She clenches her eyes closed and nods.
I step toward her again, lift her chin, and her eyes spring open. I see exactly what I need to see—want. But I give her exactly what I know she needs—a quick kiss to the forehead. Then I step back, turn around, and grab my clothes.
I swear I feel her eyes on me as I change, so I deliberately take my time, allowing her to check out what I’ve been told is the best ass in the world.
After I’m dressed, I grab her cell phone. “I’m adding my contact information. You need me before I pick you up, call.” That done, I set it down and grab my own phone, keys, and wallet.
I sto
p before her and kiss her cheek. “Tonight, you can build a fort between us, but I’m getting at least half the bed.”
“That’s pretty presumptuous,” she says, but the smile in her voice gives away her true feelings.
“I’ll be a perfect gentleman until I can’t be anymore. The first time, I’ll ask permission. Once it’s given, I don’t promise to be a gentleman, but I do promise you won’t regret a damn thing, little Ross.”
She walks me to the door and, as I step out into the hall, she stops me.
“Ben?”
I turn back. “Kendall?”
“Do me a favor?”
“After our first date, I’ll do you several.”
She shakes her head but with a smirk.
“Can’t blame a guy for trying.” I wink. “The favor?”
“I’m going to be late, so you can’t come back in here, okay?”
I nod.
“Look through your mom’s social media posts. There’s a picture of that time you said you believed in fairy tales—”
“None of that means shit, Kendall,” I cut her off. “What does mean shit is what happened on the stage and what’s been happening since.”
“Will you just look at it?”
“No.” I shake my head. “Nope. Not—”
“If you don’t, I’m not going tonight.”
Then the little beauty shuts the door in my face.
6
Ben
In God’s Country
Standing outside the hotel, I wait impatiently for Kendall to appear. Umbrella in one hand, a dozen pink roses in the other, feeling a little nervous, I pace back and forth in front of the hotel.
When she walks out in a pale pink dress under a black rain jacket and black boots, I can’t stop myself from looking her over very slowly.
She shakes her head and looks down, smiling.
I clear the four feet distance between us as I tuck the roses under my arm and grip the back of her head, pulling her in and kissing her forehead. Stepping back, I then hand her the roses. “No need to be careful with these ones. I made sure the thorns were gone.”