“How about we get together somewhere not so noisy next time?”
She furrowed her brow.
“Next time?”
I took in a deep breath. “When I take you out. On a date.”
“Are you asking me out?” she teased, her lovely eyes dancing.
“If I were, would you say yes?”
“I guess you have to ask to find out.”
I picked up her hand and kissed the knuckles. “Would you go out with me, Miranda? Please?”
She grinned. “Yes.”
“When is good for you?”
“I’m off on Thursday.”
It was only Monday, but considering how long I had already waited, a few more days was nothing.
“May I take you to dinner?”
“I would love that.”
I squeezed her fingers. “Great.”
Our hands remained clasped on the table, and neither of us moved to break the connection.
And I was fine with that.
* * *
I cursed loudly as a car going past me didn’t slow down or swerve around the puddle. The dirty, cold water hit me like a frigid slap in the face, dousing me completely. An unusually warm day had melted the snow, creating puddles and icy sidewalks. As night fell, the temperatures dropped, and grates froze again, the water forming deep wells by the curbs. Walking was dangerous, and most drivers were careful. Except, of course, for a few assholes—such as the one who’d just covered me in slush and water. I groaned and headed back to my car, digging around in the trunk and grabbing the bag I kept a change of clothing in. I headed to Miranda’s apartment and waited until she buzzed me up. When she opened the door, her eyes flew open wide with shock.
“Colin—what happened? Are you all right?”
I handed her the flowers I had purchased for her, grimacing over the fact that they had been sprayed as well. “Some ass went past me too fast. Drenched me. And your damn flowers.” I looked down with a shake of my head. “I have to change before we go out, if I could borrow a towel and your bathroom for a moment?” I lifted my duffel bag. “Not sure what’s in here, but it will at least be dry.”
“We can postpone.”
“No. I’ve been looking forward to this. I swear it’s the only thing that’s kept me going all week. I’ll change, and we’ll be right back on track.”
My words made her smile. I wasn’t lying. Tonight had been at the forefront of my mind since I’d left her in the bar. She had been in my thoughts constantly.
“Come in,” she urged.
I stepped in, and she shut the door. “Take off your coat, and I’ll throw it in the dryer. You change, and we’ll have a glass of wine while your coat dries.”
“Thank you.”
I slipped off my shoes and carried them to the bathroom. I looked in the mirror and laughed—no wonder Miranda looked so shocked. My face was splattered with mud—there was even some in my hair. My pants were wet and dirty and my shoes caked with grit. Since my coat had been open, my shirt was coated as well. I was a mess.
There was a knock on the door, and Miranda handed me a couple of towels and a facecloth. “Use the shower if you want. I think your clothes need to go in the wash with your coat. Drying it won’t help. It’s filthy.”
I lifted one eyebrow in a teasing gesture. “Getting me naked already, Miranda? I usually need dinner first.”
She laughed, and I adored the way a flush stole across her face. It highlighted her prettiness. “Yep. Gimme your clothes, Colin. I want you naked.”
I had to admit hearing her say that made my cock twitch.
“Not the date I had planned. I’m sorry.”
“We’ll improvise a little. Now, get out of those clothes, and I’ll toss them in the fast cycle. We’ll be back on track before you know it.”
“Great.”
Miranda
I was finding it hard to believe that Colin Preston was in my apartment—never mind naked in my shower. I carefully rinsed off the pretty flowers he had brought, arranging them in a vase. It was a lovely gesture, although, given what I knew of Colin so far, not surprising. From the moment we met, I sensed he was different. He was kind to everyone in the hospital. Friendly. His patients loved him. The staff admired him. A few of the females admired him far too much, in fact. Not that I could blame them. He was tall, with broad shoulders, sandy hair, and warm blue eyes. His hands were large, with long fingers, and strong. I felt his strength when he held my hand, yet his touch was careful and gentle. Much the same way as when he examined a patient.
I wondered if his patients felt the same warmth steal up their arm after he touched them, or if it was only me.
A sudden burst of curse words came from the bathroom, and I glanced down the hall, wondering what was wrong. It was strange to hear him so vocal and swearing.
He opened the bathroom door and appeared in the doorway.
“I think my sister took the wrong bag.”
I took in his appearance and then had to bite my lip and turn away.
“Are you laughing?”
“No,” I mumbled, busying myself with the flowers.
“You are. You’re laughing.”
I couldn’t help it. I began to chuckle, then the laughter burst forth. “Oh, Colin.”
He was wearing a pink t-shirt that was so snug, I could count his abs. And see them since it ended above his midriff. The arms were stretched to the limit, the seams already fraying as he dragged a hand through his hair.
It was the yoga pants that did me in. They were so tight, they looked painted on. They showed everything. The muscles in his thighs, his strong calves. The fact that he was circumcised. And packing a lot of heat. I was pretty certain he was uncomfortable. I felt myself flush.
“Sorry,” he muttered. “It was come out in this or the towel. It didn’t hide much.”
“Neither do those pants,” I replied, then clapped a hand over my mouth.
He glanced down, and I discovered what Colin looked like embarrassed.
