“I’ll walk you to your door.”

“Okay.”

There are firsts in this world.

He didn’t think he was her first. She had to wonder how he would react if he knew the truth. He was her first date, and the first guy to ever bring her flowers. Abel was the first guy to ever make an effort, to seek her out.

She entered the apartment, and Abel followed behind her. Making her way up to her room, she paused. “This is me. I guess you know, seeing as you sent the flowers.”

“I really did send them in good faith.”

“I get that, I do. I was mean, and I shouldn’t have been.”

“I shouldn’t have squeezed your ass, and I hope in time you can forgive me.”

“Of course.” She pulled her key out. “I’ll see you tomorrow.”

“I’ll pick you up around eleven.” He held her bag out, and she thanked him once again.

Abel leaned in close, and nearly pressed a kiss to her lips. “I feel I made progress today, and I don’t want to ruin that by claiming your lips.”

“Claiming?”

“Yes, I want to kiss you on the mouth so damn bad. What the fuck do you do to me?”

“I don’t know.” She liked it, and her body was betraying her. How could she even like the thought of him kissing her when she’d been a little creeped out by him?

Push it all out of your mind, Harper.

“I’m going to leave you now, Harper. If you ever accept my proposal, call me.”

“I don’t have your number.”

He placed a single card into her palm. “Now you do.”

Abel stood up, opened the door for her, and waited until she closed it. Leaning against the door, she sighed, hearing him leave.

“Where the hell have you been?” Lara asked.

Opening her eyes, she saw her two best friends sitting in their pajamas with a romance on the television.

“Me? I thought you’d have been out with the Denton duo,” Harper said, dropping her bag onto the floor.

“It was a one-time deal,” Betty said. “It was a good one time.”

“Did they say that?” Harper asked.

“Yep. We weren’t allowed to call them back. One night to forget everything else,” Lara said. “You’re not going to judge us, are you?”

“No. I’m not. I just, that’s kind of mean, don’t you think?”

“Not at all. Gideon was kind of old,” Lara said. “Don’t get me wrong. He was amazing in bed, but I want to fall for someone my own age.”

Harper collapsed onto the sofa. “Abel’s older.” During their dinner, he’d given her a rundown of his family. So many brothers, and one sister. “Thirteen years older.”

“You were with Abel? I thought you’d have gone out with Damian.”

She frowned, looking at Betty. “You slept with him.”