Meant To Be (Coming Home To The Grove 2)

He leans me so that my back is pressed against the car, and with his hand wrapped around the nape of my neck, he deepens the kiss. My head is spinning and my stomach fluttering like I have a swarm of butterflies flapping around in there.

“I wanted to ask you out. I wanted to dance with you at the bar the other night, and I’ve wanted to kiss you since the first time I saw you in the bakery,” he says when he pulls back.

My heart is thumping in my chest, and I wrap my arms around his neck and kiss him back, this time holding nothing back.

Breathless, I pull away. “I like you too, Scott.” I let my head fall down to rest my forehead on his chest. “I didn’t want to get my hopes up with you, but this last week was horrible trying to find a woman for you to date. I was so torn up, knowing I would give anything if it was me you wanted.”

“It is you. You’re the only woman I want,” he whispers against the top of my head. He holds on to my hand and takes me into the house, where we continue to kiss.

I’m panting for breath, an excitement roaring through me, and I know I want this with him. He makes me feel things I’ve never felt before. He makes me want more.

He’s holding me so tight, I know he feels the same way too. But he still pulls back. “We can slow this down, Carrie,” he offers, all the while his hands going up and down my arms.

But I shake my head. “No. I want this. I want it with you.”

He takes my hand and leads me to the bedroom.

Nerves fill my stomach, but I’m not going to back out now. Just kissing Scott causes a low burn deep in my belly.

He kicks off his shoes, and I do the same.

His eyes are glued to mine, and I watch as he undoes the buttons of his shirt and pulls it from his pants and down his hard, muscled arms. The white shirt underneath is next, and I have to remind myself to take a breath as he pulls it over his head.

My mouth falls open, and I couldn’t look away if I tried. I knew he would be handsome. I knew he would be built and that he works out, but I had no idea what seeing him like this would do to me. He’s the most handsome man I’ve ever seen.

“Wow!” It escapes my lips before I can even think about keeping it in.

He laughs, a hearty laugh as he reaches for me, pulling me in close. “I thought the same thing the first time I saw you behind the counter at the bakery.”

Instantly, I’m shaking my head, and I push my hand against his chest, embarrassed. “Scott.”

He covers mine with his. “I’m serious. I never dreamed you would go out with me, let alone have you at my house. I don’t want to screw this up, honey.”

He looks worried, and that fact boosts my confidence a little. “You’re not going to screw this up. I want to be here. I want to be here like this, with you.”

I give life to the words when I turn my back to him and gesture for him to help me with the zipper on the back of my dress.

His hands are hot on my back, but I can’t stop the goosebumps from forming on my arms. He brushes my hair across my shoulder and works the zipper down my back.

His hot breath caresses me, and when the zipper is down, I hold the dress to me and turn in his arms. “I, uh, feel like I need to tell you that I don’t look anything like that.” I point at his chest.

He smiles softly. “I hope not.”

I love that he can make me laugh even when I’m a nervous wreck. I close my eyes, not wanting to see the reaction on his face when he sees me for the first time.

I let go of the dress and feel it pool around my feet on the ground.

There’s not a sound in the room, and I fight not to open my eyes and look at him.

“Open your eyes,” he tells me.

Stubbornly, I shake my head.

“Honey, please open your eyes,” he asks nicely with emotion thick in his voice.

I open one and then the other. I’m shivering in front of him, wearing only my blue panties and matching bra.

His hand goes to my shoulder first and then snakes around my neck, pulling me to him so that his chin rests against my head. “You’re perfection,” he whispers.

I start to shake my head, but he stops me with his voice. “Feel me, Carrie. Feel your body next to mine. We are a perfect fit. It’s like you were made to be next to me. You can never doubt your body again, honey. Feel what looking at you, feeling you in my arms does to me.”