Page 18 of Stuck with the Grumpy Silver Fox

¨What makes you think I’m nervous?¨

I snicker, ¨You tell me to let my guard down. Which I’m doing, so shouldn’t it be easy to figure out what we both need?¨

She tightens her grip around the wine glass stem and swallows a puddle of nerves. Her nose flares, and she gently touches the side of her cheek as if to cool it down.

¨So are you saying I need a bath too?¨

¨Do you need one? You’re already dressed for bed.¨

¨I showered before I cooked you dinner…while you were outside, so I think I’m good enough.¨

¨Goodenough? For what?¨

She bites her bottom lip and places her glass on the table. There’s no more hair to tuck behind her ear, but she acts as if there is before she closes her laptop delicately.

¨To sleep, I suppose. I don’t know.¨

¨You don’t know?¨ I give her a sly smile and shake my head.

I want her to be as blunt as she was when she told me to let my guard down. I need her to be on the same page as me because if she’s not, I may come across too aggressive, but I want to pull her off the couch and smother her mouth with my own. Maybe that’s all we need is something; a kiss, a neck nibble, her to feel the throb under my towel against her navel. Something. Anything. Everything.

Her placing her laptop on the coffee table opens her up. It could be read as an invite.

¨I want to thank you for the bath.¨ I say as calmly as I can, low and slow.

¨Oh. You’re welcome.¨

I shake my head and step toward the edge of the coffee table.

¨You know what I think?¨

¨What?¨

¨Someone like you would benefit from a town like this.¨

I have to redirect the energy a tad bit. I’m sure I’m coming off as intimidating, standing before her with nothing but a towel wrapped around me. I sit on the chair diagonal to the couch so I’m not looming in front of her.

¨How so?¨ She’s eagerly curious. This, I adore.

¨Because it’ll teach you to ‘be’more than ‘do.’ ¨

¨Oh…I see.¨ She giggles. ¨Says the man who wants to do it all.¨

I shrug again. ¨I do. I do want to do it all.¨ With full intention, I skim her over like a beautiful painting deserving of ¨awe.¨

“I’m not sure how a town like this will view me?¨

¨You can’t hold your power in what other people think of you. That’s no way to live.¨

¨But you think I shouldbemore. Key words are that you think…so I guess I shouldn’t listen to your advice.¨

¨Good point. But I have some experience with you, so I am not talking out of face value or first impression. I’m talking from my experiences with you.¨

She blushes, ¨Well, nowyoujust made a good point.¨

¨And I want to thank you for the bath, not simply say thank you.¨ Again, our eyes send heat to each other.

¨What do you have in mind?¨

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