“Should I give your brother lots of samples again or go with him to the bonfire?”
She spits a piece of gum from her ice cream into her hand and sets it on the napkin in front of her. I almost laugh out loud because I remember doing that as a kid. She has the cutest little thinking face on as she sucks ice cream from her fingers. “You like my brother, right?” She wrinkles her pert nose and takes another lick of her ice cream cone, studying me with her oh-so-wise five-year-old eyes.
Xander’s watchful eyes are locked on me, awaiting my response. My lips twitch.
I keep my gaze on her, trying to hide my smile. “I think I might. What should I do?”
“Go to the bonfire! It’ll be fun.” She nods her head enthusiastically.
Xander cocks his head to the side, aiming his twinkling gaze at me. “Can’t argue with that. Sounds like it’s a date.”
Can’t argue, indeed. And right now, I don’t want to. Part of me thinks since now that things are changing with Xander, I deserve to have a little fun. For once, I want to go out and do things normal teenagers do. I want to live the life at Rosehaven that I doubt my mother ever really got the chance to have. Based on what Aunt Liz said, she’d finally been happy, and then I came along and ruined things for her. Not that my aunt would ever say that last bit, but it’s obvious. Getting pregnant changed her entire life.
Closing my eyes, I blow out a breath. I hope this whole thing with Xander isn’t a huge mistake.
“You okay, Red?”
My eyes flicker open to see his gaze wandering my face. I chew on my lip and nod. “I’m fine. It’s a date.”
Chapter 36
At quarter to eight, just as I’m hustling out the door to my truck, a black SUV stops at the road right in front of the house. My eyes dart around. I can’t see who is inside because of the dark tint on the windows. The passenger window rolls down, and my heart does a little leap. “Get in, Red.”
Cautiously, I cross the yard. When I get to Xander’s Cadillac Escalade, I prop my forearms on the opening. “Did I miss a text or something?”
“Nah. I just figured I’d swing by and see if you were still here. Get in.”
Should I?He looks so damn cute with his hair falling over his forehead like that, and his dimple is practically begging me to get into the vehicle with him. I’ve never been able to resist a dimple, and when I breathe in and find that the interior of his car smells like his cologne—well, that’s it.Done deal.I open the door and slide into the passenger seat, setting my backpack on the floorboard at my feet.
He gives me an approving smile as I buckle my seat belt, and he hits the gas. His arm casually rests on the center console and it stretches further, reaching for my hand.
I blink a few times, still not fully comprehending that this is me, Scarlett, who he’s been messing with for weeks now. My ass is sitting in his ridiculously comfortable vehicle, and my hand is firm within his grasp. His eyes roam over me appreciatively.
“I’ve gotta say it again. I fucking love a girl in a school uniform.”
I can’t help but laugh. “Um, you are surrounded by them on the daily. You’re just now figuring this out?”
He smirks. “Nah. Maybe I should have said I fucking loveyouinyourschool girl uniform.”
My heart does a little jump.
“I can’t wait to get you out of it, either.”
Heat washes over me from head to toe, my body very aware of his and everything he’ll do if I let him.
I roll that thought around in my mind.Fucking hell, I think I’d let him.
We pull into the parking lot a minute later. Xander cuts the engine, then leans across the console, wrapping his hand around the back of my neck. One flick of his tongue, and I surrender, opening my mouth and inviting him in. The kiss is hurried and passionate, and promises of things to come.
Someone thumps the Escalade’s hood, and we look up to see Micah and Beau with their flavors of the day, grinning like idiots.
I slide my gaze back to Xander. “I guess we should get inside. We’ll be late.”
“Pretty sure I give zero fucks if we are.” He draws me in for another kiss, biting gently at my lower lip. “But come on, they’re watching us like we’re animals at the zoo.”
I snicker. “The last time I went to the zoo, I think I was twelve. We saw some monkeys getting it on. It was quite the education.”
“Well, you just tell me if you want to give everyone an education. You already almost did in the garden the other day.”