It’s Saturday, right? Hard to tell these days. I relieved my daughter a little while ago. I spent the night at her place, walking dogs and taking care of kids—a break from taking care of grandma. I’m really having to work hard to fit in “writer’s work” with caregiving activities. Not that I’m complaining. I wouldn’t. This is what family does. Or at least, what family does when it can. I know that not every family can be “all hands on deck” in a crisis.

Yesterday, at last, we were approved for hospice. No, she’s not going into a facility. She’s staying home, and we’re still her caregivers, but there’s more support—on-call nurses, aides to help with baths a few times a week, some supplies, medicines to keep her comfortable.

We see to her needs, sleep when we can, hold her hand when she’s scared, listen to her stories. And oh, the stories. Who knew grandma loved a Blackfoot boy when she was young. Her mother made her break it off, and she’s apparently regretted it all her life, because here she is talking about a painful breakup eighty years later. Love is a powerful thing.

Hope you enjoy the free short story below. It’s a complete story. Make sure you don’t have any children reading over your shoulders. 🙂

Drive Me Crazy

She’s out for one night of passion in a trucker’s big rig…

Just a glimpse of him standing in profile, arms crossed over his well-developed chest and leaning his firm round butt against the dispatch counter, was enough to shore up my weakening resolve. Dressed in faded blue jeans, a black, chest-hugging T-shirt, and a red Razorback ball cap turned backwards on his dark shaggy hair, he was every woman’s blue-collar fantasy.

My mouth dried as I glanced down his tall, muscled frame. What woman in her right mind wouldn’t want one night with all that ripped hotness?

And that’s all it could be—one night. I’d waited until the last possible moment to make my move. The midnight drive to the dispatch office had given me plenty of time to argue my way out of what had seemed like a good plan earlier when I’d realized that the planets had aligned to give me this one last chance to fulfill a long-standing fantasy.

There’d never been the right moment. For the longest time, I was married. When my husband left me for a younger version of me, Danny had been dating a woman with two kids, and seemed to be heading down a straight road to marriage.

We’d flirted; he’d issued lazy, playful invitations for dates or a quickie at the Motel 6 down the road. But I’d never detected even a hint of serious interest. If something was going to happen, I had to be the one to make a move. Today had been my last day at Henderson Transport. It was now or never.

All the reasons why I was crazy to consider this scheme fell away as I ticked through them in my mind:

He’s too young—He’ll be happy because I won’t have any expectations, I said to myself. Well, none beyond a really good time.

I’m management and he’s a driver—Midnight had just ticked past, so not true anymore. We were both free agents. Both consenting adults. All he had to do was say yes.

“You’ll never see him again,” I muttered under my breath as I rubbed my cold hands together. “If he turns you down, you won’t have to live with his smug smile.”

I sucked in a deep fortifying breath, adjusted the neckline of the red Lycra top to show my breasts to their best advantage, and pushed through the glass door.

His head turned at the sound, and then he straightened away from the counter and dropped his arms. “You cuttin’ my route, Angel?”

I gave him a crooked smile. “Think I’d do that and ask you to wait for me here in the middle of the night?”

His brows drew together, curiosity glinting in his gaze before it dropped to my boobs. I’d worn a bra that pretty much left everything sitting on a shelf. My nipples were outlined against the red, stretchy fabric of my top, the tips spiking because I’d given them a little tweak before I’d exited my car.

His frown deepened. “What’s this all about, Angela?”

I cleared my throat and tried for a sultry look. “I think you know.”

He cocked his head and looked me up and down again. Slowly. “You don’t have to hijack a man’s keys to get his attention, sweetheart.”

I planted my hands on my generous hips. “Apparently, I do, because you sure as shit haven’t followed through on any one of your invitations.”

His lips twitched. “I thought you flirted like that with all the guys.”

“You ever see me do it? Even once?”

His jaw tightened. Fatigue showed in the shadows under his eyes. Stubble clung to his craggy cheeks.

I felt a momentary twinge of guilt over the fact I was keeping him from his bed, but that was all I’d allow. He was young and hot as hell. If he needed sleep that damn bad, he could tell his latest squeeze to come around another time. Tonight, he was mine.

“My keys weren’t in the lockbox. I know I left ’em there.”

“You did indeed,” I said nodding. Then I looked him up and down, making sure he hadn’t mistaken my intent. “Fact is, I have an itch that needs scratchin’ and I’m hopin’ you’ll help me out.”

I tried to exude more confidence than I felt, but lost my nerve on the return trip up his hard body. I paused and swallowed hard, then gave a little cough to loosen the knot lodging at the back of my throat. When I reached his mouth, he was grinning.

Shit.

“Angela, is there somethin’ you want?”

You, preferably naked and tied spread-eagle on a bed so you can’t stop me nibbling every edible part of you.

“Angela?”

“Is there something I want? Yeah, there is.”

“Then just say it.”

But I couldn’t. I felt foolish enough. With my cheeks warming with humiliation, I reached into my purse and drew out his key ring. “Look, I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have taken this so far.”

“You made me wait half an hour, when I could have been home, showered, and in bed,” he chided brusquely. “You know how long I’ve been out this time.”

“I know. I arranged the schedule.”

Still, he didn’t take the keys.

