Chapter 21 #2
Kieran’s eyes light up at that. “She does?”
Reaching over, I lay my hand gently on his arm, surprised to feel him relax at the small gesture. “Yeah, just give her time, Kieran. I know how frustrating and worrisome it is, but everyone has their own timeline for these things.”
“You’re very good at that.”
“At what?”
Kieran moves his hand to the gear shift, his muscles bunching in his arms as he does so. Changing a car gear shouldn’t be as attractive as it is, but something about his tan skin and rippling veins has me swallowing thickly and squeezing my thighs together.
I’m so distracted I almost miss when he says, “Soothing people.”
“You think I soothe people?”
He gives me a look as we come to a stop at another red light. “I don’t think, I know. You soothe me every day.”
I can’t stop my eye roll. “That’s because you’re easy to please.”
Kieran scoffs as if that offends him. “Am not.”
“Kieran, I could give you a box of cereal and it would soothe you.”
His gravelly laugh fills the truck and I wish I could bottle the sound.
Knowing that we’re going to talk about being intimate has every one of my nerve endings activated. It’s like I’m a live wire and Kieran is the electricity running through my veins, powering me.
“Easy or not, it’s still your superpower. You even do it with Emmy. I’ve seen you stop a toddler tantrum in its tracks and that is no easy feat.”
His compliment has my cheeks heating, the flush making its way down my neck and turning my skin the same shade as the hair cascading in curls down my back. Peering at him out of the corner of my eye I bite the inside of my cheek to try and stop the large grin that wants to be set free. “Thank you.”
Kieran winks. “Anytime, sunshine.”
He flicks his blinker on and the next thing I know, we’re pulling into the parking lot of an outdoor shopping center.
Frowning, I turn to him, expecting to see him confused or lost, but he’s the exact opposite. He seems giddy, his smile holding a secret. “Ready for the best date you’ve ever had?”
My brows furrow. He’s taking this life list very seriously. Kieran’s looking at me so intently I don’t have the heart to tell him that I’ve been on dates before. He knows this isn’t my first date, right?
Seeing something in my gaze, he chuckles. “Relax, I’m just saying this is going to top all the other losers who were blessed by the heavens to take you out.”
“Superpower,” I murmur to myself as I turn to get out of the truck.
His hand whips out and clutches mine. “Wait.” Sliding out of the truck, he jogs with a pep in his step around the passenger side and opens my door for me, holding out his hand with a smirk. “After you.”
“Laying the charm on thick tonight, are we?”
He winks. “Always with you.”
After closing the truck door, he holds out his hand and I don’t know why but I falter at the offer.
He moves closer to me, brushing his lips ever so slowly past the shell of my ear. “I know your list is long and explicit so if you want to be a good girl and tick them off, you need to at least take this baby step and hold my hand.”
The deep timbre of his voice, the words pouring from his lips, all I can think about is the way his drawl is a borderline growl, the sound making liquid heat pool in my belly.
I’m really doing this with him.
If I told myself a year and a half ago that I’d be standing here with Kieran, the healthiest I’ve ever been in ten years with him offering his hand as he teases that he’s going to take my virginity…I’d simply pass out.
What has become my life?
I know I made a promise to myself to live when I came back, to soak up every day that I woke up without aches and pain, my body not weighing me down by its horrendous immune system but this goes beyond the limitations of normal everyday life and lands squarely in the astounding category.
My breathing grows labored, my eyes firmly locked on his shirt in front of me. I can feel his lips tug up into a smile against the side of my face.
He’s patient, so incredibly patient.
And something tells me he’s been waiting for something far greater than to hold my hand.
Sliding mine in his, savoring the warmth and hardness of his calluses, I suck in a hiss of air as he gives my hand a squeeze and drawls, “Good girl.”
Dear god, this man is going to have me in the palm of his hand before I even hand over my list.
Kieran leads me along the sidewalk of the outdoor shopping center, tugging me out of my frozen stupor. I take in my surroundings, noting that most of the shops are closed, but that doesn’t surprise me since it’s nearing late evening.
The farther we walk, the deeper my frown grows.
Where is he taking us?
Kieran peers down at me, his gaze flicking between taking in every inch of my face and in the direction we’re heading toward. If I didn’t know any better, I’d say the slight fidget in his free hand is because he’s nervous.
But that can’t be. Kieran Ashford doesn’t get nervous.
He’s cocky, he’s arrogant, and my god is he beautiful.
I catch the moment he lifts his head, his gaze snagging on something that turns the nervous tilt of a grin into a full-blown smile, one that’s so contagious I suddenly find my lips wanting to mimic his.
I can’t look away from him when he’s like this.
“Ready?” he asks.
He’s so much taller than me I’m beginning to get a kink in my neck.
Nodding, I let him turn me to…a bookstore?
Before I can process what’s happening, Kieran is opening the door, ushering me in first before shaking hands with a middle-aged woman who is bouncing on the ball of her toes.
“You have no idea how excited I am to host for you tonight, Mr. Ashford.” She looks at him over the top of her square glasses. “As you can imagine, a lot of us book lovers are hockey fans.”
Kieran laughs with his full chest, the hearty sound pebbling my skin with goosebumps.
The conversation between him and the owner drowns into a faint buzz as my eyes take in the colorful store. By the artwork and special touches placed all around, I instantly can tell it’s independently owned. Indie stores wear their love on their walls, and it shows in this one beautifully.
How have I never been here before? How did I not know about it?
And more importantly, how did Kieran know that I favor indie bookstores?
“Welcome to Lover’s Lane,” the woman greets, her enthusiasm palpable. “My name is Anne, and believe it or not, you are the very first person to rent out our store.”
My eyes widen to the point where I no doubt look like a cartoon character. I turn my gaze to Kieran, but he’s already watching me.
“Surprise,” he whispers.
“Y-you rented out the store?” I stutter out.
Kieran’s chin dips, those ocean blue eyes sucking me into their riptide.
He swallows thickly, the tension between us growing to such a feet Anne’s cheeks flush as she stammers, “I-I’ll leave y’all to it! Enjoy my store, I’ve poured my heart and soul into it. You’ve got three hours. Give me a holler if you need anything!”
She hightails it out of her own store so fast it makes me realize that the thick tension between Kieran and me must truly fill a room.
He rented a bookstore for me.
A bookstore.
My heart is in my throat and on display in my eyes for Kieran to see. “This is the most extravagant, thoughtful thing someone has ever done for me.”
“Do you like it?” he asks, a little shyly.
“Like it?” I can’t help but laugh. “Kieran, I love it. You’re making it impossible for anyone to top this.”
His eyes grow dark. “Good.”
My lips part, Kieran tracking the movement.
“You know, this happens in my favorite book,” I confess.
A coy smile spreads across his lips. “Does it?”
“I’ve read the book a hundred times, and that’s no exaggeration. It’s practically falling apart. I’ve already had to reglue the spine twice.”
“Seems I chose well, then.”
“Extremely.”
Kieran reaches up and tucks a lock of my fiery red hair behind my ear, stealing my breath with his close proximity. His gaze bores into my soul as he whispers, “Show me what you love, Layla.”