Chapter 14
Harrison
Holy hell. What is wrong with me? This girl was probably on a date with another guy, and I’ve moved right in. Sure, I don’t want to believe it. But she hasn’t denied she was with him. Kiss or no kiss. And the unmistakable taste of alcohol on her lips is causing me concern.
“Wow.” Harlow catches me off guard. “Okay. I’m not sure what just happened there. But I think I like the sedated version of you better. Or at the very least, the tease from the ER.”
Fuck. It’s clear she’s hurt.
“Just as well. You’re probably married or in a relationship with someone else, anyway. That seems to be the only type interested in me. Living out of town has its benefits and all that.”
“Wait, wait.” Grabbing her hand in mine, I’m heading in the direction of my table when I reconsider. “Were you on a date with that bastard at the bar?”
“Um, no,” she spits out in annoyance as she withdraws her hand from mine and crosses her arms over her chest. The action thrusts her cleavage higher, and I try to look away. But this woman is literally the most beautiful creature I’ve ever met. So that’s futile. I can’t keep my eyes off of her. I nearly got third-degree burns last week just hoping for a glimpse.
“Please, come sit down.” I raise my hand to signal a server as I walk back in the direction of my table. “Would you mind terribly bringing the remainder of her meal and wine over?”
“No, no,” Harlow interrupts, flopping into the seat across from me. I can feel my forehead deepen in a scowl. “I was done eating.”
“Another drink, Miss?”
“No, thank you. I’m probably heading out. Can you bring my check?”
My chest begins to ache. How have I fucked this up? The server walks away, and I reach for her hand, but she retreats, placing it in her lap before fixating on the window with the bay in the distance.
“Harlow. Look at me. Please?”
She reluctantly turns back, her sad eyes holding mine.
“It hit me that I wasn’t a hundred percent sure you weren’t on a date. I didn’t want you to be caught in some scandalous, small-town scuffle if that guy came at us in the middle of the restaurant.”
Her expression seems to soften a bit at this, so I curl my fingers toward me, hoping she’ll know what I’m asking for. My face lights up like a kid at Christmas when she does, placing her hand back in mine.
“You’re really cute when you pout.”
Harlow instantly rolls her hand in mine so she can give me her middle finger.
Leaning forward, I lift her hand to my mouth and nibble on the tip of the offending digit. “On top of that, you tasted like you’d been drinking.”
Her hand immediately balls into a fist, and I think she’s going to retreat, so I clamp down harder.
“I’m not judging you. I just didn’t want to take advantage.” I lean in closer, attempting to keep our conversation private. “Fuck, Harlow. I’ve fantasized about you for weeks and weeks. You don’t think I want to keep kissing you? Or more? I needed to make sure you were clear-headed before things went any further. Not to mention…”
“What?” she blurts.
“Even with the suit on, I wasn’t going to be able to hide what you were doing to me if we kept that up out there.” I give her a pointed look and enjoy the relief that washes over me as her smile returns.
“I’m not intoxicated. On alcohol anyway.” She winks.
“Good.” I beam back at her. “Leave your car here and come back with me?”
“Well, that’s a little presumptuous, isn’t it?”
“I never said anything about sleeping with you. It’s not my fault your mind is in the gutter. I only wanted to continue our date. Plus, now I’ll have an excuse to see you in the morning.”
“This is a date now?” She laughs. “I have to be the cheapest date in town.”
“Why?”
“Um, I’m buying my own dinner. With a gift certificate.” She giggles.
“Yeah, you really are cheap.” I snicker. “C’mon, Harlow. Let’s make this the Cheap Date Traveling Road Show. Next date, I’ll buy you whatever your heart desires.”
She gives me a suspicious glance.
“But for the rest of this one, come back to Candy Cane Key with me.” The server returns with her check and her purse, and I hastily grab the bill from him. I’m tempted to give her the gift certificate back, but only if she promises to use it with me.
Harlow’s quiet for a moment, tapping her finger against her lower lip. “Now, how’s a girl supposed to turn down an offer like that?”
Jumping from my seat, I swiftly head for the door, her hand in mine, before she can change her mind.
“Where’s the fire, mister?” Harlow tugs at my arm. When I look back, she’s pointing to the four-inch lace up sandals she’s wearing.
“Sorry.” My face heats as I glance down at her sexy shoes.
“You’re cute when you’re an eager beaver.”
As we exit the front doors of The Conch House, I rotate my hand in hers, holding them high enough to pretend to scratch my nose with my extended middle finger. Two can play this game.
