Page 91 of Against the Clock
“Oh yeah. If you were in a dress? I’d already have taken you in three different positions on your couch.”
“I’ll have to remember that for next time,” I say, trying my best to give him a saucy wink.
He grimaces. “Do you have something in your eye?”
“No, I was trying to wink.”
“Oh, is that right? Is that code for ‘take my pants off and make sweet love to me’?”
“No, you have to win that tonight.” I start to wink again, but then think better of it.
“Was that another wink? It was just a slow blink.” He chuckles, and I can’t help laughing alongside him.
“Oh, I meant to ask you—should we stop and get flowers for Darius and his wife? Or wine? I don’t want to show up emptyhanded.”
“I’m way ahead of you, Kelsey. I’ve got a bottle of wine and flowers in the car. And some chips, too, along with the candy.”
“Oooh, what kind of chips? Jalapeño are my favorite.”
“Well, maybe you better stay here. I don’t know if I can date a jalapeño chip lover.”
“What? What’s wrong with jalapeño?”
“I don’t want it jalapeño business.”
“Oh my god,” I suck in a breath, biting my cheeks. “That’s the worst dad joke.” I finally laugh, turning the lock as we head for his truck, my bag over his shoulder.
“What can I say? I’m in training.”
“Huh? In training?”
He glances down at me, an amused look on his face.
It dawns on me what he means then, my brain putting it together with what he said on the last night I spent with him. He wants to be a dad. Like… he really wants to be a dad.
“You know I’m on birth control, right? I might want kids someday, but I’m not ready for them right now.” I bite my lip, turning over the words after they come out of my mouth. “I might not ever want them.”
“Hey, no, Kelsey, I’m sorry.” Frowning, he tosses my bag in the back seat of the truck, then opens the door for me.
I wring my hands together, trying to make sense of my racing emotions.
“I wasn’t trying to pressure you. It was a joke. No, Kels,” he pauses, cupping my face, running his thumbs over my cheekbones. “When it comes to you, I want it all. I hope you know that. But I would never pressure you into anything like that. Hell, I’m willing to wait for you as long as it takes. Just means I get more time with you, just the two of us.” He kisses me, big body pressing against mine, and I sigh happily when he pulls away. “I have to say, I’m pretty greedy for you. I’m not sure if that will ever change.” He purses his lips. “You sure you want to go to Darius’ house tonight? It’s not too late to skip out, go back to my house and have fun, just the two of us.” He waggles his eyebrows and I roll my eyes.
“I want to hang out with your friends. Are you afraid I’m going to beat you? Is that what this is about?”
“Oooh, fighting words from the tiny Texan.”
“That’s right, don’t you forget it. A Texan raised on poker.” I poke him in the chest. “And I’m not that tiny. You’re just a giant.”
“You’re just right,” he says, then easily lifts me up, like I weigh nothing, and buckles me into the seat.
“Hey,” I object.
“Just helping my pocket-sized girlfriend into my oversized truck.”
“Oh yeah? I’ve got a pocket for you,” I grump, then twist my lips to the side. “Wait—”
“Oh, you have a pocket for me, do you?” He’s laughing, his shoulders shaking with it, leaning over me and planting another kiss on my forehead.