Since that day at the bar, our tension had only grown. We were more open in our perusal of each other and aware of the intense attraction between us.
There had been many times of accidental touches that left me rock hard and fisting my cock in the shower. There had even been an accidental ass grab one morning when she almost fell off the counter trying to reach something on the top shelf. That singular moment had left me tending to the horses with a raging hard on for the next hour.
Every interaction felt electric, a dangerous spark threatening to ignite into something more; I was tired of acting like there wasn’t something there. Hence, why I was planning the perfect date.
“I’m about to head out to go get some stuff done, but I wanted to make sure you didn’t have plans for Saturday.” I said as I scratched at the day old scruff on my chin.
Stella had made mention in passing that she liked the unshaven look and I’d been all too keen to agree, causing me to forgo shaving this morning. I had no objection to letting my facial hair grow, but my ex had always demanded that I shave because she hated the “prickles” from my beard when we kissed.
It had become such an ingrained part of my daily routine that it was nice to change things up. Plus, it gave me a coupleextra minutes in the morning since I didn’t have to stop to shave.
Stella looked at me quizzically as she slid back the covers and set Charlie on the floor to toddle around while she got ready.
I wasn’t a stranger to the sight of Stella in her tiny sleep shorts and cami set, but they still caught me off guard every time. Her long legs had gotten tanner in the summer months as she spent her off days lounging around the yard while Charlie played. She had barely there tan lines, a delicate etching from the straps of her favorite tank tops, on her shoulders.
“I’m off on Saturday and I have no plans...” she drawled as she squinted her eyes in trepidation. Her eyes, intense and probing, made me feel like she could read my mind, eliciting a nervous chuckle.
“Good. I’ve got a sitter for Charlie, and we’re going out on that date you promised me.” I said as I tapped the top of the door frame.
Turning around, I caught the tilt and shake of her head in exasperation. The wide smile that stretched across her face as I left for the kitchen was impossible to ignore; I could almost feel the warmth of it on my back.
If I could do only one thing for the rest of my life, it was going to be making this woman smile any chance I could. Now, I just needed to put the final touches on our perfect date.
FIFTEEN
stella
Tonight was our date,and Max had insisted I be ready at precisely eight o’clock. I had no clue why, but the nerves that floated around in my belly had gotten stronger with each minute that ticked by.
I’d spent all week stressing about what to wear, what we were going to do, should I eat or not eat, should I kiss him, would we have sex, and so many more imaginary scenarios.
I’m sure by the end of the week, Ray was happy to be rid of my questions and planning. She’d helped me pick out an outfit that comprised skinny jeans, a black lacy camisole, and a light grey cardigan.I chose an outfit that highlighted my favorite body parts, accentuating my post-baby curves and the shape of my ass.
Max had told me to dress casually. He mentioned that we weren’t going out anywhere fancy, but to make sure I wore tennis shoes. I’d settled for a pair of broken-in Chuck Taylors to tie together the ‘lived in chic’ vibe I was giving off.
It had been nearly a decade since I had gone on a date, and to be honest, I didn’t believe I had ever experienced a trulytraditional or proper date in my life. Dean’s idea of a first date was to take me bowling down at the local lanes and attempt to feel me up behind the building next to a dumpster.
I obviously had low standards, but Max had been hyping this date up all week and I could tell that he was excited. He exuded an air of confidence about his plans, any hint of nervousness undetectable. His disinterest toward long-term commitment, a direct result of his past relationship, made me curious about who he was before that pain had reshaped him. He clearly knew how to woo a woman.
Had he been a playboy?
How many women had he been intimate with?
Was he going to expect me to have sex with him?
My mind was spinning as a gentle knock rapped on the door. Another one of Max’s insistences. He wanted to do things properly, so he picked me up at the front door, as if he didn’t live there. It made my heart flutter that he went to such lengths to make this night special.
Angie had gotten here over an hour ago and was in the process of putting Charlie down for bed, so I was grateful that Max had opted to knock instead of ring the doorbell.
I inhaled deeply, steeling myself, then turned the knob, the door creaking open to reveal the most handsome man I’d ever seen, presenting a dazzling bouquet of wildflowers. The flowers looked handpicked, and if I wasn’t already falling for Max, I would have been melting to the floor in a puddle at his thoughtfulness.
“Wow…” He remarked breathlessly as he scrubbed a hand over his mouth in what I can only assume was sheer awe.
Max’s gaze made me feel beautiful, a warmth spreading through me like sunshine. It was as if he was seeing meclearly for the first time, and he let every emotion show in his expressions as he openly perused my appearance.
“Stella, you look stunning,” he added when he finally picked his jaw up off the floor.
Blushing, a nervous chuckle tumbled from my lips as I smoothed down my tank top. Its “French tuck” (as Ray so cleverly put it) suddenly feeling far too deliberate, the fabric clinging uncomfortably to my skin.
