Charming Hannah (Big Sky 1)

“Enjoying dessert is sexy?”

“When you make those noises and close your eyes? Hell yes. Because I want to make you do those things for purely other carnal reasons.”

I swallow hard and set my fork down, licking my lips. “Not tonight.”

“Excuse me?”

“I’m not a sex on the first date kind of girl.”

“I wasn’t suggesting it,” he says and takes another bite of dessert. “Doesn’t make me want it any less.”

We finish our meal, Brad pays the bill, and the next thing I know, we’re on our way back to my place. It’s after nine, but it’s still light outside.

“I love summer,” I say and roll my window down. “I love that it gets dark so late, and the warm weather. I always have the best of intentions to take a week off of work in the summer, just to enjoy it. But it never happens.”

“I love it too. Do you ski?”

I laugh and shake my head. “No, I never have. We don’t have mountains in Kansas, and since I’ve moved here, I’ve been too busy to ski. Also, I don’t love to be cold.”

“You live in Montana, sweetheart.”

“Hey, I can stay inside where it’s warm. I do, however, love to hike. I plan to go this weekend, in fact, barring any babies making their debut.”

“I hike as well. I also love to boat, kayak, and ride my bike.”

“You’re outdoorsy.” I turn in my seat so I can watch him as he drives. His jaw is square, his hands big and sure on the wheel. “Summers are so short here, I’d rather never go inside.”

“Mind if I join you on your hike this weekend?”

I grin, enjoying the thought of hiking up the mountain with Brad. “Of course. I was just going to walk to the top of the ski mountain.”

“That’s a four mile hike,” he says with surprise.

“Too far for you?”

He glances at me, a small smile tugging his lips. “No, sweetheart, I was wondering if it’s too far for you.”

“Psh, that’s nothing.”

He pulls up in front of my house, and I’m suddenly sad. I don’t want to end the night yet.

“Do you watch Stranger Things?” I ask him.

“Yeah, I’m almost done with the first season.”

“I’m halfway into the first season. If you don’t mind rewatching a few episodes, would you like to come in and watch some of it with me?”

He immediately climbs out of the truck and around to open my door. “I’m in.”

“I’m not getting naked,” I remind him.

“So noted.” He locks his truck and follows me to the door. “I also will not be getting naked.”

Too bad.

I nod. “So noted.”

Chapter Three

~Brad~

HER HOUSE SMELLS JUST like her, like cinnamon and vanilla. Her red hair falls in loose curls around her shoulders as she leads me into her living room and queues up the TV, getting the next episode of the show ready.

“Do you want something to drink?” she asks. “I have Coke and bottled water. I might even have a Snapple if you want it.”

“A water would be great.”

She nods and hurries out of the room and back again, carrying two bottles of water. She’s so full of nervous energy I want to pin her to the wall and kiss the fuck out of her, just to smooth out the nerves.

She passes me the water, and I set it on the coffee table, take hers from her and set it down as well, then take her hand in mine and pull her to me.

“Hannah.”

“Yeah?” She looks up at me now, her big blue eyes wide. She licks her lower lip, and it’s almost my undoing.

“You’ve got that nervous thing happening again.”

“Oh.” She clears her throat, and I draw her closer to me still. “I haven’t had a man here in a long time.” The words are a whisper and her eyes are pinned to my lips now.

“Good,” I whisper in return and let my hands glide up her arms to her shoulders. “I’m going to kiss you.”

“Okay.”

I can’t help but smile at the absolute eagerness in her voice, and the way she boosts herself up on her toes, getting ready for me.

God, she’d be so fucking responsive beneath me in bed.

But that’s not for tonight. I push that thought from my brain and tilt my head down to hers, allowing my nose to brush back and forth against hers, enjoying the warmth of her skin close to mine and the way she takes a deep breath, making her chest rise.

“You’re beautiful,” I murmur against her lips.

“So are you,” she replies. Her hands are moving over my shoulders and up into my hair, and I can’t hold back any longer. I sink down into her, covering her mouth with mine, finally allowing myself to taste her, to soak her in. She’s the sweetest thing I’ve ever seen, and her reaction to me is exactly what I imagined in my dreams.