Page 84 of Keeping Amanda
Damn. He’d so hoped she’d admit her feelings. But that time would come. He was sure of it. Because shedidlove him; he already knew that. But it was scary to say the words for the first time. He was living proof. He could man up and say them first, but again, he didn’t want to pressure her in any way, or decide they were moving too fast.
He could wait. He was a patient man.
“You want to change before we go?” he asked.
“We’re going right now?”
“No time like the present.”
“Okay. And do I look all right as I am?” she asked, looking down at herself.
Buck took his time running his gaze down her body. She had on a pair of jeans and a purple v-neck shirt. She looked amazing…but then again, she always looked that way, no matter what she was or wasn’t wearing. “You look perfect.”
She gave him a small smile. “Thanks, Nash. I know you’re a liar, but you’re a sweet one.”
“I’m not lying,” he insisted. “Besides, this is Anchor Point. You could wear your pajamas and no one would look twice.”
She chuckled. “I think not. It’s a bar, Nash. People are trying to hook up. No one is wearing PJs…unless they’re the lingerie kind.”
She wasn’t exactly wrong.
“What about Rain?” she asked.
Buck looked over at the dog, who was lying on his bed in the corner of the room. For once he was sound asleep. He figured it was because he’d stayed awake when they were at the base, watching over Mandy. He didn’t let down his guard until they arrived back home. He was obviously exhausted.
“Rain? You want to come with us, boy?” Buck called out, as if the dog could understand what he was saying. Hell, he probably could.
The dog opened his eyes and stared at them. Buck picked up his keys and held them up. “You want to come with us? Or stay here and sleep?”
In response, Rain sighed and closed his eyes again.
“Right, guess that decision is made,” Mandy said with a small giggle. “We won’t be long. A couple hours. Be good,” she told the dog.
Rain didn’t even twitch.
“He’s tired,” she said, as Buck put his hand on the small of her back to lead her toward the door. “I feel bad.”
“He’s an amazing dog. I have to admit, I never would’ve thought after seeing how bedraggled and thin he was in the jungle that he’d turn out to be so handsome when he filled out and was cleaned up.”
“Right? Just goes to show that you can’t judge a book by its cover. Kind of like Blair.”
Shit. He didn’t want her to think about that bitch for at least a few hours. The woman had the ability to suck all the joy out of Mandy’s life.
“Come on. You need a glass of wine.”
“Screw wine. I need a margarita. Or a shot. Or both.”
Buck had never seen Mandy drunk. He bet she was hilarious. “Well, I’m driving, so you can have whatever you want.”
“Goody,” Mandy said, as she smiled up at him. “You don’t mind?”
“I haven’t had drunk sex with my girlfriend yet. I bet it’ll be awesome. So no, I don’t mind.”
She rolled her eyes. “Of course it’ll be awesome, because you’ll be there.”
“Keep talking like that and you’ll definitely get some tonight.”
Mandy laughed. Seeing her frown lines disappear and the smile on her face was worth more than all the riches in the world. Buck vowed to do whatever he could to keep this woman happy and content.
