Ten first dates, p.12
Ten First Dates, page 12
Scrolling through the movie choices, I have to bite down on my cheek to keep from smiling. This is already the best date I’ve ever been on. I can’t believe that he went to all of this trouble and even enlisted the help of his best friend and brothers to make this night happen.
“I think we’re going to go with a classic,” I tell him. I tap the screen to select the movie and hand the iPad back to him.
“Footloose.” He chuckles. “I’ve seen this one so many times.” I’m ready to tell him we can watch something else, but when he looks up and is wearing a devilish grin, I stop myself. “You’re making it easy on me, sweetheart. I might have grown up in a house full of men, but my dad doted on my mom, and well, that means my brothers and I did as well. I’ve watched many chick flicks in my day.”
“We can pick something else,” I say, finding my words.
“Nope. This just means I can watch you all night and still discuss the movie after.” He winks, and my belly swarms with butterflies.
I watch as he uses his phone to turn off the music and connects the iPad to the projector. I’m not sure how it all works, but when the opening credits of Footloose appear on the screen, I smile.
“I tested this at least a dozen times,” he confesses. “I didn’t want to get you here under the premise of dinner and a movie and not be able to deliver. This was the first thing set up today because it was the most technical.”
“It’s a sweet setup.”
“They did great, but don’t tell them that I said that.” He laughs.
“You’re lucky to have them.”
He nods. “Yeah, they can annoy the hell out of me, but I would throw hands for them any day of the week.”
“I always wanted a sibling.”
“I can share mine with you,” he says. His voice is soft and holds so much conviction that it makes me think his words hold a different meaning. “Eat up,” he says, sliding the rest of my food my way and nodding toward the bowl of fruit between us.
My stomach is a mess of nervous excitement, but I manage to finish the rest of my sandwich, eat a few chips and a few pieces of fruit before waving the white flag. Orrin quickly cleans up, tossing everything back into the cooler.
“Beer? Wine? Water?” he asks.
“Just water, please.”
He nods, pulls out a bottle of water, and wipes it off with a napkin before handing it to me.
We go back to watching the movie. Sitting outside beneath the stars, on a mountain of blankets and pillows, watching one of my favorite movies is not where I thought this night would lead, but I couldn’t be happier that it did.
I shift, needing a new position, and feel his hand on my arm. I turn to look at him, and his eyes bore into mine. “Everything okay?” I ask when he continues to watch me.
“Can I hold you?” His voice is soft. So much so that if I hadn’t been laser-focused on him, I might not have heard him.
There’s an uncertainty in his eyes, which surprises me. I’ve never seen Orrin anything but 100 percent confident. “Is that what you want?” I ask, tilting my head to the side to study him. I don’t know why I ask the question. It’s obvious that’s what he wants, or he wouldn’t have asked, but something about him asking for permission settles my nerves and gives me confidence. It’s a heady feeling knowing that he respects me enough to ask.
“Do I want you in my arms while you watch this movie, and I watch you? Yes. More than anything.”
“Why ask for permission? Why not just make your move?”
“Because you’re different, Jade. I don’t want you just for tonight. I want you for always. I was afraid you would leave or ask to go home, and I want you to stay always. With me.”
I swallow the lump in my throat. “We’re missing the movie.” I grin.
He smiles is breathtaking and lights up his face. “Come here, sweetheart.” He stretches his legs out in front of him and opens them wide, patting the space between them. I don’t hesitate to move and settle between his thighs. He wraps his arms around me, pulling my back to his chest. “Much better,” he says, his lips next to my ear.
He rustles around, moving more of the pillows behind his back before settling and taking me with him. “Are you comfortable?” he asks.
“Yes.”
I feel his lips press to the top of my head, and his arms tighten around me. Neither one of us say another word unless it’s to sing along to the soundtrack or repeat the lines of the movie. His hold on me never wavers, and those kisses on the top of my head increase as the night goes on.
