Chapter 19
Link knew it would feel good seeing Ansley, but holding her in his arms was better than he’d expected. He liked how she didn’t hold back in wrapping her arms around him and pulling him close.
He leaned back just a little, expecting to say something witty or smart, but she glanced up and their gazes connected like perfect puzzle pieces. The magnetic pull drew him in, and her lips were right there.
Without hesitation, he brushed his lips over hers. The zap of electricity shot straight to his toes. Her fingers curled against his back, her arms pulling him closer.
They were outside on his driveway for all his neighbors to see. This wasn’t the best place for a romantic reunion. He lifted his head, her eyes fluttering open.
“You’re beautiful.”
Her lips tipped up in a goofy grin. “You’re not that bad looking yourself.”
“Let’s get you inside. I’ll get your bags.”
"The stuff in the trunk can stay until later. I just want to get my rucksack from the back seat, and the other two bags, so they aren't tempting to random people who walk past."
“Sure. I’ll get your rucksack, though this is North Carolina, not California.”
She nodded. “Fewer people.”
Link smiled as he opened the back door and grabbed the rucksack. “Oof, it’s heavy.”
Ansley’s laughter made him feel good. He liked how they were together. He hadn’t been imagining it when he’d rescued her.
“I packed heavy.”
"The potatoes are almost done. Also, the burgers will be done soon."
“Good. I’m hungry.”
They brought in the rest of her stuff that wasn’t in the trunk, and he gave her a brief tour of the house.
“The guest room is perfect. Thank you for letting me stay here. I’m thrilled to be here.”
“I’m glad you came.”
The oven timer rang, and she lifted her eyebrows. “The food?”
He chuckled. “Yes. The food. There is beer in the refrigerator. Or if you want something different, I have other stuff, too.”
“Beer would be great after some water. I should drink some water just to rehydrate.”
“That would be smart.”
“Sometimes I do smart stuff.”
She made him laugh. He liked that she wasn't so serious that they couldn't have fun. The potatoes were perfect, and the burgers were in the warmer. He pulled the condiments out of the refrigerator as he grabbed her a drink.
“I cut tomatoes and have some lettuce and pickles.”
“Thank you. This is great.”
They fixed their burgers and potatoes before they sat at the kitchen table. Ansley took a sip of her beer, sighing. He'd gone on dates where this part was awkward, but being with Ansley felt natural, like they were supposed to be together.
Ansley took a bite of the burger and moaned. “This is great.”
“Thank you. I enjoy cooking. I didn’t use to, but now I get into the details.”
“I’m a passable cook. Your burgers are superior to mine.”
“It took me years to get them this delicious.”
They ate more without speaking. It was a comfortable silence, not stilted at all. Then he picked up the conversation again.
“One thing I hated growing up was meatloaf, but I swear I’ve perfected a recipe that is amazing. I think I hated it because my mom’s meatloaf was dry and had little taste.”
She shook her head. “I didn’t grow up eating meatloaf. I honestly don’t think I’ve ever had it outside of the military, and I’m not sure that counts.”
Link threw back his head, laughter spilling out. "I've been at a few bases where the food was terrible, but I've also been lucky enough to have eaten food so good it was like going to a high-priced restaurant."
“That’s awesome. Sometimes it was slop, other times the food was good. This burger is amazing.”
She finished her food, tiredness creeping in with the lulling effect of the beer. No doubt, she would sleep well tonight.
After eating, she helped him clean the kitchen. Luckily, both of them agreed about washing dishes before bed.
It was only eight thirty, but exhaustion hit her hard, leaving her yawning almost continuously. Link pulled her into a hug, and she closed her eyes as she rested her head against his chest.
“I don’t know how much longer I can stay awake.”
“Go ahead and get some sleep. The coffee pot will be ready in the morning. All you have to do is press brew if I’m not up before you.”
“Thank you for inviting me here.”
“Of course. I wanted to see you. I’m glad you came. If you’re up to it tomorrow, my buddies want to meet you again. The last time you weren’t in the best shape when you met them.”
She chuckled. “That’s a gross understatement. I don’t know if I remember meeting any of them.”
He leaned back and met her gaze. She wished they knew each other better because she would love to sleep in his arms tonight.
“You were kind of out of it.”
His words brought more laughter. Maybe she was giggling so much because she was tired, but she felt lighter with him, like he really was a breath of fresh air.
She stepped back and stretched before turning to the guest room.
A sliver of disappointment wound through her.
They had plenty of time to have sex, and she knew it would be amazing.
But tonight she needed sleep, and she wanted to get to know him better.
Having a solid foundation in a relationship would hopefully help it last longer.
And she wanted this relationship with Link to last for a long time.