“Really?” I look up at him then I reach up, running a hand through his hair. It's thick and dark. And I have this wild thought of how handsome his children would be. Strong, sturdy. Solid.
I swallow the thought stunning me because he's the kind of man I could see myself with.
He's the kind of man you could drop anchor with
“What are you thinking when I tell you all that?” he asks.
“I think I’m more impressed by your kitchen talents. Money can’t buy happiness. Fame brings problems with it. What I think is you're handsome as all get out, funny and charming, you can cook… What can’t you do?” I laugh as I press my lips together.
The light in his bedroom is low. There are boxes in this room telling me he wasn't exaggerating when he said he just moved in. But there's bedding on the king-size bed and a few duffel bags with clothes spilling out.
“I'm wondering why you're here all by yourself. You seem like the kind of guy who would have been caught by now.”
“I'm not the kind of guy who is easily caught,” he tells me.
“Why is that?”
“I stick to myself, Lemon. I'm a lone ranger. I told you that.”
His words are a red flag, but everything else makes me want to lean into the moment—into him. “So you don't do relationships?”
He shakes his head. “I haven't done relationships, if that's what you're asking.”
I swallow. “Well, I haven't done relationships either,” I say honestly. “Have youeverbeen with anyone?”
His eyes hold steady on mine. “Are you asking if I've ever done this? Brought a woman home to my house? Made her dinner like that? And then brought her to my bedroom?”
I nod. “Yeah, I guess that's what I'm asking.”
“No,” he tells me. “I haven't.”
“So you're also…”
He swallows. “Yeah. I'm a virgin.”
He's 26 and he's a virgin. I pull in a sharp breath.
“Does that freak you out?”
I shake my head now. “No, I already told you I’m a virgin too.”
His shoulders relax. “Then why don't we just take this slow? Why don't we just start with a kiss?”
I nod. Tentative Excited. Ready. Willing.
Here.
“A birthday kiss. Well, actually…” He gives me another smile. “A birthday eve kiss.”
6
ANCHOR
Kissing Lemon islike nothing I've ever imagined.
She is soft, supple, sweet.
And I realize as her lips part, as her tongue finds mine, she is exactly the kind of woman I crave.