hair and body, double-checking all the places that needed to be shaved.
She toweled off and slathered on the pomegranate lotion Steve had found at the consignment store. The fresh scent of fruit coated the steam as it rose into the cooler air. Kelly removed the neatly folded clothes she and Steve had gotten during their shopping spree.
* * * *
“Ladies, please excuse me.” Steve waved them in. Several female patrons smiled at his presence in the ladies’ room. “We’re trying to prepare for a big night out.”
Steve had her on her knees underneath the hand dryer, attempting to form some type of curl into her hair. He twirled the strands between his fingers, turning the swiveled knob.
“Okay, that about does it,” Steve said, helping her to her feet. Kelly stood in front of the mirror, in awe of how she looked. She couldn’t even remember the last time she’d looked so put together. Her attire had resorted to dirty, dusty jeans and tattered T-shirts. Steve stood behind her, his face beaming. “You’re gorgeous. You know that, right?” He ran his fingers through her hair. An unexpected tingle raced over her scalp. Her eyes stung. “Don’t,” he whispered. “You’ll get your eyes all red and puffy. I’ll wait for you outside while you do your makeup. I think I’ve overstayed my welcome in here,” he said, addressing the other female patrons. With a light brush of his lips across her cheek, he was gone.
Chapter Sixteen
She was waiting for him by the tree line. The descending light of the day filtered through the trees, angling across the graveled lot. She’d polished herself for him—not that it mattered, but Drake felt his lungs gasp for air at the sight of her.
The golden-brown strands of her hair glimmered, catching the last rays of the sun. A silk blouse peeked out from underneath a black sweater. Fabric draped over a body he couldn’t wait to see and explore. The pastel green radiated against her fair skin. His eyes continued to roam. His fingers gripped the wheel. Denim clung to her curves, tapering down a set of trim legs, leading his gaze to a pair of earthy hiking boots.
Nina would call her unassembled with her mixed textures of clothing, but Drake thought she was absolutely perfect. He put the car in park, allowing the engine to idle, and got out to receive her. He fixed his eyes on hers, looking forward to staring at her for the next twenty-four hours.
Kelly seemed hesitant to leave the safe confines of her wooded refuge, but Drake reached for her, guiding her through her first steps.
“Ready?” he asked, smiling. Her scent was fresh, ripe with a sweetness that inebriated him. She nodded, swallowing. They walked to the car in silence. Drake opened the door, waiting until she was buckled in.
The heating vents on the dashboard wafted her fragrance in his face. He tried to watch her in his peripheral vision. Kelly’s eyes darted around the dashboard and console, then diverted out the window. She didn’t speak until he exited off the exit ramp.
“Is this where you live?” Her voice was meek.
“This is where I like to hide when I don’t want to be interrupted,” Drake informed her, glancing at her worried expression. He rested his hand on her knee. Her muscle flinched beneath his fingers. “Please, relax. We both deserve this.” He gave her knee a gentle squeeze.
“I just figured you for the contemporary condo type, that’s all,” Kelly said. Drake noted the apprehension that trickled through her tight laughter.
“I have one of those, too, but the house on Blue Mountain is much cozier, you’ll love it,” Drake assured her.
He gunned the gas, driving up the winding incline. Drake heard her breaths still when the large A-frame structure came into view. Drake took a few seconds to enjoy the sight. It was a great place, the perfect place to disappear.
The timbered structure sat high on a knoll, surrounded with large boulders. A spacious front deck overlooked a
She toweled off and slathered on the pomegranate lotion Steve had found at the consignment store. The fresh scent of fruit coated the steam as it rose into the cooler air. Kelly removed the neatly folded clothes she and Steve had gotten during their shopping spree.
* * * *
“Ladies, please excuse me.” Steve waved them in. Several female patrons smiled at his presence in the ladies’ room. “We’re trying to prepare for a big night out.”
Steve had her on her knees underneath the hand dryer, attempting to form some type of curl into her hair. He twirled the strands between his fingers, turning the swiveled knob.
“Okay, that about does it,” Steve said, helping her to her feet. Kelly stood in front of the mirror, in awe of how she looked. She couldn’t even remember the last time she’d looked so put together. Her attire had resorted to dirty, dusty jeans and tattered T-shirts. Steve stood behind her, his face beaming. “You’re gorgeous. You know that, right?” He ran his fingers through her hair. An unexpected tingle raced over her scalp. Her eyes stung. “Don’t,” he whispered. “You’ll get your eyes all red and puffy. I’ll wait for you outside while you do your makeup. I think I’ve overstayed my welcome in here,” he said, addressing the other female patrons. With a light brush of his lips across her cheek, he was gone.
Chapter Sixteen
She was waiting for him by the tree line. The descending light of the day filtered through the trees, angling across the graveled lot. She’d polished herself for him—not that it mattered, but Drake felt his lungs gasp for air at the sight of her.
The golden-brown strands of her hair glimmered, catching the last rays of the sun. A silk blouse peeked out from underneath a black sweater. Fabric draped over a body he couldn’t wait to see and explore. The pastel green radiated against her fair skin. His eyes continued to roam. His fingers gripped the wheel. Denim clung to her curves, tapering down a set of trim legs, leading his gaze to a pair of earthy hiking boots.
Nina would call her unassembled with her mixed textures of clothing, but Drake thought she was absolutely perfect. He put the car in park, allowing the engine to idle, and got out to receive her. He fixed his eyes on hers, looking forward to staring at her for the next twenty-four hours.
Kelly seemed hesitant to leave the safe confines of her wooded refuge, but Drake reached for her, guiding her through her first steps.
“Ready?” he asked, smiling. Her scent was fresh, ripe with a sweetness that inebriated him. She nodded, swallowing. They walked to the car in silence. Drake opened the door, waiting until she was buckled in.
The heating vents on the dashboard wafted her fragrance in his face. He tried to watch her in his peripheral vision. Kelly’s eyes darted around the dashboard and console, then diverted out the window. She didn’t speak until he exited off the exit ramp.
“Is this where you live?” Her voice was meek.
“This is where I like to hide when I don’t want to be interrupted,” Drake informed her, glancing at her worried expression. He rested his hand on her knee. Her muscle flinched beneath his fingers. “Please, relax. We both deserve this.” He gave her knee a gentle squeeze.
“I just figured you for the contemporary condo type, that’s all,” Kelly said. Drake noted the apprehension that trickled through her tight laughter.
“I have one of those, too, but the house on Blue Mountain is much cozier, you’ll love it,” Drake assured her.
He gunned the gas, driving up the winding incline. Drake heard her breaths still when the large A-frame structure came into view. Drake took a few seconds to enjoy the sight. It was a great place, the perfect place to disappear.
The timbered structure sat high on a knoll, surrounded with large boulders. A spacious front deck overlooked a
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