18. 18
“We should do this again,” Lisa said, once more curled up next to Deke. “Only next time you need to bring Ava. I’ll come up with some kind of game we can play.”
“Not the games again,” Cowboy said as he hauled the pizza into the kitchen.
“Why not games? We can play and talk, and it’s fun!” She wasn’t sure if she’d actually find games but teasing her brother about them was fun.
He gave her a warning look but didn’t argue. After giving her a hug, and shooting Deke a warning look, he left.
“That went better than I’d hoped,” Deke said once the door closed, and they heard his boots step off the porch.
“I thought so too. Probably because he decided it had to happen today and he was taking it easy on me.”
“Possibly. I was watching for him to get too aggressive, but it never happened.”
She turned so she could see Deke’s face. She liked to watch him while they talked. His expressions gave her a better idea of what he was thinking, even if he wasn’t ready to tell her.
“When was the last time you went to your place?”
Deke frowned. “Yesterday. I had to grab a few things for today’s ride.”
She winced. “Sorry about that. I didn’t mean to interrupt club time.”
“It’s not like you planned it, or even did it on purpose.” He lifted one shoulder, dismissing her concern.
“Anyway. Do you have any plans to go back to your place any time soon? To sleep I mean?”
Deke’s frown turned to a scowl. “Am I invading your space? Do you want a little time to yourself?”
“No! Not at all. I could have worded that better. I don’t want you to go anywhere. In fact, I’m headed in the other direction. I want you to stay. Indefinitely.”
“Are you sure? We haven’t been doing this for very long. What if you get tired of me or decide we just don’t match?”
Lisa couldn’t help the smile that curved her lips as she shook her head at him.
“I thought you knew.”
“Knew what?” Deke looked confused.
“I’ve loved you since I was fifteen.”
Deke opened his mouth to say something, but no sound came out. After a moment he tried again.
“I know that was when the way you followed Cowboy around changed. I noticed that you were there more when I was, and that you paid more attention to me. I’m glad you didn’t start chasing me harder until you were older, though.”
“I noticed you didn’t come around as much if I was going to be there after I turned seventeen.”
“After you started chasing me,” he said. He shook his head slowly. “I had noticed you, and if we’d been a lot closer in age, I might not have kept my distance. But as things were, you were jailbait, and my best friend’s baby sister. There was no way I was going there.”
“And now?”
“Now, the things I want to do to you will only get me thrown in jail in a few states.”
Lisa laughed.
“I think I need to hear more about these things you want to do. They sound like fun.”
Deke closed his eyes and took a deep breath, letting it out slowly as if she was trying his patience. She sure hoped so.
“We won’t be discussing them tonight. Tonight, we’re going to take it easy. Have a nice, quiet evening. Can we pick this subject up again tomorrow?”
“Which one? The illegal things you want to do to me,” she looked him up and down in an exaggerated leer, “or the possibility of you moving in?”
“Both actually.”
“We can, or we can put it off longer if you want. I’m not looking for an immediate answer. I wanted you to start thinking about it. I know what I want, now you need to decide what you want.” She turned back around and snuggled against his side. “So, what do you want to do now?” She didn’t care what they did if she got to do it with him.