“One hundred and ten percent,” I groan before taking her hand from my dick, who’s cursing me out and calling me a traitor. I skim my lips over her wrist. “Besides, I wanna explain what happened last night at thediner.”
Her eyes soften, and she nods and leans up to kiss me. “Your place or mine? Oh, wait, they’re thesame.”
I chuckle, relieved, turned the fuck on, and grateful to have another chance with this woman. I hope I don’t blow it thistime.
About an hour later,with our legs dangling off the tailgate of my pickup truck and the view of my barn looming before us, she nudges me with herelbow.
“Pancakes after a night of mojitos was the best idea ever.” Tori licks her finger. “I’m sticky,though.”
I ignore the dirty thoughts that spring to mind when she says the word ‘sticky’ and reach for my water bottle. “Glad you enjoyed it. Wasn’t sure if they’d be anygood.”
On the way home, I pulled into an all-night truck stop and got us two orders of pancakes and bacon because I thought she might want some food to soak up thatalcohol.
Needing to get this off my chest, I blurt out my apology. “I’m sorry about last night. For not clearing up the confusion with Sandra.” This might’ve been easier when Tori was buzzed, but I like knowing she’s probably not at thispoint.
I explain my brother’s good intentions and how I must’ve done a decent job of keeping whatever was happening between me and Tori a secret, so Logan hadn’t known I didn’t want to go on any blind dates. “I called Sandra last night and cancelled our plans.” Rubbing the back of my neck, I tell Tori how I hadn’t wanted to embarrass the woman and back out of the date in front of everyone, but knowing how things played out, I should’ve done thingsdifferently.
Tori’s quiet for a minute. “I understand. That was thoughtful of you. I wouldn’t want you to bail on me in front of everyone either.” She worries her bottom lip. “I’m sorry I stomped off.” With a shrug, she glances out over the pasture. “I’m not great at communicating when I get upset. I tend to overreact, as you wellknow.”
My heart does this trippy little thing in mychest.
“I didn’t mean to hurt your feelings.” My words are a whisper, but I’ve never meant anything more. “I’d like to make it up toyou.”
Turning, she looks up at me with those big doe eyes, a smile playing on her lips. “You mean by doing more than driving to Austin in the middle of the night and feeding mepancakes?”
“A small price topay.”
I don’t know what it is about Tori that makes me want to take risks when I was pretty sure getting into something with a woman was the last damn thing I’d ever want again a few weeksago.
“Thanks for feeding me. I love pancakes.” Scooting back and reclining on the thick blanket I situated before we hopped up here on the flatbed of my truck, she lets out a contented sigh. “You can make up almost any offense with a good helping of sugar andcarbs.”
“My pleasure. Before I forget”—I pause to reach into my back pocket—“thought you might needthis.”
“You found myphone.”
I think she’s reaching for it, but instead she grabs my wrist and pulls me down onto the blanket next toher.
Chuckling, I brace myself on my elbow. “You make me laugh,” I whisper as I brush a strand of mermaid hair out of herface.
“Yeah?”
Nodding, I dip my finger down her neck and over the delicate strap of her top. “Logan says I never laugh anymore, but you make melaugh.”
“I’ve just put you under my spell with my cooking. It’s been my evil plan all along.” She blinks up with playfulness tilting her lips, and I’m overwhelmed by how right thisfeels.
For some reason, I want to remember every detail of thismoment.
How she glows in themoonlight.
How the chirp of crickets swells in the meadow aroundus.
How the scent of cedar and wet earth permeates theair.
And, for the first time in years, how alive Ifeel.
With her wild hair going every which way, her sleepy, dreamy eyes staring up at me through those thick lashes, and her skirt barely clinging to the tops of her thighs, I’m inclined to agree—this woman is wielding some powerfulmagic.
Clearing my throat, I lean in closer. “Whatever it is, I think I’maddicted.”
