“Wow,” he says, letting his eyes roam over me from head to toe. I stand still, letting him take his fill. I was worried, but the look in his eyes tells me that Piper was right. Orrin wants to be here. “You’re breathtaking,” he says, reaching for my hand that’s not holding my sandals and bringing it to his lips. “Are you ready to go?”
“Almost. I need to put these on and grab my purse. Is this okay?” I look down at my sundress. “I wasn’t sure where we were going.”
“It’s perfect.”
I nod and bite down on my cheek to keep from smiling. “Come in. I’ll just be a minute.” I step back, letting him pass, before closing the door and moving to the couch. I sit and begin to wrangle on my damn strappy sandals. They’re cute as hell but a pain in the ass to put on.
“Let me.” Before I know what’s happening, Orrin sits next to me on the couch and pulls my legs into his lap. With deft fingers, he manages to assemble my sandals better and faster than I ever have. He runs his calloused hands up my calf before clearing his throat and moving his hand back to my ankles. “Ready?”
“Y-Yes. Let me grab my purse.” My knees tremble as I stand. Orrin’s there, his hands on my hips, smiling up at me. “Thank you,” I tell him, feeling my face flush.
He nods, and I move to the kitchen to grab my purse and phone and make sure I have my wallet before moving back to the living room. “All set?”
I nod and smile, not able to find my voice. He places his hand on the small of my back and leads me out to the front porch. I stop to make sure the door is locked and then allow him to guide me to the passenger door of his truck.
“Where are we going?” I ask him.
“It’s a surprise.” He gives me a smile, and my heart flutters in my chest. I’m in trouble with this one.
“You’re lucky I like surprises,” I tease.
“I’ll have to remember that for next time. I knew this would be taking a chance, not telling you.”
“A good chance,” I say, smiling even though he’s looking at the road. “When I was a little girl, I used to love when my parents would surprise me.”
“Old boyfriends?” he asks.
“Nah, you’re the first. I mean, the first guy. The first date to surprise me. Well, unless you count the guy I’d been dating for about six months my senior year of college. He surprised me when I showed up at his apartment for our date. He was in a compromising position with his best friend’s girlfriend. He forgot we made plans.”
“Fuck. What an asshole. I’m sorry.”
I can hear the sincerity in his voice. “It’s fine. I wasn’t in love with him or anything. I mean, I liked him, but we’d only been dating about six months, and I was pretty focused on graduation and finals. We didn’t really see each other all that often. Looking back, I now know that should have been an indicator that we weren’t meant to be.”
He scoffs. “He’s a dumbass. If you were mine, I’d make the time.”
“It was a good thing. I can see that now.”
“Damn right it was. I’m sorry that he cheated on you, but if that hadn’t happened, you might not be sitting in my truck, and we wouldn’t be on the way to our first of what I hope is many dates.”
“Many?” I can hear the surprise in my voice. “You sound like it’s a sure thing.”
“I can be very persuasive,” he says with a chuckle. “That sounded creepy as fuck. I just mean, I want to get to know you, and I hope that you give me the chance to do that.”
“Let’s see how this surprise turns out,” I tease.
“Oh, it’s going to be good. I enrolled the help of my brothers. You’re about to witness an event planned by nine Kincaids. I’m confident of our wooing skills.”
My laugh bubbles out of my chest. “I can’t wait to see this.”
He glances over and grins. “All a part of my master plan.”
“Oh, yeah?”
“Yep.” His boyish grin has my belly twisting with excitement.
CHAPTER
THREE
Orrin
I turn on the road, my road, and I see her shift in her seat out of the corner of my eye.
"Are we going to your house?" she asks.
"We are."
"Oh." I can hear the uncertainty in her voice.
"I promise, it's not whatever it is that you're thinking in the pretty head of yours," I tell her.
"How do you know what's in my head?" Her tone is defensive, and I know what she's thinking. She thinks I brought her here to hook up. That couldn't be farther from the truth. Sure, when that happens with us, I'd want her here in my bed, but that's not what tonight is about.