“Let’s not talk about me. Tell me about yourself. Are you staying in town long? What do you like to do on the weekends when you’re not on a date? Do you love sunsets? The full moon?”
“Wow, okay. That’s a mouthful.” She giggled. “Let’s see. I’m here as long as I’ve got a job.” She nibbled on her lip but decided there was no point in lying to him. If tonight’s date went well, she wasn’t going to turn him down for a second or even a third one. She’d like a home though. A place to settle down. To call her own. Where no one could take it from her and she’d find protection, safety, security, and one day, she hoped to have love.
“I actually live at the boarding house for now. I’ve got a room there. I’m hoping to get my own place when I’ve got enough money. Anyway, moving on, I love long walks. Do you like long walks?”
He chuckled. “You could say that.”
“I love sunsets. I’ve never paid too much attention to the full moon.”
“You should. The full moon is a beautiful wonder.”
“I’m going to have to check it out,” she said.
“I guarantee you’re going to love it.”
“I bet I will.” She shook her head. “So, yeah. I love reading, cooking, and just living. Oh, I love dogs.”
“Dogs?”
“Yes. Actually, all animals. I don’t know why I’m telling you this. It’s crazy but I do. If I could, I’d have cats, dogs, bunnies, the lot. I don’t mind. Birds as well.” She smiled. She didn’t know why she suddenly felt so incredibly happy. “What is it you like?”
“I love long walks as well.”
“You already said that. Come on, I’ve bared my soul to you. It’s your turn to bare all to me.” She tilted her head to the side. “I’m listening.”
“I want to hear all about you.”
“I know but like I said, there’s not a lot to know. I’ve given you most of it. Come on, tell me more about yourself. I want to hear it all.” She reached over, taking his hand. Again, hot body, hot everything.
She licked her lips and tried to think, tried to do anything, but she just wanted to touch him. Not only that, for some odd reason, she started to feel … hot all over. She wanted him—there was no doubt about that. That want was all-consuming. She took a deep breath, trying to gain some focus. Within a split second, she could imagine his hands all over her, touching her, feeling her. She craved his touch, wanted to be consumed by him.
Shaking her head, the feeling was gone, but she was drawn back to him.
He reached out and stroked her cheek. “Has anyone told you just how beautiful you are?”
There went her heart again, racing. All senses on high alert.
“Do you know what’s beautiful? The sunset from my house. If you’d like, it would be my honor to cook for you, and having you stop by my house to see it. You won’t be disappointed, I promise.”
“I don’t imagine for a second I could be disappointed in whatever you have to show me.” That sounded really dirty, even to her.
Her cheeks heated and was that a smile on his lips? He knew as well. He’d read her mind. This was going bad.
Before she got the chance to excuse herself, the waitress returned, loaded with food. Bethany didn’t know how the waitress did it, but she managed to fill their entire table with the food.
“Dig in,” Caleb said, already thrusting cheese-covered fries into his mouth. “So good.”
She picked up her fork and started to eat. Maybe with some food, she’d be able to actually gain her composure back and not be a complete idiot.
“You never said if you’d like to come by my house. See the sunset?”
What should she say? Was it being too forward going to his house in the afternoon? Would he expect sex? He’d be disappointed. She didn’t know the first thing about sex or being with a man.
She’d kept that part of herself to, well, herself.
“I promise I’ll be the perfect gentleman.”
Now she was disappointed. Another flash of him pushing her to the bed, spreading her thighs, licking her, tasting her.
“Yes, I’d love to,” she said. She didn’t know if she was saying she’d love to in her mind, or to the vision she’d just experienced. Either way, she had to gain some control here, otherwise, she was going to lose her mind, and that wasn’t good.
She watched as he cut into his steak and listened as he talked about his home. The small garden he had, the woods he protected. She loved hearing his deep voice and it soothed her soul, but she couldn’t help but feel like he was hiding something. She didn’t know what it was exactly, but he kept up the conversation, asking her opinion on matters.