Two slashes of crimson streaked across his cheeks. The tips of his ears turned red. And he bit the inside of his cheek. He was adorable. There was no other word for it.
I handed him a glass of wine. “I think you need this.”
He smirked as he took the glass from me. “You have no idea.”
We headed to the sofa, and I sat down. Colin bent to join me, the sound of material rending loud in the apartment. He looked at me, startled.
“Was that you?” he asked hopefully.
“No, ah, I think you just blew out the yoga pants.”
He sat down and lifted his arm to rub the back of his neck. The T-shirt sleeve tore loudly, and I had to cover my mouth to stop the laughter.
He shut his eyes. “God help me, this date is a disaster, isn’t it?”
I giggled. “Well, I’m thinking about how you’re going to explain to your sister about the torn pants and shirt.”
He sighed and leaned back into the cushions. He turned his head and winked, the humor of the entire situation too much to ignore. “She should be grateful I didn’t try to wear her thong.”
Then we were both laughing.
Colin
I sat back with a grateful sigh. Once my clothes were dry, we proceeded with our date. The restaurant I took her to was close to her place, so when I was dressed in my clothes again, we headed out. She had told me she loved Italian food, so Nonna’s was the perfect choice. Family-run, small, and romantic, it was a great place to take her.
Miranda had been a revelation all night. Sweet and helpful when she saw the disheveled mess I was. Funny and amazing when I walked out in my sister’s clothing. She wasn’t at all upset over the delay in our date. We sat sipping wine until my clothes were dry and we could leave. She even offered to just order in pizza and stay there, but I wanted to take her out.
We walked to Nonna’s, enjoying the slightly milder temperatures but avoiding getting too close to the road. She teased me about not having a
sister and being a cross-dresser. In turn, I teased her back about a quirk I had quickly discovered about her. She had two cats, both of whom came to inspect me. Their names were Shakespeare and Keats. She confessed she named all her cats, even those her parents had, after poets. When I questioned the fact that one was a female, she shrugged. “They have no idea.” She made me laugh.
All night had been easy and fun. I genuinely liked her. She was warm and open. Intelligent and kind. She spoke her mind but was thoughtful at the same time. It was a rare combination.
I glanced at my watch, noting it was still only nine, even with the delay in our date starting.
“Feel like a little drive?” I asked. “I know a great place for cappuccino and cheesecake. It’s not far away.”
“Cheesecake? You just said the magic word, Colin. Take me, I’m yours.”
Then she blushed, and I chuckled. I couldn’t help leaning over and pressing my lips to her cheek. “First, you get me naked. And now, you’re mine? As first dates go, this one is getting better every moment.”
We headed back to where I’d parked the car, and I opened her door, waiting for her to slide in. I headed to the driver’s side and started the car. Cold air billowed from the vents, and I adjusted the heat. “It’ll warm up in a moment. There’s an extra set of mitts in the glove box if your hands are cold.”
She opened the glove box, a strange look crossing her face. She didn’t say anything but pulled out the mitts and slipped them on. She glanced around the car, doing a double take when she spied something on the back seat. Then she stared straight ahead, her body language tense.
“Maybe you should take me home.”
“Excuse me?” I asked, shocked. “I thought we were having a good time.”
“We were.”
I pulled into the parking lot of Bits of Heaven and parked the car. “Talk to me.”
She shook her head. “Saying the woman’s clothing is your sister’s is one thing, but the rest, Colin?” At my confused look, she opened the glove box and pulled out a long strip of condoms. From the back seat, she grabbed a pair of strappy high heels. Hanging from one glittery strap was a lacy thigh high.
“I think you need to clean out your car from one date to the next. I’m really not interested in being a conquest.” She stared out the window, muttering under her breath. “I thought you were different.”
I shut my eyes and groaned. “God, I wish Nan were here.”
“What?”
I turned to her in the car. “She could explain Jennifer better than I can. My sister was here for a visit. She lives in Europe, and I was taking her to the airport. In typical Jen fashion, she was late and disorganized. She realized she needed something from her suitcase and climbed into the back seat while I was driving and dug around to find it in her carry-on. That pair of heels must have fallen out, and I never noticed. She left her duffel, which is black like mine, in the trunk, which means she has my bag with a pair of sweats and a shirt that is far too big, instead. Or it might have a dress shirt and pants. I can’t remember what was in it.” I huffed out a sigh. “As for the condoms, she’s single and enjoys her, ah, freedom. She had them in her purse, and before she got out of the car, she must have thrown them in the glove box. She told me she left me a bonus. I never looked.” I took Miranda’s hand. “My sister is like a hurricane—she blows in and out of here fast, often leaving a path of destruction behind her. She once forgot to turn off the tap at Dad’s before she left and flooded the guest bathroom. I love her, but she’s a scatterbrain.” I waited until she met my eyes. “I’m not playing you, Miranda. I like you too much for that. And my last date was over a month ago.” I offered her a smile. “I could call my Nan, and she would verify Jen for you if it would make you feel better.”
“Really?”
I nodded. “I had a girlfriend, but we broke up a year ago. I’m not perfect.” I ran a hand through my hair and decided to be honest. “I tried Tinder, but I discovered that wasn’t for me. I’m not that guy.”
