Chapter 16
SIXTEEN
Dane
The jets beat on my back muscles as I roll my neck, trying to stretch out the knots.
Snagging my phone off the nearby table, I reread Kendall’s text.
I sure as hell am going to invite her back here after our date.
The thoughts running through my mind with her in the hot tub next to me.
It’s making my dick hard. I shake it off and respond to her.
Dane:
Then you have an open invite… anytime. You, me, the hot tub, and no need for a bathing suit.
Kendall:
If I don’t, then neither do you ;)
This woman—she’s feisty, sassy, and she will be all mine. Tomorrow night, I will treat her like the strong, independent woman that she is.
I’m starting to sweat way too much. Time to hop out and shower.
Drying myself off, I hang up the towel on the hook by the hot tub and make my way inside.
As I step into the bathroom with the cool floor on my feet, I stare at my reflection in the mirror.
It reminds me I haven’t been sleeping well.
I undress and slip into the cold spray of the shower, cooling off my body.
Once I’m done in the bathroom, I pull the covers down on my bed and slide in. It doesn’t take me long, and my eyes are so heavy I crash into a deep sleep.
In my dream, I see Kendall’s face, her smile, her lightness.
She’s like an angel twirling in a white dress.
The sun is beaming down on her like a spotlight.
I’m in awe of her beauty and her fiery red hair flying in the air all around her.
I feel a smile spread across my face as I watch her.
Then our eyes meet, the excitement and heaviness in my chest, and all I want to do is hold her in my arms. She never breaks eye contact as she moves her body toward me.
Her smile never leaves her face. When she finally stands in front of me, I reach up, cup her face, and caress her cheek with my thumb.
She leans into my touch. Those emerald green eyes hypnotize me, like I can’t look away from her if I wanted to.
She has a hold on me. My entire body is electrified, sparks firing as I gently press my lips to hers.
Then there’s a ringing noise that has my head spinning as I look for the source.
Turning ever so slightly back to Kendall, she’s gone. Vanished.
Where did she go?
The ringing is getting louder and louder. Just as I try to move, I realize I’m in bed. The sheets are tangled around my legs.
Once I untangle myself from the sheets, I sit up and run my hand over my face.
I glare over at my nightstand, where my phone is lit while the alarm keeps ringing.
Reaching over, I slam the stop button to shut the alarm off.
I groan. A few more hours of sleep wouldn’t hurt, but the day must begin, so I throw my legs over the edge and lift myself off the bed.
First things first—coffee. My mug is full, and the sun is shining, which means I’m sitting out on the deck to drink my coffee.
Dropping myself in the chair, I kick my feet onto the ottoman.
With my phone in my hand, I find the text messages with Kendall.
Rereading them, a smile takes over my face.
She isn’t even here; just thinking about her makes me smile.
I haven’t smiled like this in a very long time.
Dane:
Good morning, Gorgeous! I’ve been thinking…what if we start our date a little earlier? Noon work for you?
Not thinking she’ll respond immediately, I’m about to exit the message, and I see three dots.
Kendall:
Noon? You’re bold. You didn’t even answer my question from last night. Dodging me already?
Dane:
If I tell you, it will ruin the surprise. And you strike me as the type who loves to be teased. So… you sure you want to ruin the fun?
Kendall:
Fun is my middle name. Don’t tempt me with a good time. I love surprises.
Dane:
Then be ready at noon. And Kendall…wear something that’ll make it really hard for me to be a gentleman.
Kendall:
I can absolutely do that :)
Noon can’t come soon enough for me. My palms are sweaty, and I keep wiping them on my shorts.
It’s like I don’t know how to act. I’ve been on plenty of dates—well, maybe not dates.
Casual hookups are usually my thing. This woman makes me nervous, which is laughable considering I can go toe-to-toe with some pitbull defense attorneys and not flinch.
This woman, though, has my blood flowing in all the places, including my dick.
No questions asked, but now? Now I’m standing here, and it’s still an hour before I pick her up. Fuck it. I’m picking her up now.
Swiping my keys off the ring, I stalk out to my car and jump in.
On the way to pick her up, I think about spending time with her, getting to know her, and soaking up her sass.
I’m feeling like a teenager on my first date with a girl.
I shake my head at myself. I already know she’s someone special, and I can’t deny the instant attraction we had; now, it’s intensified.
I want to touch every part of that gorgeous body, but first… our official date.
I turn into her driveway. Running my hand over my hair and down to my beard, it’s go time. I didn’t bother texting her. She said she likes surprises, so this is one of them.
As my foot hits the bottom step, she opens the door. “What are you doing here?”
“Surprise!” I say with a bright smile.
Kendall is shaking her head. All I see is her red, fiery hair swaying in the air around her, like a goddess. She is wearing shorts and a tank top, with no bra—definitely no bra.
Keep your eyes up.
“You can’t show up unannounced an hour early to pick up a girl!” Crossing her arms over her chest and staring at me with daggers, she doesn't move.
With my eyes glued to hers, one foot in front of the other, I move toward her. She stands her ground. Lifting my hand, I brush a stray piece of hair back behind her ear. “You look gorgeous in anything…or nothing.” A sly grin passes over my face as I drag the back of my fingers over her cheek.
She closes her eyes, and I lean in to kiss her cheek. When she opens her eyes and feels me on her cheek, she chuckles. “Is this your way of distracting me?”
“Is it working?” My other hand holds her face, and I kiss her cheek one more time before saying, “You can take as long as you need to get ready.”
“You’re ridiculous.”
“I won’t argue with that.”
Grabbing my hand, she leads me inside with no hesitation.
Her confidence is radiating, and it’s attracting me to her with extreme force.
We take a quick right and end up in the living room.
She tries to swing me around to sit on the couch, but I’m too strong.
I end up sliding my hands over her arms and tugging her to me.
Gazing into her eyes, I move closer to her ear and whisper, “Go get ready. I want to take you out and show you the time of your life.”
She squeezes my biceps. “Okay, then give me fifteen minutes. I’ll be ready.”
“I’ll be waiting.”
Off she goes, swaying those sweet curves across the room.
I stand up and look around her living room.
Pictures of Kendall with a group of friends, which appear to span time, possibly starting in college.
Her hair stands out in each of the photos, and then her smile captivates me.
As I start at one end and make my way to the other, she becomes even more gorgeous with age.
I hear her shoes clicking on the hardwood floor.
Turning around, I watch her walk into the room.
Stunning. She takes my breath away; my feet automatically meet hers.
“You are gorgeous.” Sliding my hands through her hair, my thumbs linger near her cheeks.
Her eyes close as I caress her cheeks in a circular motion, and she lays her hands over mine.
Touching her. The heat from her hands sends fire through my arms, and like a wildfire, it spreads through my body.
Resisting her is impossible. I’m drawn to her every time she is in the same room as me; I just can’t keep my hands off of her. Or my lips.
With her eyes still closed, I dip down and glide my lips along her skin. So close to her lips, they move. She wants it too. Dragging my tongue over her bottom lip, she lets out a gasp. “Dane.”
“Kendall, I can’t keep my hands off you.”
Opening her eyes, she stares deep into me. “I thought you came over early to start our date.”
“You’re right.” I rub the back of my neck and then scratch my beard.
Picking her up and bringing her to bed would be the perfect way to spend the time before heading to the ferry, but she’s right; there’s more to today than having sex.
Although we could start with it if she wanted.
But it seems like she wants something more.
I slide my hands down her arms. “We could…”