When the credits roll, I sit up and turn to look at him. “Thank you for humoring me.”
“It’s a great movie,” he says, reaching out and tucking my hair behind my ear. “You want to watch another one? Or do you want some fruit? Oh, I almost forgot.” He reaches into the cooler, pulls out a container, and hands it to me. “They’re chocolate chip cookies. Piper said they were your favorite.”
“If I didn’t know any better, I’d think you really are trying to make me fall in love with you.” I’m teasing, but I can feel my cheeks heat from embarrassment.
“Would that be such a bad thing?” he asks softly.
“I can think of worse,” I tease, trying to lighten the mood that I turned serious with my big mouth.
“And I can’t think of anything better.”
I’ve heard Ramsey drone on about how Deacon makes her feel inside. How she has butterflies, and it feels as though her body melts when he says or does certain things. I’ve read romance novels where the authors describe the main character as swooning, but I never really understood. I thought I did. I thought I was able to comprehend the meaning, but it’s not until this moment that I feel the true force of the word.
“What’s next on this grand adventure?” I ask, once again moving the topic toward something that will keep me from throwing myself at him. I can’t attack him with my mouth on our first date.
“We can watch another movie, or just listen to music and talk. I can just hold you while we look up at the stars, or we can go for a drive. Honestly, Jade, I don’t really care what you decide to do next as long as It’s not me taking you home. Not yet. I’m not ready for that yet.”
“Music and talk?” I ask.
“Okay.” He leans forward like he’s going to kiss me, and I quickly lick my lips, but his land on my temple. Grabbing his phone, he taps at the screen, and Luke Combs fills the night air singing about forever.
“May I use your restroom?” I ask him.
“Of course. Come. I’ll show you where it is.” He taps my hip, and I stand, offering him my hand and pulling him to his feet. He doesn’t let go as he guides me into his house and down the hall to the restroom.
“I’ll be in the kitchen,” he says, releasing me.
I nod and disappear behind the bathroom door. I quickly take care of business and wash my hands before staring at my reflection in the mirror. My eyes are bright with excitement, and my face is tinged pink. I think I’ve blushed a hundred times tonight. I guess my body just decided to stay flushed.
Taking a deep breath, I open the door, turn out the light and go in search of Orrin. I find him sitting on the kitchen island, facing away from me. I pad softly into the room. I don’t stop until I’m standing in front of him. He opens his legs, and on instinct, I step between them. He wraps his arms around me in a hug, and there is nothing I can do but return his embrace.
“I like having you here. More than I could have ever thought possible.”
I pull back and peer up at him. “I like being here.”
“This isn’t a one-time thing, right? Please tell me you’ll give me another date.”
“I’d like that.”
He moves his hands to rest against my cheeks. “Can I kiss you?”
“Is that what you want?” I repeat our earlier words.
He grins. “Yes.”
“This is our first date.” I feel his hands start to drop, so I quickly grip his wrists, holding them in place. “This is our first date, but it doesn’t feel that way. It feels like we’ve been here before.”
He nods. “I thought maybe it was just me.”
“It’s not just you. I feel… connected to you.” My words are soft as I wait for him to look at me like I’ve lost my damn mind. The look never comes.
“It feels right, Jade. We feel right. I don’t want this to be our only date. Hell, I don’t want to take you home. I’d love nothing more than to carry you to my room and wrap you up in my arms and hold you all night long.”
“Just hold me?” I ask. I can’t believe I’m being this bold that I feel comfortable enough with him to speak my mind.
“If that’s your subtle way of asking me if I’d make love to you, then I’ll have to revert that answer back to you. But first, I want you to know that it would be an honor for you to give me that kind of trust, to allow me inside you. It would also be an honor to be the man you chose to sleep next to. To know that you feel safe enough to let me hold you all night long in my bed. I want it all, Jade. I want anything and everything you're ready to give me.”
“I want all of that, but I have to be up early tomorrow. I… don’t want to rush that.”
