Nate (A Texas Jacks Novel) by Unknown

and then lets me go shortly after. “You ready, little one?”
    “As ready as I’ll ever be.” I try for a flirty response, but yeah, I’m not good in this category. I grab my purse, jacket, and keys off the couch before turning back to Nathan. “Where to, cowboy?” The second flirty response is a charm, right? I hope so. Can he tell how giddy I feel?
    “Cowboy. I really like when you call me that.”
    “Good.” We step out onto the landing in front of my door so I can lock up. Then I boldly reach out to take his hand and lead us to the parking lot. I’m sure he can feel the slight tremor that’s taken up residence in my hand, as I’m trying for assertiveness and hoping to calm my nerves. I need to let go of my shyness, as much as I dare— for the moment anyway. After all, it’s only our first real date of being alone together.
    He helps me up into his 275 Ford extended cab, with his hands on my waist, when it hits me. This is our first date. Alone. This will be our first time without the guys acting as comic relief, or the girls as my safety net. As he shuts the passenger door and rounds the front of the truck, I start to wonder if he feels just as nervous as I am, and what his expectations from this date will be. As he climbs into the main cab of the truck, I pray we can overcome the awkwardness I’m feeling. Does he feel it, too?
    “Feel free to change the station to whatever you want. Make yourself at home whenever you’re in my truck.” He winks at me, before he puts the truck into drive and pulls out of the parking lot.
    I sit over on my side of the truck, with this big, gaping, void in between our seats. It’s awkward already, and I have no idea what to do next, so I reach my hand out to the radio, searching for my favorite country station before settling back into the nice, semi-cushy, leather seats. I’m still striving for calmness and confidence, which I’m lacking in both departments for the time being.
    “Are you okay all the way over there?”
    “Peachy.” I give him a tentative smile that I know spikes his curiosity.
    “Any reason you’re practically hugging the door?” He chuckles.
    “Sorry,” I give him a sheepish look. “Just a little nervous, I guess.”
    “No need to be, I’m not planning to bite.” I sneak a glance at him to see he’s got that crooked grin on his face again. “Probably. I can’t make any promises though.”
    To avoid getting caught in this mouse trap, I decided to find out where we’re headed.
    “Sorry, you’ll just have to be patient until the ride’s over.”
    “One thing you should know about me— patience isn’t my strong suit.”
    He laughs, probably thinking that I’m joking. He would change his tune if he got anywhere near my siblings.
    “You feel it too, right?” I suddenly feel the urge to ask.
    “Feel what?” His eyebrows pull inward, as he looks over at me with a confused glance.
    “How awkward this is. You know, without our friends here?”
    “Only if you make it that way. You know what would help remedy that?” his voice holds a bit of amusement in it, and something else I’m studiously trying to ignore as I calm my traitorous heart down.
    I’m afraid to ask but I can’t help myself, and fall for the bait, hook, line and sinker. “What?” I softly say.
    “If you scooted that cute bottom of yours across the seat and sat right next to me. I’m finding that I don’t like the distance sitting between us, and I really want to hold your hand,” he says as he pats the seat right next to him.
    I really want to, but I also really don’t. Not because he scares me— more like I’m scared of how fast my feelings towards him are growing. I swallow hard and decide that no harm could come by just sitting by him, and who am I kidding? I would regret not sitting next to him. So I scoot over and latch the lap belt around my body as he pulls me snuggly against his side, leaving his arm around my shoulders. A girl could totally get