Matthew hummed. “Almost? Can I kiss you?”
“And ruin my lipstick?”
“I’d like to.”
Butterflies fluttered in my stomach as I smiled up at him.Yes,I wanted him to ruin my lipstick. I wanted him to do so many things to me. “Yes, you can kiss me.”
“Thank god,” he murmured.
His hand slid around the back of my neck, cradling my head as my head tipped back. He pressed his lips against mine, and they were gentle. His beard was soft against my skin. Our kiss was easy and almost friendly, aside from the whiplash of need curling through my belly. I gripped his shirt, twisting my fingers in the fabric as he deepened the kiss, taking his time. His tongue swiped against mine, hot and needy. My head spun and he kissed me until I was breathless.
“Matthew,” I croaked.
He gave my hair a gentle tug. “Let’s get going.”
Part of me wanted to blow our dinner plans and drag him off to my bed. But instead, he opened the door for me, and I stepped out onto my porch. I was met with a wave of dry heat and a sun that was starting to dip below the horizon. The sky was a thousand shades of pink and orange, and it felt like the perfect sunset for us to have shared our first kiss.
Matthew never let me touch his car door. I snorted as he reached around and opened it for me.
“Are you going to buckle me in again like last time?” I asked.
He smirked. “Would you like me to?”
“Any excuse to get your hands on me, yes.”
He leaned into the car and grabbed the seat belt, pulling it around me and clicking it into place. He grabbed my chin gently. “You don’t need an excuse for that.”
Smooth. My cheeks flamed pink as he went around to the driver’s side and got in.
“I don’t know what I’m going to do with you,” I sighed. “You’re too sweet. Too handsome. I still can’t get over you outdressing me.”
“This isn’t even my best outfit,” he said as he started driving us. “I don’t get to wear my nice clothes very often because of where I work, but that’s also why I like them so much. Especially nice blazers and vests.”
I checked my lipstick in the mirror as I thought about him in a nice vest. Sleeves rolled up. Yeah, I needed to see him in that.
I caught him looking over at me as I reapplied my lipstick. “Eyes on the road,sir.”
He laughed. “I’ll do my best. Might be difficult. Also, I never asked you how late you wanted to stay out.”
“Well, considering I’m off until Monday, now is the time for me to stay up late. Although admittedly, I will probably fallasleep on you around midnight. The legends say I turn into a pumpkin around then.”
“Oh, interesting. A pumpkin, hmm?”
“Yep.” I put the mirror back up then relaxed in my seat, looking over at him. “Thanks for driving us.”
“Of course. Always. And I think I can have you home by midnight. The place we’re going to is about forty minutes away, I hope that’s okay.”
“Honestly, I’m glad. I don’t need everyone in town breathing down our necks.”
Matthew chuckled. “Would that bother you? I know they can be nosy.”
“No,” I said immediately. “I don’t care what they think, truthfully. It’s more that I just want to focus on us, not fighting one of the Golden Girls who’d probably throw themselves at you.”
“You have a point. They’ve tried at least once.”
I started laughing so hard, my stomach hurt. “Oh god. Did they proposition you?”
“Oh yeah. In the middle of the emergency room, no less. It was my second week here.”