He grins. “When I make love to you, I’m going to need hours. Maybe even days,” he says, leaning in and softly brushing his lips with mine. “Let’s go back outside. We can talk a little more, and when you’re ready, I’ll take you home.”
“Orrin, tonight has been incredible. I’ve loved every minute. Please thank your brothers and Deacon for me for helping you set this all up.”
“Nope. Not until I know you’re mine. If they find out how damn sweet you are, they might try and steal you from me. I’m not going to let that happen.”
“Stop.” I laugh, stepping out of his reach. “You and I both know that the bro code between the nine of you is strong, and Deacon, he doesn’t see anyone but Ramsey.”
“Like I can’t see anyone but you.”
I pull in a deep breath. “Did you spend last night and today thinking about things you could say to me to make me feel as though my insides are melting into a puddle of goo?”
He laughs. “No, sweetheart. I spent the day helping each of my brothers, making sure everything was perfect for tonight. As far as the things I say, I’m just speaking from my heart. I’m not holding back with you. For the first time in my life, I’ve found someone who makes me want more, and I can’t believe I’m going to say this, but I’m taking my old man’s lecture I’ve heard a thousand times by heart.”
“And what’s that?”
“Work hard and love harder.”
My mouth falls open.
“I’m not saying I’m in love with you.” He hops off the counter and steps in close. He wraps his arms around me but leaves us enough distance that we can still look into each other’s eyes. “But for the first time in my life, I feel myself falling. I know it’s fast, but I’ve wanted to ask you out for months.”
“Is that the Kincaid family motto?”
He chuckles. “Something like that. Our dad, he passes out words of wisdom like its candy, but that one, that’s the one he always comes back to time and time again.”
“He gives good advice.”
“He does. Come on, let’s head back outside.” Stepping away, he takes my hand and leads me outside. Once we’re on the patio, I know I need to swallow my nerves and address his confession.
“Hey, Orrin.” He stops and turns to look at me, giving me his full attention. “I can feel myself falling too.”
I don’t know what I was expecting, but it wasn’t for him to turn, lift me in his arms and kiss the breath from my lungs. His hands grip the back of my thigh, as he kisses me like this could be his last chance to ever do so. When he finally pulls away, he rests his forehead against mine. Neither one of us say a word as we try to catch our breath. I don’t know how much time passes before he begins walking, carrying me to the blanket. He sets me on my feet and drops down to the blanket. I follow suit, and he pulls me into his arms. Together we stare up at the night sky, not needing words to fill the silence.
This is, without a doubt, the best first date I’ve ever been on.
“I hope it’s our last,” he says huskily.
I freeze, not realizing I said the words out loud, making his chest shake with silent laughter. “It’s my best first date too. Not because of what we did, but because it was you.” He kisses the top of my head, and I know I’m in deep trouble with this one.
CHAPTER FIVE
Orrin
For over a month, Jade and I have been dating, and I feel as though the smile on my face is now permanently etched there. If we’re not working, we’re together. My place, her place, dinner, it doesn’t matter as long as I get to see her and kiss her every single day.
I never imagined myself falling in love. Not really. I always knew I wanted to get married and have a family one day. I grew up in a house of crazy brothers, watching my parents love one another with everything inside them. I wanted that. I just didn’t think much about getting there or what it would look like for me. Now I know.
It looks like Jade.
After that night at my house, I knew in my bones that she was the one for me, so I decided to take things slow, at least where sex is concerned. I wanted her to know that I’m with her because of the person that she is, not for the sole purpose of getting off. There has been a lot of kissing and exploring each other’s bodies, but I always stop us before we get to the finale. Well, not the finale, really. My girl always gets hers, and she takes care of me too, but I’ve yet to make love to her. It’s been a struggle holding back, one I’m ready to end.
Tonight.
