I didn’t hesitate to let myself into her apartment and follow the sound. Stopping outside the bathroom door, I listened to Michelle’s shallow breathing and the slight rustle of clothes.
“You should go,” I said to Jim.
“Not a chance. I want to see the dress.”
“She might not even be dressed yet.”
“Then I’m definitely staying.”
His words didn’t bother me because I knew what he was doing. Michelle and I were both nervous. Jim was our comic relief. It was a role he’d filled many times in our lives.
When the door suddenly opened, I was glad he was still there. I forgot to breathe at the sight of Michelle in a sleeveless little black dress. The front scooped very low, drawing my gaze. Her chest rose and fell with each breath.
Jim gave a wolf whistle, jarring me from her spell. Her, too. She jumped a little, and I noticed she was holding a bra. My gaze drifted to her chest again. No bra? I swallowed hard.
“What are you doing here?” she said. Panic pitched her words.
“You sounded upset.” Although I was paying attention to Michelle, it wasn’t with eye contact. I couldn’t stop studying the way the dress hugged her.
Jim nudged me lightly.
“Okay, you saw,” I said. “Now go away.”
With a laugh, Jim left.
“Saw what?” she asked.
“He wanted to see how you looked in the dress.”
“Could we maybe go somewhere casual enough for jean shorts?”
Not a chance.
“I can smell your nervousness. You look lovely. Please wear it,” I said, finally meeting her eyes. “Do you need a jacket?”
She shook her head, and I hoped it meant she didn’t need a jacket, rather than a rejection of my request. Her shoes waited in the hallway. Pretty heels with thin straps. The story of Cinderella popped into my head as I bent down to pick up the shoes. I wanted to help her put them on.
While I was going for the shoes, she quickly threw the bra over her shoulder and turned off the bathroom light. I kept my head down so she wouldn’t see my grin, then straightened and motioned for her to lead the way.
The back of her dress dipped just as low as the front. I wanted to taste her skin.
When she paused at the door, I squatted before her and held out a shoe. With just a light touch on my shoulder, she lifted one delicate foot. I slipped the shoe on, fighting the urge to kiss her calf. Where my lips couldn’t yet go, my fingers did. She quivered in response to my hand first on one calf, then the next. I took my time securing the straps, and when I stood, her stunned expression made me smile. It wasn’t shock that I’d touched her. No, based on her scent, she’d finally realized just how much she wanted me.
Unable to resist, I stepped closer and slowly moved her hair off her shoulder. I was giving her time to move away or say no. But she didn’t. The pulse in her neck thrummed at a speed to match mine. Sliding my hands over her arms, I leaned in and inhaled. Want and need were weak words for what I felt for her. I tracked my way up to the spot just below her ear. Her breathing changed to a short, shallow pant. If I didn’t stop, we’d never leave.
“Thank you for saying yes,” I said, pulling back.
Her expression didn’t clear until I led her from the apartment. Even then, she seemed unsteady. The stairs worried me, so I wrapped her hand around my arm and held her as we descended. There was a good amount of male pride coursing through me when we finally reached the bottom. I’d done that to her. I’d made her want me enough to forget everything.
She seemed to come to the same conclusion because she stopped walking and looked at me. Her gaze beckoned me, begging for more. I gave in and crowded her for a second time. She tilted her head, giving me better access.
“You smell wonderful,” I said. Scenting her was heaven, but I desperately wanted a taste. How much longer would I need to wait?
She turned her head slightly and pressed her cheek to mine. I groaned. Not much longer.
It took a strong amount of will to straighten away from her so we could say good-bye to her brothers. She held my arm as we left. The rain had stopped, leaving the air cooler and the ground spongy.
She smiled at me when I opened the truck door for her.
“Where are we going?” she asked as I offered her a hand to get in. I should have asked Winifred to use her car. I hadn’t been thinking. Michelle didn’t seem to mind, though. Honestly, I didn’t either. The effort of getting into the higher truck had hiked her skirt up an extra few inches. Nope, I didn’t mind at all.
“A steak and seafood place just outside of town,” I said.
After one last glance at her smooth legs, I closed her door and walked around the front of the truck. Her scent had already filled the cab when I opened the door. Her pulse skipped as I got in. She was sweetly nervous.
I reached over and brushed back a strand of her hair. She gave me a slight smile and folded her hands primly in her lap. Taking her cue, I focused on backing up the truck and pulling out of the driveway.
My mind kept circling back to the fact she wasn’t wearing a bra as I struggled to think of what topics were safe first date topics.
“You’ve never mentioned any family other than your mom and Richard.”
“No family as far as I know on either side. It’s just us, now.”
Wrong topic.
Thankfully, it didn’t take long to get to the restaurant. She smiled at the sight of the white Christmas lights wound along the fence that surrounded the rustic building. In the dusk, the light bulbs cast a soft glow over the parking lot.
While she was distracted, I got out and opened her door. She leaned forward to gauge the distance to the ground. The move gave me an irresistible view of her neckline. She caught the direction of my gaze and blushed. There was no censure in her scent, though.
I held the door for her as we entered and gave our name to the man standing at the podium just inside.
“Your table will be ready in just a few moments. Please make yourself comfortable in our lounge.”
Why did fancy restaurants try to use another name for bar?
I ordered us both a glass of wine and held out a heavily padded stool for her. It was nice that it had a low backrest. It didn’t block the view of her back. My fingers drifted along her exposed skin, and she shivered.
The bartender noticed her dress too, though, as he set our drinks before us. I scowled at the man, and he quickly left. Michelle took a sip of her wine and glanced around the room. I honestly couldn’t think of anything to say. My head was racing ahead to the end of the night. What would Michelle expect? What would she accept? I absently rubbed at the tightness growing in my chest.
By the time the maître d' came to seat us at our table, I was ready to forget the meal and just take her to the beach and see what a night under the moonlight would bring.
Michelle followed the man, and I followed her. This time, he helped her with her chair. I sat across from her and debated asking her if she’d rather leave. When she caught me watching her instead of looking at the menu, she picked up my menu and handed it to me.
Okay. That answered my question. A moonlit night on the beach was out.
After ordering, I started telling her about my time in the military. Human rules said that you should let your date talk, but I knew Michelle well enough by now that she’d rather not talk about herself. I kept my stories light and entertaining until the food arrived.