She pursed her lips. “I tried Tinder too. The first guy I met up with was so awful I threw a drink in his face and walked out. It wasn’t for me either.”
I grinned at her admission, wanting to assure her. “Since then, I’ve only dated a couple times. I’m not a player. I promise,” I vowed.
Miranda huffed out a sigh. “No, I’m sorry I jumped to conclusions. My last attempt at a relationship went badly, so I guess I’m a little jumpy.” She squeezed my fingers. “And I like you too, Colin. More than I should.”
I studied her for a moment. “I’d say I’m sorry your relationship went south, but I’d be lying. If it hadn’t, you wouldn’t be here with me right now. And that makes me incredibly happy, if I’m being honest.”
“Thank you.”
I grimaced. “I’m afraid to see what else is hiding in the car. Or my apartment. She stayed with me for two days, and I’ve been so crazy at work I haven’t checked. I hope I won’t find leftovers in my oven again. It took me weeks to get the smell out of the place when I turned it on, only to find she’d left a plastic takeout container in it and it melted.”
Miranda giggled. “She sounds… fun.”
“I adore her, but she is, ah, unique. You’ll meet her one day and see for yourself.”
She smiled, once again relaxed. “I will?”
“Yeah, I think you will. Now, how about that cheesecake?”
“Perfect.”
* * *
I walked Miranda to her door, the rest of the date thankfully smooth and disaster-free. We’d talked more and shared lots of laughs. Discussed the hospital, the worries of dating someone we worked with. Both of us agreed we felt something for the other that was different and we wanted to explore it. I showed her some pictures of my Nan and family, including Jennifer, so she knew I wasn’t simply telling her stories to cover my ass. We discovered we both had Nans named Sandy, and she told me more about her life. I was surprised to discover one of her favorite hobbies was rock-climbing.
“I love the challenge and the high when I beat an obstacle. When I reach the pinnacle, it’s so amazing.”
I confessed to never having tried it or having any interest in doing so before now.
“Maybe you can convince me to try it.”
“I’d like that,” she said.
She unlocked her door and turned to me, silence falling between us. Our eyes met and locked. I lifted my hand, cupping her cheek and stroking the soft skin. “Thank you for your patience and understanding tonight. And your help.”
She leaned into my touch. “Anytime.”
“I hope the next date goes smoother.”
“There’ll be a next one?” she asked quietly.
“If you want one.” My gaze flickered to her mouth, then back to her eyes. “Lord knows I do.”
“Yeah, I do.”
There was no thought. The next breath, my mouth was on hers. Her lips were soft underneath mine, and she moaned as our tongues slid together, touching for the first time. She tasted of tea and cherries, sweet and addictive. She wrapped her arms around my neck as my hands settled on her waist, pulling her close. I groaned as the kiss deepened, our mouths moving together, exploring and discovering each other. We were lost to anything but each other. The feel of her fingers moving restlessly over the skin of my neck. Sliding through my hair. The low sounds of pleasure coming from her throat. Despite the difference in our height, she was perfect in my arms, her body molded to mine. The world around us ceased to exist until the elevator door opened and her neighbor walked past us.
“There is a reason we have keys,” the woman muttered.
I pulled back, meeting Miranda’s startled gaze.
“I guess we got carried away.”
“I guess so.”
I grinned. “You better get inside before I ravish you some more.” I winked. “I’ll save that for the next date.”
She smiled. “I look forward to that.”
“Me too, Miranda. Me too.
”
You’ve met the Vested Interest family
It is time for the next generation
A Merry Vested Wedding - Available NOW!
Nothing says romance more than a wedding at Christmas.
Marrying the love of your life, surrounded by your nearest and dearest at the most festive time of the year? What could be more perfect?
For Brayden Riley and Addison Ridge, it’s their dream wedding.
’Tis the season. Love and peace reign.
Right?
A waylaid maid of honor, a mischievous family member, and a father having trouble letting go are all typical blips in an otherwise ordinary wedding.
And one Christmas secret even Santa didn’t see coming.
Add in a snowstorm over the holidays, and one thing becomes clear.
Christmas may never be the same again.
A glimpse into the next generation of BAM - ABC Corp.
The Contract Series
The Contract (The Contract #1)
The Baby Clause (The Contract #2)
The Amendment (The Contract #3)
Vested Interest Series
BAM - The Beginning (Prequel)
Bentley (Vested Interest #1)
Aiden (Vested Interest #2)
Maddox (Vested Interest #3)
Reid (Vested Interest #4)
Van (Vested Interest #5)
Halton (Vested Interest #6)
Sandy (Vested Interest #7)
Vested Interest/ABC Crossover
A Merry Vested Wedding
ABC Series
My Saving Grace (ABC Corp #1)
Insta-Spark Collection
It Started with a Kiss
Christmas Sugar
An Instant Connection
An Unexpected Gift
Mission Cove
The Summer of Us Book 1
Standalones
Into the Storm
Beneath the Scars
Over the Fence
Vested Interest Box Set Books 4-7 Page 93
