“I know that we haven’t even left yet …” She looks down and then up again. I can see her hands shaking. “But this is the best date I’ve ever had.”

I put one hand on her hip and pull her to me while the other hand goes to cup her cheek. “It’s just the beginning.”

Chapter Thirty-Four

Caroline

“It’s just the beginning.” His words hit me straight in the heart. My stomach flutters, and my knees almost get weak as his voice goes lower. He leans forward, and I finally kiss him. I’ve been dying to kiss him since I walked into the bathroom and asked him to zip me up.

He stood there in his blue pants and white dress shirt, and everything fit him like a glove, and all I wanted to do was unbutton his shirt one button at a time and just stay in. I wanted to just be with him, but here I am, getting ready to go out, wearing a dress that is so soft on my body and probably cost as much as my rent for six months. I’m not even going to think about how much the shoes cost.

“If we don’t get in the car now, this date is going to go from us going out to me carrying you back upstairs,” he says, kissing me again, and my mouth opens for him. My hand goes to his waist as I hold his jacket that feels like silk in my hand.

“I, for one, will not say no,” I say, and he looks at me. “I know that you want to take me out. I know that you want to give me this.” I lean in now and kiss his neck right inside the open collar of his shirt. “But this, just being with you, is”—I shrug—“well, it’s everything.”

“If you could plan this date, what would you want?” he asks, and I get even closer to him. His hand falls from my face and wraps around my waist.

“You won’t be mad?” I ask him, and he shakes his head. “Well, it would be me and you.” I look up, and our eyes meet. “Your bed.” I look down. “And lots of penalty shots.” The hockey lingo comes out as I try not to sound like a horny girl who just wants him for sex.

“So if I understand this …” he says, “you want to spend the night in bed with me?”

“Yes,” I finally whisper while my heart beats so hard in my chest that I’m sure he could probably hear it. My mouth is dry, and it feels like I have sand in the back of my throat.

“You won’t feel like I’m treating you like a—” I put a finger to his mouth to stop him from talking.