stop.
Luke didn’t have the same problem. “Don’t think. Just do.”
Easy for him to say. But she had promised herself a taste—of freedom, of passion, of Luke. Stop hemming and hawing and do it. She should just take what little she could get.
After all, it could be fun. The old-fashioned drive-in theater on the north side of Black Hills had never been on Avery’s radar. She loved movies, actually—but in the comfort of her own home. Of course, other than the drive-in, there was only a two-screen theater in the Black Hills square. And it mostly featured kids’ movies and oldies.
The drive-in usually showed current movies. The double features were pretty popular, especially in the summer, when families could go for a kid-friendly movie first, then the adults would watch the more mature movies after laying the kids down to sleep in their cars. So she’d be in public, which should keep her from giving in to all the exciting tingles Luke inspired.
Or maybe not. After all, she’d be in a parked car. In the dark. With Luke.
Stop analyzing. Just do it. “Okay. Want me to drive?”
Luke frowned, none too happy about that, but still nodded his head slowly. “Yeah, that will be easiest.” Then he snapped back to happy Luke. “I’ve brought everything we will need.”
Cindy chuckled, sparking Avery’s irritation. “You planned ahead?”
“Yep.”
“What if I had said no?” Avery asked.
This time, Avery’s assistant didn’t restrain herself to just laughing. She said, “An inexperienced girl like you is not gonna turn down a chance to make out at the drive-in.”
Ouch! Avery couldn’t even look at Luke. Instead she glared across the counter. She must have been at least a little frightening, because her friend grimaced and walked back into the equipment room.
Turning her attention to Luke, Avery startled when she found him up close and personal. Within-kissing-distance close. Something she couldn’t stop noticing.
“I wasn’t trying to insult you,” he said.
“Um, okay.” What was she supposed to say?
“Really, I wasn’t.” He tilted his head to the side. Probably to see her better, but Avery couldn’t help thinking it was the perfect angle for kissing. Man, he’d tasted so good.
“I know your parents didn’t let you do a lot of the same stuff the rest of us did as teenagers. Especially after your dad died,” he said. “I just thought this would be one of those things you don’t have any experience with…and I could give you that.”
Oh Lordy, was he for real?
“That’s very sweet of you, Luke.”
“I’m not doing it to be sweet. I have my own ulterior motives.”
Finally he leaned in, brushing his lips against her cheek. Compared to the other night, the step down in passion was almost an insult. Her skepticism must have shown on her face, so he tried again.
“Listen, you’re the first thing that’s gotten my heart racing in a long time. I think that’s worth exploring, don’t you? Yes, I let things get out of hand the other night, and that’s not fair to you. I’m sorry.”
At least this humiliation wasn’t public. Luke could never know how far she’d wanted to go the other night. Especially since it was obvious he didn’t feel the same.
“So what do you say?” he asked.
“I’m all about a new experience.” Even if it wasn’t the one she really wanted to have with Luke.
* * *
Apparently not being able to drive was going to be an ongoing irritation for him. Avery pulled the car around and Nolen loaded it. Standing around waiting did not come naturally to Luke.
He swallowed his pride and made his way to the passenger-side door, reminding himself he should be grateful just to be alive. Avery lowered the hatch back, the basket safely stowed inside, then grinned at him as she climbed into the driver’s seat.
That smile was infectious, as was the excitement behind it. Like a kid in a candy store—and he intended to feed her all the sweets she could eat
Luke didn’t have the same problem. “Don’t think. Just do.”
Easy for him to say. But she had promised herself a taste—of freedom, of passion, of Luke. Stop hemming and hawing and do it. She should just take what little she could get.
After all, it could be fun. The old-fashioned drive-in theater on the north side of Black Hills had never been on Avery’s radar. She loved movies, actually—but in the comfort of her own home. Of course, other than the drive-in, there was only a two-screen theater in the Black Hills square. And it mostly featured kids’ movies and oldies.
The drive-in usually showed current movies. The double features were pretty popular, especially in the summer, when families could go for a kid-friendly movie first, then the adults would watch the more mature movies after laying the kids down to sleep in their cars. So she’d be in public, which should keep her from giving in to all the exciting tingles Luke inspired.
Or maybe not. After all, she’d be in a parked car. In the dark. With Luke.
Stop analyzing. Just do it. “Okay. Want me to drive?”
Luke frowned, none too happy about that, but still nodded his head slowly. “Yeah, that will be easiest.” Then he snapped back to happy Luke. “I’ve brought everything we will need.”
Cindy chuckled, sparking Avery’s irritation. “You planned ahead?”
“Yep.”
“What if I had said no?” Avery asked.
This time, Avery’s assistant didn’t restrain herself to just laughing. She said, “An inexperienced girl like you is not gonna turn down a chance to make out at the drive-in.”
Ouch! Avery couldn’t even look at Luke. Instead she glared across the counter. She must have been at least a little frightening, because her friend grimaced and walked back into the equipment room.
Turning her attention to Luke, Avery startled when she found him up close and personal. Within-kissing-distance close. Something she couldn’t stop noticing.
“I wasn’t trying to insult you,” he said.
“Um, okay.” What was she supposed to say?
“Really, I wasn’t.” He tilted his head to the side. Probably to see her better, but Avery couldn’t help thinking it was the perfect angle for kissing. Man, he’d tasted so good.
“I know your parents didn’t let you do a lot of the same stuff the rest of us did as teenagers. Especially after your dad died,” he said. “I just thought this would be one of those things you don’t have any experience with…and I could give you that.”
Oh Lordy, was he for real?
“That’s very sweet of you, Luke.”
“I’m not doing it to be sweet. I have my own ulterior motives.”
Finally he leaned in, brushing his lips against her cheek. Compared to the other night, the step down in passion was almost an insult. Her skepticism must have shown on her face, so he tried again.
“Listen, you’re the first thing that’s gotten my heart racing in a long time. I think that’s worth exploring, don’t you? Yes, I let things get out of hand the other night, and that’s not fair to you. I’m sorry.”
At least this humiliation wasn’t public. Luke could never know how far she’d wanted to go the other night. Especially since it was obvious he didn’t feel the same.
“So what do you say?” he asked.
“I’m all about a new experience.” Even if it wasn’t the one she really wanted to have with Luke.
* * *
Apparently not being able to drive was going to be an ongoing irritation for him. Avery pulled the car around and Nolen loaded it. Standing around waiting did not come naturally to Luke.
He swallowed his pride and made his way to the passenger-side door, reminding himself he should be grateful just to be alive. Avery lowered the hatch back, the basket safely stowed inside, then grinned at him as she climbed into the driver’s seat.
That smile was infectious, as was the excitement behind it. Like a kid in a candy store—and he intended to feed her all the sweets she could eat