I can feel my chest tighten, but I make sure not to put any more pressure on her hand. “So you must have broken it off because it was pretty obvious he still has feelings for you.”
She frowns. “Actually, I did break it off with him. He was dating me to get the manager’s job while he was sleeping with someone else.”
Surprised and a little pissed off, I grit my teeth before asking her, “Your dad doesn’t seem like the type to be okay with that.”
Guilt shines on her face. “He doesn’t know. My dad is wanting – no needing – to take time off. He wants to retire, and I don’t want to mess that up for him. I can handle Mike.”
I want to ask her more about it. Actually, I want to go to the co-op and punch this Mike in the face, but it’s obvious that Millie is done talking about it. Especially when she asks me about my ranch.
The server brings our food, and I reluctantly let go of Millie’s hand. I tell her about the ranch and that I’d like her to come see it sometime.
We laugh and talk, and I’ve never been as captivated and comfortable with a woman in my life. Maybe it’s the fact that she knows all about ranching. Maybe it’s the fact that with each passing minute, I want her even more. But whatever it is, I wish this night would never end.
When they bring the ticket and we’ve both eaten a piece of cake, I walk to the cashier holding Millie’s hand. I’m just not ready to let her go yet.
I ignore the stares we get from people. I can feel Millie tense beside me, but I hope it’s only because she doesn’t like being the center of attention and not because she doesn’t want to be seen with me. “Are you parked at the co-op?”
She looks up at me. “I am. Thank you for dinner. I had a really good time.”
“Me too, sugar. Come on, I’ll walk you to your car.”
She tries to stop me. “No, I’m sure you’re parked around back. I can walk by myself. Whiskey Run is pretty safe.”
I give her hand a tug and wrap my arm around her shoulder. “I’m walking you to your car.”
She’s fidgeting, but I act like I don’t notice. We walk in silence down the block to the back of the co-op. She points to a full-size truck. “That’s mine.”
“A truck? I’m liking you more and more, little Millie.” She tenses beside me. “What? What’s wrong?”
She pulls from my arms and smiles up at me. “There’s nothing little about me.”
I put my hands on her shoulders to stop her. I can’t stop myself. I settle her against the side of the truck and lean into her. Our bodies are pressed together, and because I don’t want to have this conversation twice, I want to make sure I have her full attention.
“I thought I would need to wait to have this discussion when you knew me a little better, but I’m just going to put it out there. You wanted that cake yesterday and didn’t order it. I’m not positive, but I would guess it’s because something that little shit Mike said to you or something. But here’s the facts. I like you. I like everything about you. I like the way you fill out a pair of blue jeans. I like the feel of your curvy body pressed against mine.” I lean farther into her so she can feel exactly how my body reacts hers being so close. “And I like the way you moan and lick your lips when you eat that apple cake. So no more worrying about your diet, or skipping treats or none of that. I like you just the way you are.”
Her mouth is open in awe, and I know I surprised her. Well, it’s about to be an even bigger surprise because I can’t stop myself now. “I want to kiss you, Millie.”
She doesn’t say no. In fact, her tongue pokes out between her lips as if she can’t wait for it. I lean down and wrap my hand around the back of her neck. “Tell me yes, sugar.”
She says yes. It’s barely a whisper, but it’s a yes. I press my lips into hers, and all conscious thought leaves me. Her lips are warm and soft. The kiss goes from zero to a thousand fireworks going off in my head. When her hands slide up my chest and she grips the front of my shirt, I know without a doubt I could lose control so easily with her. Her legs part, and I move one of mine between her thighs. I lift it just a little, and when I make contact with the hot heat between her legs, she moans loudly, and I force myself to pull away with a groan. Too much more of that, and I’ll have her in the cab of her truck.
“Go out with me,” I demand. “Let me take you on a proper date.”
She blinks and stares up at me. Her mouth is glistening, wet from the kiss we shared, and I want to run my tongue across her plump lips. She shakes her head as if she’s been in a daze before finally answering me. “It’s not a good idea. You’re doing business with my dad.”
I put my hands on each side of her face. “I’m not like Mike. I wouldn’t date you to get something from your dad. And I sure as hell wouldn’t cheat on you.”
In that instant, she realizes she still has my shirt in her hands, and she lets go quickly. “Men are not always faithful, Austin. I know that.”
“If you were mine—fuck baby, even if you aren’t mine, I can’t imagine looking at another woman.”
She shakes her head. “What is it with you? Honey, sweetheart, sugar, baby, little Millie. You like nicknames or what?”
“I like watching your face light up when I call you a different name. So far, I think you like sugar and little Millie the best.”
She laughs and tries to slap me on the chest, but I grab her hand instead and hold it tight. “Go out with me.”
It’s on the tip of her tongue to say no, and I take a deep breath. I don’t think I can let her walk away if she says no. “Maybe,” she draws out. “Let me think about it.”