“How do you know?”
“Because even I don’t have bad enough luck for that to happen on the first date I’ve been on in years.” Rick wondered if it was too much to ask that she keep leaning into him like that. “But…on the off chance that we are actually in a slasher movie, what’s the plan here?”
“That’s not funny,” Lana said with a cute pout.
“I wasn’t joking.”
Yes, he was totally joking, but it took her a moment to realize it. Then she grinned. Not the breezy smile he hated—the one covering what she really thought and felt—but her real smile. The one that made his blood sing in his veins.
Slender fingers reached up to touch his cheek, and Rick found himself leaning into the contact. “The plan is we’ll take over the dining room and set up our defensive perimeter,” Lana said conspiratorially. “With a squirrel army at our backs, we’ll definitely last until morning.”
“As long as one of us knows what they’re doing.” Rick winked at her.
Silence fell between them, a silence where Rick desperately wanted to say the right thing, but all he could focus on was how good her hair smelled and how soft it felt brushing along his arm.
“I haven’t really done this whole dating thing in a while,” he admitted in a rough voice. “It’s like being benched for forever and abruptly finding yourself up to bat with bases loaded.”
“If you’re going to make sports analogies, I much prefer football. And trust me, as far as my dates go, this is much better than most.”
“Are we still calling this a date?”
“Huddled together for safety in a hotel of horrors?” Lana asked, her bright eyes full of mischief. “Absolutely.”
Her lashes were long enough to brush her cheeks. How had he never noticed before?
“My last actual date was with a masseuse last July,” she said. “It wasn’t much to speak of.”
“I haven’t kissed a woman since my ex. I probably don’t even remember how.”
“Twelve months.” When he raised an eyebrow, Lana clarified. “It’s been twelve months since I kissed someone. Last New Year’s.”
“You’re kidding me.”
“It wasn’t even one of the good kisses. Too much teeth, not enough…not teeth.”
“Not teeth is important when kissing.”
“And yet someone never told him.” Sighing with playful dramatics, she rested her palm against his stomach. “If I had known it would be so long, I might have tried to enjoy it more.”
A comfortable silence fell between them, but that silence was punctuated by the metal of the roof creaking as it contracted in the freezing temperatures.
“The rest of me is fine, but my fingers simply refuse to warm up.”
“Body heat is better than thin blankets,” he said.
“And evil sausage grinders?”
“You’re the one who thought this would make a great story.” Rick chuckled.
“Story, yes. For grandchildren and the like. Not to be on the local news. I can see it now. Two new lovers found ground to death in squirrel mausoleum. Try the stroganoff. The mystery meat is delicious.”
Rick gently squeezed her waist. “Will it help if I promise I won’t let anyone chop us up to bits?”
“It won’t hurt.” She sighed, then snuggled into his shoulder. “Rick?”
“Hmm?”
“This was the best date I’ve ever been on.”
“You can’t be serious.”
“I’m completely serious.” Brown eyes gazed up at him. “Do you want to know why?”
“Why?”
“Because you cared enough to keep driving.”
Beauty was more than skin deep. Beauty was a kind heart and hands willing to help, no matter how dirty they got. Beauty was a quick grin and eyes that noticed everyone in a room. Noticed and cared about everyone, no matter who they were.
Eyes that saw him, when he’d been sitting in the background of his life for far too long.
“Can I—” Pausing midquestion, Rick cleared his throat. Bless the woman for not making him finish his sentence. Lana nodded in encouragement.
Heart hammering in his chest, breath caught in his lungs, Rick leaned in. He wasn’t sure what he expected…maybe a slap to the face, despite her arm wrapped around the back of his neck. Instead, he found soft lips, warm despite the cool air. Just the slightest of pressure, his mouth to hers. Pulling away, Rick glanced at her.
“See? I promised I wouldn’t bite.”
“Not yet anyway. I’m sorry.” Lana nodded, kind enough not to mock him for his trembling hands. “Guess I need some more practice.”
“Or more time?” she asked gently.
“No. I’ve had more than enough of time.”
It had been too long since Rick had taken a woman in his arms, holding her close. And he never would have expected this woman to be the one. He felt outclassed, outmatched, and beyond overwhelmed. But when he slid his palm up her back, Lana leaned against him, melting into his touch. When his fingers threaded into her hair, the silky strands clinging to his wrist, this time, she kissed him.
Deepening the kiss, Rick relaxed back against the bedding, drawing her with him. The scent of her subtle perfume was almost as intoxicating as the warmth of her body beneath his hands. He could have stayed like this forever, her ankle hooked around his, her arm hugging his rib cage, as if she needed to hold him as much as he needed to hold her. Each touch of her lips against his was even better than the last.
Abruptly, Lana started to giggle.
“Should I ask?” Rick’s murmured question earned another—even better—giggle from her.
“I just think it’s funny that I got you into bed so fast. You give off a certain ‘hard to catch’ vibe.”
“Says the date who wouldn’t let me walk her to her elevator.”
“I’m hard to catch too.” Lana flashed him a pretty grin. “Takes an impressive person to pull it off. Besides, the ‘hey baby’ rules are different.”
For a guy who had spent an inordinate amount of his life feeling like he wasn’t quite enough, this woman could make him feel pretty damn great.
“I didn’t ‘hey baby’ you,” Rick reminded her, earning a peal of laughter as he rolled over onto his side, tickling her ribs as he pulled her close. “I’m much too debonair for that.”