Chapter 10 #2
He continues, “Their motives will always outwit your good intentions.” He shifts the truck into drive. “Don’t settle, okay?”
“I won’t,” I reply, not entirely sure what he expects from me. I step back from the truck and shut the door, though, as some form of guilt inches its way into my subconscious.
“See ya, Lark.”
“See ya.” His words slow my steps as I walk to the front door. Did he see Harbor and me talking last week at the party? Catch us alone upstairs? Or is Dane just looking out for me in general?
He may be sharing what he thinks is best, but he also tried to plant a seed of doubt.
He seems to have forgotten that I’m usually a good judge of character. I might have been blinded by Harbor’s good looks, and he certainly has a way with words, but our interactions have been sincere and not fake in any way.
Although Dane’s looking out for me, he’s also being overprotective when he has no need to be. Irritation covers me like an itchy wool sweater. I scratch my chest before the seed embeds itself and go inside the apartment.
I work hard.
I study all the freaking time.
No one needs to worry about me.
I’m the same girl I’ve always been.
I’m not like the typical Pointe crowd, and that’s why Harbor likes me.
He likes me for me.
Genuine.
But just in case, I should take a shower and wash away the smell of work. I set the tip Larry gave me aside for tonight and then hurry to take a quick shower.
As soon as I’m dry, I pull on a dress that I never thought I could pull off, but Harbor inspires me to want to try. The T-shirt material of the dress clings when I roll it down my body. The dusty-rose color makes it lean toward sweet instead of being too showy, which I prefer.
The lace line of my undergarments wraps around my hips, but it doesn’t bother me. Trying to be as fast as possible and still look my best, I run a towel over my hair once more and decide to let it hang naturally.
I struggle to apply my makeup while taming the butterflies that have been fluttering inside my belly since I got home.
I left Dane’s words at the door. Harbor’s given me no reason to second-guess his intentions and given me plenty of reasons to trust him and continue to do so until he proves me otherwise.
Like I told him, he’s a risk I’m willing to take.
I grab my phone from the dresser, finally almost ready. I text him: Hi, I’m ready when you are.
A return text pops up: Is it bad that I’ve been here for twenty minutes?
I can’t stop the giddiness from swelling inside and let the butterflies fly freely as I slip on a pair of white Converse sneakers. I know myself too well, and unlike Amanda, I’m not great in heels.
I text him: Not bad at all. I’ll be right out.
Looping my purse over my body, I realize it’s midnight. I don’t stay up this late unless I’m studying. I definitely don’t go out this late to start partying. Who am I?
I laugh as I hurry out of the apartment and through the house's entry. Leaning against his sleek car, he waves, his lopsided grin endearing.
My heart just about beats right out of my chest when I realize what he’s doing.
“Me?” I mouth.
“Yeah, you.”
Standing so assuredly in front of me with his hands in the pockets of his jeans and pushed-up sleeves of a gray Henley, he gives me a good look at his biceps.
Every dip and peak of his muscles pushes against the fabric.
He finally pushes off the car, starts up the path to greet me, and says, “That movie doesn’t age well. ”
“The romance of it clouds my mind, and I saw it when I was seven, so I probably didn’t understand it, either.” We stop in front of each other, and he takes my hands in his, holding them between us. “He cheats on his longtime girlfriend.” I didn’t understand that at seven, either.
“It was justified. His girlfriend wasn’t his soul mate.”
My cheeks flame but with the broken streetlamp and the burnt-out bulb behind me, I’m pretty sure he can’t tell. I smile. I mean, how can I not when he’s speaking about destiny? Lifting on my toes, I close my eyes and kiss him under the stars.
When our lips part, and my heels hit the pavement again, I will my knees not to go weak from the presence of this man. I ask, “What’s the plan?”
“You kiss me like that again, and we’ll stay in for the night.”
“You say that like it’s a bad thing.”
He shrugs. “Good or bad, life is what we make it.”
We walk to the car, and I ask, “Did you watch the movie for me?”
Opening the door, he says, “Yes. I’m taking a crash course in the study of main characters.” After I get in the car, he shuts the door, but when he slides into the driver’s seat, he adds. “I want to perform my role to the fullest.”
“I’ll let you in on a little secret.”
He leans over the console. I run the tips of my fingers over the day’s scruff shadowing his cheek, and whisper, “To me, you’re already an Academy Award winner for making me feel so special.”
“You are special. I’ve never met anyone like you, Lark.” He puts a finger on my lips. “And because I know you were about to ask, that’s a good thing.”
His lips replace the finger, and we kiss until the windshield starts to fog up.
I’ve never had the luxury of being someone special. Believe me, I’m not the girl to think poorly of myself. I was raised to know my worth, and I know I’m attractive, but I’ve also never been the girl who outshines all the others.
“Where do you want to go?”
“Anywhere as long as it’s with you.”
God, he makes it so tempting to stay home and invite him in, which is so unlike me.
Amanda calls me sweet and innocent, but I can be wild and spontaneous.
And tonight, Harbor is making me second-guess my inhibitions.
The jaw that ticks when he’s in thought, the brown eyes that anchor trust in the centers like a haven, and that muscular build of his have me feeling the opposite of sweet or innocent.
And I haven’t even had a drink yet.
What about him has me ready to trade my V card for more experience?
It might be these soft seats and the fancy car.
Although I’m not usually superficial like that, I’m impressed.
But it will take a lot more than a Maserati to get me into bed.
I glance over at him, and that smirk, the perfection of his face, and those eyes looking at me like I’m something he wants to devour have me feeling this way.
He’s no boy and not a guy.
Harbor Westcott is all man.
Oh my, oh my, I don’t stand a chance. “You’ll do anything I want to do? That’s very amenable of you.”
Harbor starts the car and then sits back, buckled in, looking every bit the playboy I was warned about. Something about bad boys is just so irresistible.
With a wink, he replies, “What can I say? I like to hedge my bets.”