Beg me, Baby.Thank fuck I don’t say that out loud. I clear my throat. “Is that why you didn’t want to come over?” I nod toward the store. “It seems you were in the mood for a drink.”
The same nervous laugh from earlier surfaces again. Her eyes flutter shut. I’m missing something.
“Transportation troubles aren’t the reason I said no.”
“Any chance you’ll elaborate?” I risk my ego. “Would you have said yes if it was just one of us?”
“No!” Her eyes bolt open and she sits a little straighter. “That’s not the problem.”
Ego-bruising complete, I have nothing to lose. “I’m going to be blunt with you, Baby.” Fuck, the nickname wasn’t supposed to slip. But since I said I’d be blunt, I continue. “I want to do a lot more than flirt with you. Do you understand what I’m saying?”
She drops her gaze to her lap where her hands are wringing. “Yes.”
Admittedly, my chest is swelling since she didn’t jump out of my car. I make note that her sassiness is still gone, but we’ve got a serious question to sort out while Bennett plays with her shoe.
“Doyouwant to do more than flirt?”
Her hair swishes as she nods. Agreement. The answer I was hoping for, yet I’m confused. I need more. Tucking a finger under her chin, I lift her head, guiding her to own what she’s saying. Our shared moment gives me a chance to see her vulnerability. She’s protecting herself. From what? If someone hurt her, he’ll be lucky if she never reveals his name.
I notice Bennett’s trunk is open. The man is dedicated.
“I’ll take care of you, Baby. You have nothing to be worried about.”
“We shouldn’t… What do you know about me?”
Odd question. Is this a test? It’s more nerve-racking than the medical boards. At least I can study for those.
Honesty will have to do. Dropping my hand to the center console where I rest my fingers against her silky arm, I say, “Not enough, but I want to learn more. I’ll do that right here in the liquor store parking lot or we can go somewhere else, back to my house? I’m not a freak, I promise.”
“I know.” Her response surprises me, then sanity takes me down a notch.
“I’m a doctor in a small town, gotta be pretty trustworthy, right?”
“Right.” She adds levity. “What you don’t seem to know about me is that I’m kind of known for making bad decisions.”
“Can’t be too bad, you haven’t ended up in my hospital room. It’s wild that Peach Bottom Valley seems so small, then I cross paths with someone like you I’ve never seen before.”
That nervous laugh again, but this time her smile tags along. “Yeah, isn’t it funny how we can be so close and yet so far?”
“Yeah, should I run inside and buy some drinks, or will you give my place a chance?”
“If we go to your house, can Bennett still come?” She shifts her gaze out my window.
My heart beats wildly. She wants Bennett…is that instead of or in addition to me? There wouldn’t be much point in going to my house if she only likes him. The crazy scenario of the three of us whirls back through my brain.
“If that’s what you—” There’s a knock on my window, and I hold up a finger for Bennett to wait.
“I warned you…I make bad decisions.” Her banter is back, but her tone is darker than at the diner.
My heart and brain stop. Being one of Caroline’s bad decisions might be one of the best decisions of my life.
Reaching for her hand, I tangle my fingers with hers. “Maybe you just need someone to…” Shit, I pull myself back. She hasn’t agreed to anything sexual yet.
“To what?” Her smile is downright wicked. My cock is hard. And Bennett’s pulling my door open.
“The shoe’s a loss. We could take you to get a new one.”
For fuck’s sake. The mood flew out the door the second he interrupted. “You’ve got her shoe. How about you go pick out a new pair then meet us at my house.”