Page 14 of Ready, Willing and Abel

Her pupils are blown and her lips are swollen from my kiss.

“Well, at least we won’t have to fake the chemistry,” she says. Then she frowns. “Well, I won’t. I guess this is pretty standard for you, huh?” She gives a nervous laugh, running her hands down her sides. “You probably know all kinds of things about how to make a kiss look real.”

I shake my head. “None of this is standard. And there was nothing fake about that kiss.” I don’t hide the fact that I have to adjust myself so my dick isn’t pressed awkwardly against my zipper.

Her eyes drop to my cock, and then her cheeks pinken prettily. “I guess we should probably go.”

I nod. “I hope you don’t mind. I didn’t bring a limo or anything. I keep a car at my house in Crescent Bend, so I have that.”

“Oh, I actually prefer that. I don’t think small-town Esme Morales makes sense in a limo. I mean, don’t get me wrong, I’d look fabulous in one, but I wouldn’t feel comfortable. Ya know?”

“I get it. But for the record, I think Esme Morales belongs anywhere she wants to be. You’d class up any place. Especially a limousine.” I hold my arm out to her, and we step out onto her porch. “Did that sound as cheesy to you as it did to me?”

She laughs. “A little.”

“Fuck, I’m so bad at this.”

“At what?” I open her door to the car.

“Dating. Impressing a woman worth impressing.”

She smiles up at me. “Are you trying to charm me, Abel Cartwright?”

“Yes, I definitely am. Is it working?”

“Ask me again at the end of the date.”

I laugh. I jog around to my side of the car. “So what’s good at this restaurant, Gator’s?”

“Everything.”

“Should we get one of everything?” I ask.

“That might take a while.”

“I’m in no hurry.” I drive down her driveway and head back into town. “So tell me everything there is to know about Esme Morales.”

chapter

eight

Esme

I grab my phone from my purse and try to text my sister without it being overly noticeable.

ME: 9-1-1!

ME: Help!

MIA: Aren’t you on your date?

ME: Yes.

ME: He’s flirting.

MIA: Then flirt back.

ME: But how can I tell?