’t worry.” It shouldn’t be hard to get Haley in for testing, and I bet she’ll be good to go within a week.

We rest against the seats momentarily, looking out at the sky. I take her hand in mine, playing with her soft fingers. I can’t help but remember the last time we were in this truck together.

“I know exactly what you’re thinking,” she whispers.

“And what’s that?”

“Our last night together, right here in the bed of your truck. I remember it well.”

“You do?” She nods before smiling coyly.

“Honestly I couldn’t believe I asked for that. I also thought you were going to flat out refuse.” Flat out refuse her sexy body? Not by a long shot.

“Why would you think I’d say no?”

She sighs, still holding my hand.

“You were always so much more experienced than me, and I figured you might want someone who knew her body better. I was just a clumsy virgin, remember?”

“Baby girl, you handle me perfectly. You were perfect in every way. And I mean that.”

Her gaze goes coy again.

“Why, thank you cowboy. Those words warm my heart.”

Peering out the window, she looks around.

“Do a lot of people come down this road, walking or otherwise?”

I shake my head.

“No, it’s pretty quiet out here.”

“Good, then push your seat all the way back.” I furrow my brow, not sure what she’s planning, but do what’s asked of me.

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