her neck.
Gage stepped back instead, waiting for her to sit and then shutting her into the car. His car was going to smell like her afterward. He’d definitely have to roll down the windows, even if it was getting chilly. Having her scent waft through his head would make resisting her that much harder.
“So, about that climbing expedition we talked about,” Jonquil said when he was pulling the car back onto the road. “I checked my schedule. Looks like my best day is like ten days away on a Wednesday. I have an afternoon off next week but probably not until at least two and it sounds like we’d need more than that for the climb you have in mind.”
“Definitely. And I’m a little sore after yesterday. I need to switch my weight routine.”
“Me too. I wasn’t sure if I would make it to the top. Gorgeous climb though.”
“You handled it well enough.” He remembered watching her muscles bunch as she pulled herself up the wall. She was definitely no wimp.
“I stay in shape for it during the winter. There’s a climbing wall in Denver I hit a few times.”
“I’ve been there. Great place when I get in the mood in the winter. It’s not far from my mom’s doctor, so I go over for a while when I take her down.”
Jonquil turned to ask. “You always take your mom to the doctor?”
He wasn’t sure if the question was teasing or doubtful or what, but he shrugged a little. “She doesn’t like driving down the mountain in the winter.”
“I can’t blame her for that. You’re a good son.”
This time he was sure about her tone, and the admiration in it made him a little twitchy. “I’m just doing what has to be done. It’s no big deal.”
“Hmm.”
He changed the subject. “So, yeah, I think Wednesday, week after next will probably work. I’ll let you know when I check my schedule.”
“Good. I look forward to it.” There was a few seconds of silence before she spoke again. “I saw the posters for the mountain biking festival. They’re really eye-catching. You must be pleased.”
“Yes, my PR lady did a great job. We sent out our news release about it with information on the festival yesterday and have already gotten a couple of calls from people interested in expanding the story or getting a few quotes to spice things up. I think this will be our biggest year ever.” He noticed the way she clutched her tiny pink purse on her lap. Her hands had tiny cuts on them, but they were lovely, more dainty and graceful than almost any he’d ever seen. And so strong all at once.
“That’s fantastic. I already registered.”
He smiled. “I know. I saw it when I checked the list last night. You won’t be disappointed.” He talked about a couple of the runs they were doing and she listened, rapt. He filled the time until he pulled into her driveway. Gage paused only a moment before getting out to go around to her side. He needed just a few more moments with her—even if this wasn’t a date.
Gage pulled the door open and stepped back to let her out.
Jonquil stepped right into his personal space.
Had he not moved out of the way enough? “It was nice to spend time with you again. You’re a lot of fun.” The perfume that had been tormenting him in the car wafted up to him again and, caught by it, he leaned into her, his eyes sliding to her mouth. Did any other woman have such a perfect mouth?
As he got closer, she leaned away and put a restraining hand on his chest. “Whoa, cowboy. Do you kiss every girl you spend time with?”
“What?” At the moment he couldn’t think of any girl but her.
“Like my sister. On the two lunch dates you’ve had with her.”
He stepped back, all traces of the mood he’d been in a moment earlier evaporated. “What are you talking about?”
“You don’t remember taking my sister to lunch with you? Twice? You think I’m going to date you too?”
He blinked a couple of times as he reoriented his brain, which had been firmly fixed on kissing her.
Gage stepped back instead, waiting for her to sit and then shutting her into the car. His car was going to smell like her afterward. He’d definitely have to roll down the windows, even if it was getting chilly. Having her scent waft through his head would make resisting her that much harder.
“So, about that climbing expedition we talked about,” Jonquil said when he was pulling the car back onto the road. “I checked my schedule. Looks like my best day is like ten days away on a Wednesday. I have an afternoon off next week but probably not until at least two and it sounds like we’d need more than that for the climb you have in mind.”
“Definitely. And I’m a little sore after yesterday. I need to switch my weight routine.”
“Me too. I wasn’t sure if I would make it to the top. Gorgeous climb though.”
“You handled it well enough.” He remembered watching her muscles bunch as she pulled herself up the wall. She was definitely no wimp.
“I stay in shape for it during the winter. There’s a climbing wall in Denver I hit a few times.”
“I’ve been there. Great place when I get in the mood in the winter. It’s not far from my mom’s doctor, so I go over for a while when I take her down.”
Jonquil turned to ask. “You always take your mom to the doctor?”
He wasn’t sure if the question was teasing or doubtful or what, but he shrugged a little. “She doesn’t like driving down the mountain in the winter.”
“I can’t blame her for that. You’re a good son.”
This time he was sure about her tone, and the admiration in it made him a little twitchy. “I’m just doing what has to be done. It’s no big deal.”
“Hmm.”
He changed the subject. “So, yeah, I think Wednesday, week after next will probably work. I’ll let you know when I check my schedule.”
“Good. I look forward to it.” There was a few seconds of silence before she spoke again. “I saw the posters for the mountain biking festival. They’re really eye-catching. You must be pleased.”
“Yes, my PR lady did a great job. We sent out our news release about it with information on the festival yesterday and have already gotten a couple of calls from people interested in expanding the story or getting a few quotes to spice things up. I think this will be our biggest year ever.” He noticed the way she clutched her tiny pink purse on her lap. Her hands had tiny cuts on them, but they were lovely, more dainty and graceful than almost any he’d ever seen. And so strong all at once.
“That’s fantastic. I already registered.”
He smiled. “I know. I saw it when I checked the list last night. You won’t be disappointed.” He talked about a couple of the runs they were doing and she listened, rapt. He filled the time until he pulled into her driveway. Gage paused only a moment before getting out to go around to her side. He needed just a few more moments with her—even if this wasn’t a date.
Gage pulled the door open and stepped back to let her out.
Jonquil stepped right into his personal space.
Had he not moved out of the way enough? “It was nice to spend time with you again. You’re a lot of fun.” The perfume that had been tormenting him in the car wafted up to him again and, caught by it, he leaned into her, his eyes sliding to her mouth. Did any other woman have such a perfect mouth?
As he got closer, she leaned away and put a restraining hand on his chest. “Whoa, cowboy. Do you kiss every girl you spend time with?”
“What?” At the moment he couldn’t think of any girl but her.
“Like my sister. On the two lunch dates you’ve had with her.”
He stepped back, all traces of the mood he’d been in a moment earlier evaporated. “What are you talking about?”
“You don’t remember taking my sister to lunch with you? Twice? You think I’m going to date you too?”
He blinked a couple of times as he reoriented his brain, which had been firmly fixed on kissing her.
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