We reach my truck, and I open the passenger side door for her. Watching my mermaid climb into my beat-up old Ford is surreal. I have no idea what to do or where we should go, but I’m not passing up the chance to spend time with her.
We make the long drive back to Candy Cane Key primarily in silence. I’m so over the moon about this girl, that simply listening to the radio, stealing glances at her in the front seat of my truck is doing it for me. I can’t even hold her hand, because the other one’s in a cast. My dick has been hard since our dance, I guess it could steer for me. But I don’t trust that guy.
Luke Combs’s deep voice comes through the truck’s speakers, singing about how nothing lasts forever but the girl in his kitchen, wearing a T-shirt, and no makeup. I’m certain this girl would have me singing the same tune if she was at home with me, bare faced and comfortable. While she’s stunning as she is, all dressed up for a night on the town, I’m sure she’s equally beautiful first thing in the morning. Of course, this thought has my cock bearing down on my zipper again.
“So, if that guy wasn’t there with you, why were you all dressed up?” I ask, my curiosity getting the better of me.
“Because I felt like it,” she says, lifting her chin, a tinge of defensiveness in her tone. “I could ask you the same thing.”
Glancing in her direction, I notice she’s not making eye contact but staring out the window.
“Baby, do you have any idea how sexy that is?” I wait for her to look at me before continuing. “I was there for a business meeting. But it had to be kismet. I mean, what are the odds we’d both be there?” It may sound sappy, but I don’t care. I’m not holding back with this girl now that I finally have her with me.
This time, when her gaze connects with mine, there’s a twinkle in her eye. “You might be right.”
“I think it’s hot as fuck that you went there alone, dressed to have men falling at your feet.” I wink. “Don’t ever dim your light for anyone, Harlow.”
There’s a metallic click just before I feel her slide over to my side and slip her hand onto my thigh as she leans in to me. Hell, this woman. There’s only about ten miles left before we reach my place and barely anyone on the road. As much as I want to keep her safe, I’m not trading this for anything.
As we reach my place, I park, slide my suit jacket off, putting it in the back seat, and come around to her side of the truck. “You okay if we go down to the beach for a bit? I want to finish our dance.”
She gives me a quizzical glance before answering, “I’d love that.”
“But first…” I try to untie her delicate sandals with one hand, the laces weaving around her calves are making me harder still. Harlow senses my struggle and bends to remove them. Lifting her with my good arm, she wraps her legs around my waist, and I carry her to the wooden pathway down to the sand before placing her back on her feet.
“This is your place?” Her question comes out quietly over the sound of the surf.
“Yes. But I brought you here so I could enjoy the evening alone with you. Nothing more. I can take you to your place whenever you want to go, and I’ll pick you up in the morning and bring you back to your car. Or if you aren’t comfortable here, I can—”
“Harrison, I’m fine.” She reaches for my good hand and entwines her fingers with mine. It’s both natural and electric. There’s a tangible current traveling between our limbs with each step. Lifting the back of her hand to my mouth, I give it a chaste kiss, fully expecting the charge to vibrate against my mouth. If you’d told me this night would end this way, I’d swear you were crazy.
As we move down the soft white sand, I drop her hand in order to reach for my phone. Pulling up my playlist, I find the Chris Stapleton song we danced to earlier before placing the phone on a piece of driftwood. The sound of the ocean waves mutes the song, but it’s enough.
“Come here.” I reach for her and pull her against my body as the easy melody guides our movements. Dancing under the moonlight with her feels like a dream. I only wish I could get rid of this damn cast. I just can’t get close enough to her. With her hands resting on the back of my neck, I move my good hand down her spine, around her waist, and up her arm. Goosebumps dot her flesh, and I pray it’s from my touch and not the evening ocean breeze.
Unable to hold back a moment longer, I tuck a tendril of hair that’s dancing in the wind behind her ear and lean in for a kiss. Brushing my lips back and forth over hers, I dart my tongue out to tease until she parts for me. The taste of her is as intoxicating as any alcohol I’ve ever consumed. She’s sweet, warm, and inviting. I could make a meal of her mouth and never go hungry.
We nibble and lick and kiss, rocking back and forth to music that’s no longer there. I drop my hand to her ass, giving it a gentle squeeze as I continue to devour her mouth, my erection so hard I’m surprised my zipper hasn’t ripped from the pressure.
“Harrison,” she moans against my lips.
“Yes?”
“Please tell me you won’t think badly of me.”
I instantly pull back from her, unsure what she’s trying to say. Hell, is she already wanting to go?
“It’s only our first date and, well…”
I stand paralyzed, praying she’s not asking me to take her home. I’m not ready to say goodbye.
“I want you.”