"Awe." She glanced back as we walked to the truck. “That was crazy sweet. Why aren't you taken?"
"Haven't found the right woman yet." I opened the door for her and helped her get in.
She tugged me toward her and leaned in, brushing her lips against mine and giving me a sexy smile. "Maybe you just did."
"Maybe so." I pulled her down for a longer kiss, enjoying the smell of her perfume in combination with the taste of peppermint on her tongue.
She was a little breathless when she moved back and pushed at me. "Let's go or I'll cancel our dinner plans and just eat you."
"Yeah, because that makes me want to leave your side of the truck." I shut her door and walked around the truck, worried that this girl might be a little too much. She wanted to make memories and be someone's someone.
Strike two. One more and I'd be ditching her, though she was a good kisser. I bet she'd had plenty of practice. Redhea
ds always were the wilder ones in the bedroom. I hadn't had one in a while, either. Maybe letting her slide by on some of the silly shit I was keeping up with in my head would make for a better evening.
I let out a breath I'd been holding and got into the truck.
"So, tell me about this place you're taking me to for dinner."
"Killingers? It's home-cooking. So you have beef, chicken, or fish, and a few southern-style dishes like they would serve in Texas or someplace like that, I guess." I shrugged and pulled the truck into her cleared driveway before backing out and heading back to the shop.
"You're incredibly handsome, Finn." She reached out and brushed her fingers down my arm. "You work out?"
"I do, but this job keeps me in shape, too." I reached up and turned on the heater before taking her hand and entwining my fingers with hers. It was going to be damn hard to keep my concentration on the road if she moved from petting my arm to my leg, which seemed to be where her line of sight was resting.
"I'm really surprised you're not with someone. Don't you live here?"
"I do." I focused on the road, figuring that she would start talking about herself or her friends sooner or later. Women seemed to need to fill the silence around them, like giving anyone time to think was a bad thing.
"I'm just surprised. My friend Krissy...she has this guy friend who's wicked hot like you, and he..."
I tuned her out, nodding where it seemed appropriate and throwing in a “really” from time to time. By the time we pulled into my dad's warehouse, I was getting a slight headache.
"Stay here, pretty girl. I'll keep the truck running. I'm just going to clock out and grab a different shirt."
"Sure, but change in here. I wanna see you." She bit her lip and smiled as I released her hand.
"Naughty. I like you already." I got out of the truck and slammed the door before jogging up to the open bay door. I rolled my eyes at the silly situations I got myself involved in and moved to clock out.
"It go okay today?" My dad's voice was gruff behind me.
"Yeah. Got a date out of the deal and got done early. I'd say it was a good day." I clocked out and pulled the checks and receipts from my back pocket. "Here's this stuff."
He gave me a look as he took it from me. "Why can't you use the damn bank bag I gave you? You're a mess, boy. You gotta grow up."
"Really? I like the thought of never growing up. Like Peter Pan and shit."
My dad rolled his eyes and turned, walking back into his office without another word.
"Right," I mumbled. "Love you, too, Dad. Great talk? Yeah, great talk."
I jogged down the long hall and walked into the men's locker room, stripping my sweaty clothes from my body and jumping in the shower for a quick scrub. I dressed as fast as possible, almost losing my footing and slamming into the lockers with my ass hanging out of my jeans. That would have been enough to have the other guys tease me for the rest of the year and all of the following one.
Checking myself in the mirror, I nodded. "Good enough."
My jeans, t-shirt, and leather bomber would work for the date I had planned, and if things went off without a hitch, I'd be out of them before too much longer. Katie seemed like a girl who wanted to eat fast and then move onto the main course: me.
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