Read Online Sweet Serenade (Riverbend Romance 3) by Valerie Comer - Free Book Online

muscles.
    Reed glanced her way, and a smile curved his mouth upward until that dimple appeared. His gorgeous eyes glimmered, and he laid his right hand palm-up on the console.
    See? There had been progress. Carly slid her hand into his, and their fingers tangled together with a strong grip. Maybe taking it slow was okay, so long as they were moving forward. There couldn’t be anyone else in his life, the way he looked at her.
    The truck lurched, and Reed withdrew his hand. “Sorry. I guess I should be paying more attention to the road.”
    She grinned back. “Maybe. So will tonight be like the other times?”
    “Mostly. With maybe one difference.”
    Carly tipped her head to the side. “Oh? What’s that?”
    He shot her a dimple-filled smile. “I’d rather you sat beside me than beside Evan.”
    “Um...” She tapped a finger to her jaw as though it required a great deal of thought. “That could possibly be arranged.” She filled her gaze with his face. “So you don’t mind if everyone sees us together?” Probably word had already reached the group. Carly was pretty sure Brittany couldn’t keep a secret to save her life.
    “I don’t mind a bit. What about you?”
    Carly shook her head. She reached for his hand again, but the tires hit a deep rut and required his attention. She waited a second, but he didn’t look at her. “I do have a question, though.”
    “Oh?” He glanced over, eyebrows raised, then back at the road.
    Her heart hammered. “Does this mean... we’re a couple?” Man, she wasn’t used to being this brazen.
    Reed’s jaw flexed as he swallowed. A moment later the truck veered onto the grassy verge. He shifted into Park and turned to face her, brown eyes searching her own as his hands stretched toward her.
    She wasn’t launching over the console without knowing that’s what the invitation was for. She placed her hands in his, and his thumbs rubbed over them.
    Oh, the intensity in his eyes. “Carly, this is such new territory for me. I’m sorry if I’ve been sending you mixed signals. That’s never been my intention.”
    What was she supposed to think? Carly bit her lip but kept her eyes on him. That’s how she noticed his gaze slid to her mouth, but only for a second.
    A sideways grin pulled up his dimple. “Carly, going out together sounds so... so high school. But I do like you.” He swallowed hard. “A lot. I’m just not a man who goes making promises he can’t keep. I value you far too much for that. More than I’ve ever cared about a woman before. I’d like to keep moving forward, praying about our relationship and letting God lead us.”
    Her hands were going to be numb for a week if he tightened his grip anymore.
    “I don’t know what your experience has been in... in love. In dating. I’ll be the first to tell you I haven’t ever been attracted to a woman. Not like this.” So much more came through his deep brown eyes.
    “I’ve dated quite a lot.” She grimaced. “But nothing remotely serious in the past few years. As for the attraction thing, yeah. You’re something new for me, too.”
    He untangled one hand and reached for her face. Cupped her jaw.
    Carly leaned into his hand. It was too much to hope he’d lean that little bit further and kiss her but, for now, she had her answer. She could be patient, knowing he cared about her, knowing he wanted to be sure. That was admirable, really.
    Reed’s fingers caressed her cheek.
    The honk of a passing SUV broke the spell. A girl leaned out the passenger window and waved, grinning.
    “Guess everyone will know now, for sure.” Carly winked.
    His slow smile squeezed her heart. “Guess so.”

    ~*~

    Reed sat on the ground near the fire, leaning against the log between Carly’s knees. He reveled in the brush of her legs against him, of her hands massaging his shoulders. She must have figured out the strength of her thumbs, because she wasn’t digging in as deep tonight. More like lazy circles.
    He’d kept