Breathe (Colorado Mountain #4)(61)

Which made me feel warm inside too.

“Don’t worry, Krys, her bein’ a virgin and him bein’ the kind of man he is, I’m sure you’ll get your chance,” Twyla assured.

I suddenly didn’t feel warm inside anymore.

“What kind of man is he?” I whispered and Krys and Twyla both looked at me.

Then they both said at the same time with the same emphasis, “All man.”

I felt a shiver. It wasn’t a bad one. It wasn’t a good one. It was a nervous one.

“Right, so I was freaked out. Now I’m nervous.”

Twyla tossed her hand in the air and stated, “You been seein’ each other awhile, that man’s been seein’ to you in that while, not pushin’ things, goin’ slow, keepin’ it controlled, you got no problem.”

“This is true,” Krys said leaning into me. “No kidding, Faye. That says a lot.”

I felt slightly better.

I still needed guidance.

“Um, so, how do I work in the panties and toothbrush? I mean, it’s not something you share over dinner,” I pointed out, trying not to blush but feeling the heat.

“He’s got his tongue in your mouth,” Krys began, “and he’ll have his tongue in your mouth. You’re on the couch, and you’ll be on the couch. When he takes his tongue out of your mouth, find a way to whisper it in his ear. That’ll speed things up.”

“Real quick,” Twyla agreed on a short nod.

Oh man. I was beginning to waiver on my tonight’s the night decision.

Twyla must have seen it because she leaned in. “He’s done good by you. He’s done good by this town. Word I hear, he’s pretty solid. So far, he’s taken care of you. He was way into you the other night. I may be into women but I spent a lotta time around men. You saved it awhile, you wanna give it away, you could do worse. But, honest to God, not sure you could find better.”

I smiled at her because that made me feel much better.

Unfortunately at that point, a patron approached the checkout desk with an armload of books. Fortunately, Krys and Twyla hung around long enough for them to vow to me they wouldn’t breathe a word about our discussion to anyone. One thing could be said of the two of them, if they vowed, which they did, they’d keep it.

And last, since I hoped I’d be unavailable the next morning, I asked them to take care of Malachi. Krys jumped on that, took my list of things I thought he’d need, promised to stop by the store and leave the bags by the return bin the next day.

So there I was, in my car on the road that led to Chace’s house. A road I’d only been on a few times in my life because there was no reason to go down it since it led to a dead end at the foot of the mountain and had nothing but a bunch of ranches on it. Those times I’d been on it were while driving around with kids in high school for no other reason than to pass time and listen to music loudly on the stereo.

I’d changed purses because I now had clean panties, my toothbrush and I’d added face wash, moisturizer, deodorant and one of my sexy new nighties so I needed a bigger one. I thought it best to be prepared. If I was spending the night, I didn’t want to sleep in makeup. Slept-in makeup looked awful in the morning.

I also had my sexy undies on and, just in case, had been wearing nothing but those every time I saw Chace which meant every day since I’d bought them. I’d changed out of my work skirt and into jeans, brushed my hair and done the run through a spritz of perfume routine. I was chewing on a piece of bubblemint because Chace told me in a growl during a make out session he loved the way I tasted. So if bubblemint was an addiction before, suffice it to say it was an obsession now.

And I was nervous as all fraking heck.

His house came in sight and I knew it was his because he told me it was the only one surrounded by a white picket fence. He also had the porch light on and there were some bright floodlights at the side of the house that were lighting up the lane and the drive.

I grabbed the wrapper, spit my gum in it, balled it up, threw it in my cup holder, deep breathed and turned in his drive.

I parked, set the parking brake and when I went for my door, I saw the door to Chace’s house open. Chace, in jeans, a shirt and a kickass sweater, was walking out of it.

The deep breathing stopped working.

I managed to grab my bag, throw open the door and jump out. I slammed the door and walked up the cleared path, my eyes to Chace. He was standing at the top of the porch steps following my progress with his eyes at the same time looking outrageously hot. I figured this last wasn’t because his outfit was better than any other I’d seen him in because it wasn’t. Nothing beat the outfit he wore to The Rooster. Not even when I saw the faded jeans shirt in its full glory.

It was because I was hoping I’d very soon see him out of his clothes altogether and I figured it would be a good view.

I kept deep breathing, stopped at the foot of the steps and looked up at all his gorgeousness.

Nervous, fearing I’d pass out, I said the first idiotic thing that came to mind and luckily it was just idiotic and not mortifying.

“Do you like dogs and cats?”

His head jerked and I watched his eyes, warm on me even in the cold night, blink.

“What?”

“Dogs and cats. Do you like them?” I pressed on regardless of the fact it made me sound like an idiot. I’d started down this road. I had to follow it to its fruition. Hopefully, though, it was less a road and more like a short lane.