Page 51 of Meant for You

I opened and closed dresser drawers, trying to decide what to wear. It was hot now, but it always cooled down in the evening. I wanted to look good. I mean, I didn’t think Dane cared about what I wore all that much, but I wanted to look nice for him.

I wanted him to look at me, and, um, yeah, want me.

The memory of our kiss outside the hunting cabin had been replaying through my head since it happened, and I shivered. He’d been hard for me. My best friend, my Dane, had those kinds of feelings for me.

I still couldn’t believe we were doing this.

That he was my boyfriend, not just my friend.

I glanced at the clock. “Crap.” I needed to hurry up and get dressed.

In the end, I pulled on a pair of denim shorts, a T-shirt that was casual but cute, and my cowboy boots. And just to be safe, I grabbed a bag and threw in a pair of jeans and a sweater in case I got cold later.

My phone rang and I pulled it from my back pocket. Aunt Julia. As much as I wanted to, there was no putting this off or ignoring her, not again. She’d probably show up here if I did.

I took a deep breath, tapped the screen, and put the phone to my ear. “Hi, Aunt Julia.”

“Nice of you to answer this time.”

I stiffened. She always made me feel like I was being reprimanded or interrogated, like I was an ill-behaved kid. “Sorry, it’s been busy at work.”

“When are you coming home, Everly?”

Right, no small talk, then. I’d been home not that long ago. I wasn’t in any hurry to go back. “Soon.”

“How soon?”

I heard the crunch of boots on the gravel outside. It was Dane, I knew from his walk. That would probably sound weird to some people, but I simply knew him that well.

“I actually have plans tonight, so I can’t talk now. But I’ll call you back tomorrow.”

“What plans?” she bit out.

Dane knocked on the door.

“Is someone there?”

Her voice was so sharp I winced. “I’ll call you back tomorrow. Promise.” I disconnected and knew she would be furious with me for cutting her off. But I wasn’t going to let her ruin my night.

I opened the door to Dane grinning.

And had to suck in a breath when I saw him. All thoughts of my aunt vanished in an instant.

He stood there in worn Levi’s that hugged his long legs, a black belt with a chain hanging loose against his thigh, and a black T-shirt that clung to his chest and arms, all his sexy ink on display. I wanted to take a bite out of him.

I took another breath to steady my nerves. Why the heck was I nervous? This was Dane. My Dane.

Yes, but now you know what it’s like to kiss him.

He still hadn’t said anything. His golden eyes were moving over me, taking me in from my boots and working their way up, and I noticed his jaw tightened when his gaze reached my chest.

His eyes finally met mine and the nerves intensified.

“Hey,” I said.

“Christ,” Dane said, his mouth flattening before he licked his lower lip. “Come here, Eves.”

I moved toward him like he was the only source of light in the darkest of nights. When I was right in front of him, he gripped my hips and pulled me up against him.