I brushed a stray curl behind my ear; the strands tickling my skin, and refused to raise my eyes from the floor, terrified that the illusion of a man finding me stunning would vanish if I dared to meet his gaze.
I felt the heat of Max’s body before his shoes came into view. As always, his fingers gently lifted my chin, his eyes boring into mine.
I loved how he didn’t let me shy away from a compliment. He wanted me to see that he saw me—not just as a mother, but as a beautiful woman, someone he desired. It was going to take a while for the overwhelming trauma of being constantly berated and belittled to fade, but it seemed as if Max was steadfast in his intent to breathe new life into my self-confidence.
“I mean it, you look amazing,” he said, his eyes sparkling with admiration as he grazed a calloused thumb across my jaw line.
I fought the urge to lean into his caress and close my eyes. The heat of his touch left a trail across my skin and my body vibrated with the electricity of lust. I took the chance to look him directly in the eyes to showcase the sincerity of my words.
“Thank you,” I whispered. A thick tension hung heavy inthe air, charged with unspoken desires, as our bodies fought the magnetic pull to come together.
A loud throat clearing echoed from the hallway, shattering the intense moment, the unexpected sound causing us to break apart in a rush.
“Hey, Max.” Angie said in greeting, awkwardly holding up a hand to wave.
“Hey, kiddo. Thanks again for agreeing to watch Charlie. I know you probably have better things to do on a Saturday night.”
“Nah, watching you two dance around like you’re both not attracted to each other is better than anything else I’d be doing tonight,” she joked with a laugh.
Modern teenagers were ruthless and I could see the blush creep over Max’s cheeks at the same time as mine. Not that we were dancing around our feelings, we were trying not to cross lines that couldn’t be uncrossed.
I felt the spark between us, but the reality of my life as a single mom—all the responsibilities and the potential pitfalls of dating—required careful consideration before I jumped in. I ached to be with Max. The thought of diving into bed with him was so tempting, but the thought of my daughter, our shared living situation, and the risks to my own heart halted my desire.
“Cool,” Max said awkwardly as he put a hand on my lower back and pushed me towards the door. “We’ll just be heading out now. Call if you need anything.”
I giggled at his blatant embarrassment and stepped into the humid summer air. It may have been close to sunset, but the air still held that midday heat long into the night.
Max insisted the date location would be a little chilly, a stark contrast to the warm summer air, so I reluctantly agreedto bring a cardigan, even if it clashed with the sex appeal I was trying to exude.
I was nervous and excited all in the same breath as he walked me to the passenger side door of his truck. I fought the urge to argue with him about opening my door, pushing it down since this was our first date and he was just being gentlemanly.
He closed the door and rounded the hood, hopping into the driver’s seat with effortless grace. Before starting the truck, he leaned across the bench seat to grab the seat belt above my shoulder. Crossing it over the front of my body, he buckled it with deft fingers.
“Gotta keep you safe, Trouble.” he whispered in my ear as he made his retreat to his side of the cab.
Internally, I scolded myself for getting worked up over a man buckling me in as a thrum of want pulsed at the apex of my thighs. I was an independent woman, damnit, and I wouldn’t let my traitorous lady bits go all melty over a man doing things I could do myself.
I rolled my eyes at him, and he grinned at my sass. I’m sure he could tell that his insistence on invading my personal space flustered me. He seemed to get a perverse satisfaction from pushing my boundaries, a smirk playing on his lips.
Max rolled down the windows, and we sat in companionable silence on the short drive down to the ranch entrance. We again didn’t feel the need to fill the air with mindless small talk. Listening to the peaceful sounds of the ranch was enough for both of us. It seemed to soothe the first date jitters enough for me to prod about our destination.
“So, do I get to know where we’re going on this ‘perfect’ date?” I asked, using air quotations around the word perfect in jest.
“It’s only about a five-minute drive from the ranch, but I promise you’ll love it.” He responded with a wink.
I scoffed and continued to look out the window at the fading sunset and incoming twilight. Before I knew it, we were pulling down an unmarked gravel road flanked by tall oak trees covered in Spanish moss. I quirked an eyebrow in Max’s direction and he chuckled.
“Don’t worry, I told you I wasn’t a serial killer, remember?” he joked.
I let loose a loud laugh at the fact that I hadn’t needed to say a word, and he knew exactly what I was thinking. Although the scenery was a little creepy, I didn’t feel unsafe. Knowing that Max was with me gave me all the confidence to know that nothing would harm me.
He pulled up to a small clearing and put the truck in park. I looked out the front window with that quirk still in my eyebrow. Nothing around us screamed ‘date’. There were no buildings, no other cars, and no lighting.
The surrounding forest was completely still, minus the idling of Max’s truck.
“Come on, Trouble,” he said after cutting the engine, unbuckling, and opening his door. I didn’t wait for him to come around and open mine as I unlatched the belt and hopped out of the passenger seat.
The sigh of frustration that came from Max’s lips as he reached for the door handle made me chuckle. I patted him on the chest as I walked into the glow of his still lit headlights and turned around with a grin.