It’s Sunday evening, and Mom’s been hounding me about bringing Jade to dinner. I’ve held off, not wanting to scare her, but last night we went to the Tavern, and Ramsey took the decision out of my hands. She asked Jade if she’d see her at Sunday dinner. I played it off like I forgot to mention it. Jade smiled and easily agreed. I could see the question in her eyes as to if I really wanted her to go, but she accepted the invite anyway.
It’s not that I didn’t want to take her to dinner or that I didn’t want her to meet my family. Hell, she’s already met all of them. I did, however, want to take her to Sunday dinner as my girlfriend. Not just as some girl I've been dating. She’s more than that to me, and taking someone home and to Sunday dinner is a big damn deal. So big, in fact, that none of us have ever done it. Not even my niece, Blakely’s mom, made the cut. That’s a story for another day.
So, my little cousin has me showing my hand sooner than I intended. Not because I’m not certain that Jade is the woman for me, but because I was giving her time. I’ve known since that first night but knew that it made me sound crazy. I wanted to give her a few months to come to my way of thinking, but the time is now. I won’t take her home without knowing she’s mine. Maybe it’s irrational, but it’s important to me.
That means today is the day. I have a plan, it’s corny as hell, but it fits us. Grabbing my phone, I climb out of my truck and make my way to her front door. It opens before I even get a chance to knock, and behind it is Jade. Her long red hair is hanging over her shoulders. She’s wearing a flannel shirt over what looks like a tank top and a pair of cutoffs. She takes my damn breath away. All I can do is stand there and take in her beauty.
“Orrin?”
“I love you.” The words fly out of my mouth without caution.
Her eyes grow wide with shock. “You love me?” she asks slowly.
“Shit.”
“It’s fine, a slip of the tongue.” She’s quick to let me off the hook.
“Can I come in?”
“Sure.” She steps back and allows me into her home. As soon as the door closes, I swoop her up in my arms and carry her to the couch. I sit with her still in my arms and hold her close. “I’m sorry, Jade. That’s not how I wanted to tell you. I had this big plan, but I ruined it.”
“It’s fine, Orrin.”
“It’s not fine.” I pull back so she can see my eyes. “When you opened the door, you took my breath away. All I could think about is how much you mean to me. It’s not that I didn’t mean the words, Jade. I do love you. I just wanted to be a little more romantic about it. A little more us.”
“A little more us? Orrin, we are us. Are you feeling all right?” Her tone is lighter, which tells me that she’s teasing, trying to lighten the moment. She does that a lot, but it’s not going to work this time. It’s time for all my real, and it’s about to be unleashed on her.
Keeping her on my lap, I manage to dig in my pocket for my phone. Pulling up my playlist, I hit Play, and Jet’s “Are You Gonna Be My Girl” begins to play.
Jade tosses her head back in laughter. “Are you asking me to be your girl, Orrin Kincaid?”
“Yes. All mine. No one else, just me. Forever.”
“Forever is a long time.”
“Not nearly long enough.” I close the distance between us and press my lips to hers. “Jade Sanders, will you be my girl?”
“I don’t know. I’m kind of seeing this guy. He’s sexy as hell and owns his own body shop. He’s kind of important to me.”
“Yeah?” I don’t bother to hide my grin.
“Uh-huh, I’d go as far as saying that I’m in love with him. I’ve just been too nervous to say it first.”
“I need to hear you say it,” I tell her. “I need those three words from these lips.”
She moves to straddle my hips, resting her hands on my shoulders. I grip her hips, holding her to me. “I love you.”
“Thank fuck.” My lips crash with hers and call me crazy, but this feels different. Knowing that she loves me and that she finally knows that I love her, our kiss feels like… more. I kiss her like it’s the first time and the last time. I never want to stop kissing her. Eventually, I do pull away so we can both catch our breath.
“There’s something else that I need to tell you.”
“I’m listening.”
“It’s not that I didn’t ever want to invite you to Sunday dinner. I didn’t want you there until I knew you were mine. It’s a sacred event in our family, and well, it was important to me that we were solid. That you loved me as much as I love you before I brought you there.”
