Chapter 6
PRAIRIE
O nce I relaxed a bit, the ball was a lot of fun. Daniel was an incredibly attentive date, and we alternated dancing and mingling. People seemed very interested to meet me. Was it because I was new in town, or because I was with Daniel? Maybe people were just extra friendly here. I wasn’t sure.
Just after meeting his brother Jacob and his girlfriend Sierra, I saw Daniel’s head perk up as he looked to the front entrance.
“Jacob, with me. Prairie, stay with Sierra.”
The two men raced for the front door, and just a moment later, their parents and a few of the toughest-looking townspeople followed.
“What’s going on?” I asked Sierra.
“No idea. Andrew barely had to call for them and they came running though, which is kind of nice.” She smiled brightly. “They’re a really close-knit family. Always helping each other out. It’s pretty amazing.”
“How long have you been dating Jacob?” I asked.
Sierra stared up at the ceiling for a second, counting in her head. “Thirteen days? We met at the airport on the tenth.”
I sputtered with laughter. “Thirteen days? It looks like the two of you have been together forever.”
“I know,” Sierra laughed with me. “It’s ridiculous, isn’t it. But there’s something about falling in love in Holly Valley at Christmas that just seems to fast forward everything. I knew I was in love with him almost immediately. It just took a few days for me to relax and accept that it was real.”
“Any advice on how to deal with the King family?” I asked.
“Oh, I certainly don’t know them very well yet. But my Aunt Lucy says they’re the most down to earth people you’ll ever meet.”
“Good.”
My eyes kept darting to the tables of food, as I was still pretty hungry. Sierra followed my gaze. “Hey, let’s grab a bite before they come back.”
We went to the buffet, where she headed straight for the potato salad, but I didn’t want to get anything creamy all over my lips. Nibbling some cheese and crackers, I kept my eye on the door.
A man who must have been Andrew, the middle brother, came back in with his arm around a girl who seemed quite upset. Just a minute later, Daniel and Jacob returned.
Daniel dashed to the bar, fetched the girl a half glass of champagne, and spoke with them all for a moment. Then he came back to us, shaking his head.
“Nice to meet you, Prairie. I’m sure I’ll see you around,” Sierra said. Jacob was already gathering her up in a hug as Daniel took my hand to lead me away.
“Is everything okay?” I asked.
“It is now.” He swept me into his arms, then we spun around the room in another dance.
Daniel’s lips lowered to my ear. “Your parents keep giving us funny looks. Do they not approve of you going out with me?”
I turned, looking over to see them both with strange expressions I couldn’t read. “I couldn’t imagine that they wouldn’t approve of you,” I said.
“Should we go talk to them?” he asked. “Maybe I should have re-introduced myself when I picked you up. Sorry.”
The song ended, and I smiled up at him. “Actually, just give me a moment. I’ll find out what’s up.”
“Okay.”
He leaned down as if to kiss me, then stopped, squeezing my hand instead. “I guess I shouldn’t kiss you if they’re looking. I’ll save that for later.”
How could a man I barely knew be so impossibly thoughtful? Although I didn’t want to leave him for even a second, I walked over to my parents’ table and sat beside Mom.
“I can’t believe you’re here with one of the King boys,” she said, her eyes wide and slightly horrified.
“He’s really nice,” I said. “We had a lovely dinner, and have a lot in common, actually.”
Mom’s eyes dropped to my bosom, which looked even fuller and rounder than usual in this dress. “I hope you didn’t eat very much in front of him.”
“Oh my God – Mom, have you been talking to Lila or something?”
I couldn’t believe that she would say such a thing to me.
It wasn’t like I hadn’t tried. I’d been through all the diets and programs and stuff in my late teens.
My figure just wanted to be a bit bigger, and I was fine with it, until other people brought it up.
But now I could feel my body curling in on itself, wanting to hide.
“You’d best watch your step with that one,” Dad said quietly. “Everyone respects the opinion of the Kings. Make sure they only have positive things to say about us.”
So much for getting any relationship advice.
“Since you asked,” I said pointedly, “I’m having a lovely time with Daniel, and I’m definitely going to see him again.”
I flounced away, trying not to giggle, since I’d never had the opportunity to flounce before in my life.
Approaching Daniel as he was speaking with two men who were clearly old friends, he reached for me before I was even at his side.
His thick arm around me felt perfect as he tucked me against him. “Trevor, Phil, this is my beautiful Prairie.”
I reached my hand toward Trevor, but Daniel took it, pulling me back. “Don’t shake hands with these dirty men. They’re not good enough to touch you.”
The three of them laughed, as if they’d been teasing each other for years.
Phil said, “Nice to meet you, Prairie. It’s a shame that you’ll leave town due to sheer boredom if you keep hanging out with this guy.”
“Unless you’re addicted to woodworking, and martial arts movies, which are the only things he ever talks about,” Trevor added.
“Thanks for the warning,” I said, turning to Daniel and raising my eyebrow. “We were just talking about movies, and you didn’t mention those.”
Daniel shrugged. “Girls don’t like them.”
“Are you kidding me? I think I’ve watched everything that Jet Li, Michelle Yeoh, or Donnie Yen has ever starred in.”
Daniel blinked hard. “You really are perfect for me.”
I waved to his friends as Daniel guided me to the dance floor again. Three songs later, I could not get enough of his hands all over me and his breath against my neck as he held me close.
When it came time for him to drive me home, I didn’t want the night to end.
As Daniel helped me into my coat, his brow furrowed. “You need a warmer coat since you’re living here now.”
“I normally wear lots of layers, but you know…this dress.”
We walked to the truck, where the passenger side was facing away from the building. Daniel opened the door, using it to block the wind as he pulled me into his arms.
“I’m a big fan of this dress,” he said. “Even though it’s keeping me from seeing this incredibly sexy body.” His hand slipped under my coat to grip my waist, then grazed down my hip.
Daniel’s eyes were illuminated by the street light, and I watched carefully as his pupils widened the more he touched me. Watching him becoming aroused just by being so near me was thrilling.
He tipped my head back, kissing along my throat while I trembled against him. “I’ll never be cold if you touch me like this,” I murmured, reaching up to wind my fingers through the back of his hair.
Guiding his lips to mine, his kiss practically knocked me over. It wasn’t just the physical pressure of his mouth on mine, which was so sexy I could barely breathe. It was what it represented. I could sense his feelings, which were far more intense than I could have ever anticipated.
“Baby,” he murmured, as his hand slipped up my ribs. “May I touch you?”
“Yes,” I breathed against his lips. I wasn’t sure what he meant exactly, until his hand slipped into my dress, under my bra, to gently caress my breast.
“So soft, baby,” he whispered. “I can’t believe how soft you are for me.”
I wanted to tell him how my thighs were quivering for him. How my panties were growing wet for him. How, even though my head was spinning, I needed so much more.
His thumb toyed with my nipple until I whimpered, then his other hand slipped down my back to grab my ass firmly.
“So sexy,” he growled. The change in his tone thrilled me to the core. “Even though I’m going to be a gentleman and drive you home right now, I need you to understand that I’m going to be thinking about you all night, Prairie.”
Nodding, I gasped, “And I’ll be thinking about you.”
He kissed me hard and deep, sending both chills and heat through every corner of my body.
I’d never felt so sensual or so wanted in my life. As if Daniel was actually hungry for me. It was a heady sensation that surprised me.
I absolutely loved it.
As he slowly released me, giving me another kiss before stepping back to look into my eyes, I realized something else.
I was falling completely in love with him.