Roots and Wings (City Limits #1)(25)

Was there something in the way she said that? The way she leaned her head to the side and the amber from the fast burning coals colored her hair, cheek, and neck might have played a trick on me.

I had to adjust a little in my seat.

Knowing I couldn’t, for it would be breaking some rule of the little game we’d created, made me want to kiss her all the more. I wanted to please her with my lips. I wanted my mouth on hers. I wanted to taste her warm skin, get in there and get a lungful of her scent—the same one I’d been teased with all night. I wanted her to moan a little and part her mouth open, and then I wanted her to sneak her tongue to meet mine when I took too long, just so I could see how long it would take her to want more. Then I’d give her more.

Still, I didn’t know her name. And even though I’d made up that stupid rule about not kissing a woman when I didn’t know her name, I was going to stand by it.

As much as I wanted her in that moment, I needed her to know where I stood when it came to giving my word.

I wanted her to trust what I said, to know my words and actions had more value than my touch. Than my kiss.

I’d believed in that kind of thing once.

This time I was going to know the person I was with, and there was something so damn seductive about prying out all of the pieces that made her … her.

“Can I help you with anything before I head back to town?” I asked, totally disappointed that I hadn’t guessed her name.

“Nope, I’m good.” She sighed, looking disappointed too. I liked that.

“So,” I began as we stood at the same time, “do you think you’ll let me guess your name again? Maybe Friday night?”

She bit her lip and failed at hiding a smile. I couldn’t resist any longer, and my hand reached out and touched her arm as she was looking down, making up her mind.

She sucked in a breath and said, “Sure.”

“Good.”

I moved my fingers over her arm and fought the urge to lean in, but failed. Near her ear I said, “And, Friday, if I guess, I’ll kiss you good night.”

Her head leaned into mine and our cheeks touched. O’Fallon’s skin was warm and I wanted more, I’d wait. Then she’d know for sure if she liked me or not. No more, she thinks she likes me a little.

Two could play her sexy little game.





Where did he come up with that stuff? Who in their right mind says those things? I was literally hanging on his every word all night. Something about that voice. Something about the way he spoke. It was so sexy. The words he chose. The intention behind it when he told me he wasn’t going to kiss a girl until he knew her name.

I liked it more than a little.

I liked him.

A lot.

He was funny and sincere, which made me comfortable enough around him that I could be myself, the real me. Not just Mutt, Darrell O’Fallon’s daughter. He was easy to talk to and interesting to listen to.

That was just skimming the top of his appeal.

The way he walked. The way he sat, long legs out in front of him. I’m a pretty tall girl at five-nine, but he stood taller, even over me. His broad shoulders, slim waist.

I wondered what he looked like naked.

I wondered what he looked like during sex.

Shit.

I needed to fall asleep, but I was finding it rather difficult with all of these new thoughts swimming around in my head. Never before had a man had this effect on me.

When he was around I was relaxed, yet I felt a pulsing tension. I told him things that I’d never told anyone. Not that they were secrets, but no one had ever bothered to ask. We’d talked about my dream of having a tackle shop. I’d never told anyone about that. Ever.

I lay on my bed in the cabin, glad I’d washed the sheets and blankets a few weeks back. It was the first night I’d stayed there that spring and already I knew I’d be spending a lot of time there that year.

How in the hell did he know where my cabin was? And Newcastle?

Must have been Donnie at the gas station, I figured.

Who better to tell him how to get out here? I’d bought the cabin from him. I should have known. I could have teased Vaughn about poaching information at the gas station.

I rolled over to look at the time on my phone. One-thirty.

I was going to be tired the next day.




Wednesday dragged by slowly.

Thursday did the same.

I didn’t go back out to the cabin, and I didn’t stop at Vaughn’s house every night as I passed, even though I really wanted to.

I was waiting for him to call. Then again, he’d asked me out. I didn’t know what the rules for dating were. Should I have called him? Was the ball in my court? Was I already messing this up? Maybe it wasn’t even a date-date. He didn’t have many friends in town yet, and it’s possible all city guys flirted like that.

How in the f*ck was I to know any of this shit? It was Thursday night, and all I could think about while I was in my shop working on a lures I’d promised to finish before the weekend.

My earbuds were in and I was lost in my thoughts, the pieces I was working on, and the music.

Then my phone rang—not that I’d been waiting for it to the past few days or anything.

Vaughn.

I took a deep breath and squeezed my hands tight with excitement before answering the call.