Sexual tension sparked between them. Raising up on her tiptoes, she whispered in his ear, “If I get any feistier, what’s gonna happen?”
“Darlin’, haven’t you ever heard the old saying, patience is a virtue?” He groaned with a soft reply, “I don’t want to be a piece of ass to you and I sure as hell wouldn’t be able to treat you like one. My heart doesn’t work that way.”
A slow grin crossed her lips. “I missed out on the patience gene. That’s in my sister’s DNA. And I don’t want just your ass, Reed.” No matter how torturous or difficult it became not to kiss him, she’d wait. No matter how long it took. JC simply wanted to be next to this man. “Well then, I guess you should also know I don’t lie. Ever. In my family, you’re only worth as much as your word. I’ll always be honest with you.”
He reached around her and grabbed a piece of bacon. “What else you got in that rulebook of yours?” His slow drawl was layered with intrigue and sexy playfulness.
“Silly stuff.” She grabbed a strip from the skillet. “Most women have a wish list when it comes to what kind of man they want to date. I, on the other hand, have an encumbering list of rules I use as a safety net to keep me out of trouble.”
“I like trouble.” Reed teased with bent brow, dragging his hand through his hair. “I’m almost eight years older than you, darlin’. Is that gonna be a problem?”
Without even thinking, she shook her head adamantly. He could’ve said eighteen years older and it wouldn’t have made a damn bit of difference.
“You gonna sleep all day?”
She rolled her eyes in annoyance. “No. I have sleep issues.”
“You wanna help me go shopping for my boring bedroom?”
Laying her head against his chest, she nodded.
“You all right now?” he asked sweetly.
JC nodded again, releasing a huge sigh of relief. “Thanks for understanding me. Honestly, I have a few neurotic tendencies, but I promise, I’m tame.” She smiled up at him, biting her lip.
“I’m starving. Let’s eat this delicious breakfast before it gets cold. I’ll go home to change and come to pick you up. I’ll drive.”
“Hey! Don’t be making fun of my Prius! What do you drive? A big truck?”
Stretching his arms out as far as they would reach, he teased, “Umm hmm, with a huge set of cow horns strapped to the front bumper.”
CHAPTER ELEVEN
JC inspected her navy blue summer dress. Ambling into her closet, she grabbed a wide camel colored leather belt and wedges to match. The loud rumble of a motor outside caught her attention. That doesn’t sound like a truck! Trotting toward kitchen, she pushed the code on the intercom system, opening the wrought iron gate for Reed.
Yanking the front door open, she giggled. “Hot damn!”
He cut the motor and she held up her pointer finger. “I’m ready.”
She grabbed her purse and shut the door behind her.
Reed slouched against the hood of a fully restored 1969 black Camaro. His comfortable confident composure hung on him like a favorite pair of jeans, perfect in all the right places. Standing in the sunlight, his wavy hair took on a golden hue against his black t-shirt. His lips pulled into a timid grin, accentuating the fine laugh lines surrounding his eyes.
The man looked absolutely virile, renewing her confidence to an all-time high. She’d been so flustered and nervous previously around Reed she couldn’t completely act like herself. “That’s it,” she mumbled to herself, marching toward his car. “He has the nerve to come over here looking that damn good. Patience is a virtue my ass.”
Unable to contain the huge smile plastered to her face, JC sauntered right up to him and kissed him on the cheek. Their legs brushed as she stood between his thighs and the rasp of his trimmed beard sent a rush of exhilaration straight to her core. “Reed Rider, I’ve got three things to say to you.”
His jaw turned rigid under the heat of her kiss. “I’m listening, JC Mathews.”
“First, if my mom were here, she’d push me out of the way to get into the front seat of your car. Second, you’d better be prepared. And third,”—she held out her hand and wiggled her fingers—“I wanna drive.”
There was no need to go into detail of what she meant by prepared. Judging by the dazzling white smile broadening across his face, he knew exactly what she meant.
He dangled the keys in front of her. “You can’t, it’s a stick.”
Snatching the keys from his fingers, she whispered in his ear, “I’m very good with sticks.” She sashayed to the driver’s side of the car. “Oh, one more thing, Reed Rider. You look fucking amazing.”