“That is exactly why I want to steal you away. Those asses are going to hijack your time.”
She leans back, her eyes lit with humor. “Well then, it’s a good thing I changed my schedule to add a few extra days.”
My grip on her head tightens. “How long can you stay?”
“I’ll be there a week. Scottie is a terrific partner in crime. He got my flights arranged so I get the most out of my time in Charleston.”
“What about work?”
“I’ve had years of helping the other dancers. They had no problem stepping in and covering me.”
I stare at her, trying to find the words to express how much this pleases me. It makes me a selfish asshole, but I wasn’t kidding about sharing her that weekend. She takes my silence the wrong way, her radiant glow fading and self-doubt forming on her face. “Maybe I should have talked to you first. If you think it’s too much—”
“No matter how much time you have with me, it’ll never be enough. I’ll take whatever you can give me.”
“If you’re busy with work, I can entertain myself.”
“How many people know you're staying over?”
Her eyebrows scrunch in confusion. “What?”
“Scottie has a big mouth and tends to share things. Did he share your plans with anyone?”
“I don’t think so. He knows it was a surprise.”
“If you talk to him before I do, tell him to keep it to himself. I’ll deal with the weekend, but when we get back to Charleston, you’re all mine.”
“I hope you don’t tire of me.”
“Never in this lifetime.”
“We just met, but do you feel like…” she pauses, the same hesitancy taking over.
“… like the woman I’ve been waiting for all my life is sitting on my lap?” I finish for her.
“It doesn’t seem fair that I’ve waited so long and you’re leaving.”
“We’ll figure things out. This is uncharted territory for me, too. I’ve never backed down from a challenge, and I’m not letting you go.”
She sighs wistfully, her hands curling around my neck. “When you say things like that, it makes me think we have a chance.”
“A chance for what?”
“For us to make it. Vegas odds are not in our favor. And tonight I flew off the handle, ruining everything.”
“You ruined nothing. It’s understandable your history with men left you scarred.”
She drags her lip through her teeth, regarding me. “You were right earlier. My instincts sent me into fight-or-flight mode. Not because Isaac scarred me. After the initial shock, I realized he wasn’t that special to me. He cheated, and I gathered my wits, moving on. But seeing that text from a woman waiting for you at home sent me spiraling. Isaac cheating stung, but thinking of you with another woman was devastating.”
My pulse pounds, hearing her confession and knowing the doubt is out there. I pull my phone from my pocket, scrolling to find the message, and offer it to her.
She scans over the screen, her eyes growing wide.
“Sucks that I had to bring her back into this, but you need to understand. Look at the time and date stamp.”
“Friday night at five-thirty-four.”
“Exactly three minutes after you strolled your gorgeous ass in that bar and caught my eye.”
“Oh my God.”
“Yeah, I knew it then. I didn’t think twice about the Vegas odds or women back in Charleston. My sole focus became you. I asked you that first morning to give me these days to see what could happen between us. What I didn’t tell you was that my mind was made up. One night was enough for me to know. No hesitation, no games, no bullshit.
“I’ve never strayed because I’m not that kind of man. No matter how many Rinas are in the world, no one stands a chance. You can trust me not to ever damage what we have. I’m smart enough to appreciate the perfection that is you and will fight like hell for a lifetime of it.”
Tears slide down her cheeks, but unlike before, her hazel eyes are glowing. She sucks in a shaky breath and places her forehead to mine. “One night was enough for me, too. It’s crazy, impulsive, and unbelievably fast, but I’m falling head over heels for you, Evin Graham.”
My heart rate picks up, my blood racing through my veins. “Means the world to me to hear you say that, baby. And since we’re in the sharing mood, I have a confession to make.” My hand finds hers and twists the ring on her finger. “This ring was a lot more than a birthday present. It’s a sign of my commitment to you.”
Her eyes now bulge and drop to our hands. “You bought me a promise ring twelve hours after meeting me?”
“I’m not a teenage boy dating the prettiest girl in high school, but the meaning is the same.”
“That’s insane! We’d only shared a few kisses.”
“One night. No hesitation, no games, no bullshit,” I repeat. “You’re not a man, so you’ll never understand the power of your kiss. The taste of heaven. I knew to appreciate what I had in my arms.”
“You know how to make a statement.”
I want to correct her. Tell her it would make me a lot happier if it was on her ring finger to make the statement I intended.
But I’ll keep that to myself for now.
She’ll know soon enough.
Chapter 10
Evin
I grunt when Poppy’s thigh slides higher, her knee grazing my cock. “Baby, you restless?”
“Not exactly,” she whispers, skimming her nails down my stomach.
“You have to stop.”
“I don’t want to stop.” Her hand slips under my waistband, and I hiss when her fingers scale along my dick.
“Poppy,” I warn.
She grips me tighter, pressing her weight to my side. “I’m not stopping. Tonight the man of my dreams told me he was crazy about me, gave me a promise ring, and told me he’s aiming for a lifetime together. I may not have had sex, but I’m not completely inexperienced. This is the kind of night that ends with more than fantastic