I took a step toward him and raised my hand higher. This close, I had to tilt my head to maintain the lock on his gray gaze. Take the damn keys.

But his hands settled on my waist. “I’m still waitin’ for an answer. You want somethin’, sweetheart?” he repeated, his voice lowering to a sexy rumble.

I squeezed my eyes shut, prayed for courage and that the blush staining my cheeks would fade. It was now or never. We’d never see each other again. My seduction skills were rusty as hell, but I could do this. “I want you,” I blurted, and then opened my eyes.

He was wearing that familiar pussy-tightening smirk—one side quirked up, the corners of his eyes wrinkling. “Now, was that so hard?”

“Matter of fact it was.”

He bent toward me, his gaze narrowing on my mouth, but I turned my face. “Not here. Your rig.”

His eyebrows shot up, and he pushed me gently back.

I teetered on my heels for a second.

“After you,” he said, turning me toward the door leading out to the docks. “You know where I’m docked, and you have a key. Let yourself inside and get comfortable. I’m hittin’ the locker room for a quick shower. I smell like diesel.” He turned on his heel, giving me another view of that backside I’d drooled over for months.

A moan slipped from my mouth, and I heard a chuckle as he pushed through the door and left me standing weak-kneed in his wake. Was his haste because he feared I’d lose my courage again? I smiled.

 

He let me wait a good twenty minutes before the door to his cab opened, and he climbed inside. The scent of plain soap swept into the cab that already smelled like him—musky male, diesel. But since he didn’t smoke and didn’t appear to collect his meals, it smelled pretty good for a trucker’s rig. Light shone from the top of a tall post in the parking lot, illuminating the interior of the cab. Security cameras would record who entered the truck, but hopefully not disclose what we were about to do inside it. Another reason I’d waited until tonight for this. Everyone would be blabbing anyway.

I sat in the plush leather passenger seat and glanced away as he climbed up into the driver’s seat.

“Change your mind?” he asked softly.

“No,” I bit out, a little annoyed that he asked. I wanted him to take the initiative, not seek my approval every step of the way.

He arched a dark brow. “Then why aren’t you in the back?”

“Look, you don’t have to feel obligated,” I said, turning to meet his smoky gray gaze. “If you’d rather get some sleep…”

“I jerked off in the shower.”

My jaw sagged just a little then snapped closed. “Now, why are you tellin’ me a thing like that?”

“Because I want you to know how much I want you. Thought I’d take some of the edge off before I came out here. I didn’t want to leave you unsatisfied, darlin’.”

I swallowed hard, eyeing the taut edge of his jaw, the glint of arousal in his eyes. Maybe that hint of desire was just what I wanted to see, but I didn’t back away when he reached for me.

He leaned toward me. His hands slid around my back, one gliding up to fist in my hair. He held my head still as he devoured my mouth, lips rubbing, his tongue stroking in to mate with mine. He tasted like minty toothpaste. The hands pulling me from my seat were strong, his grip firm. I didn’t hesitate to follow his lead as he helped me rise and straddle his lap.

My skirt rode up past my hips, and cool air hit my bare cheeks, but I didn’t care. With the steering wheel rubbing my back, I settled over him, gripping his shoulders, at last feeling the muscles I’d admired for so long flex beneath my wandering palms. I tested his hardness, scratched down the deep indent of his spine, raked his scalp with my nails.

He broke the kiss and pushed me away. Then he tucked his fingers under the top edge of my red shirt and pulled down the stretchy fabric until the neckline cupped the underside of my breasts.

“Interestin’ bra,” he drawled.

I glanced down. My nipples and most of my fleshy breasts were exposed, sitting on a shelf of lace and underwire. “I hoped you’d like it,” I said, my voice creaking like a dry hinge.

Thumbs and forefingers plucked my nipples, pinching and twisting gently, then tugging with more insistence. My heartbeats quickened, and blood surged to aching tips, further engorging them.

I flattened my hands against the back of his head and pulled him toward one spiked tip. I groaned when his mouth latched onto it. He nibbled and licked, bit and rolled.

I ground down against his lap, against the ridge thickening inside his jeans. I rubbed forward and back, the coarse denim building frictional heat between my legs.

One of his hands dropped to my ass, and he moaned as his long fingers dug into the skin bared by my thong. “Get into the back.”

Breathing hard, I stared down. His mouth was blurred and red. His cheeks sharp, expression feral. The hardness in his gaze could have cut diamonds, and again, I didn’t hesitate, no matter that my ass was in his face when I climbed between the seats to the sleeping berth.

The bed was mussed, the sheets wadded at one end. I lay down on my side and scooted toward the back, waiting until he was clear of the seats and stretching out beside me.

Only his legs were too long and he lay at a diagonal, crowding my knees. I slid a thigh between his legs and climbed over his body.

When I sat atop his hips, he smoothed his palms up my torso, rolling up the shirt. When that flew over the seats, he reached around me and expertly opened the clasp of my bra. Without the underwire, I worried that my heavy breasts would sag too much, but he hefted them in his palms, and his breaths deepened.

“I’ve wanted to suck on these forever.”

I gave a short, strangled laugh. “I wouldn’t have said no.”

“Then why’d you wait so long?” he muttered.

“Why didn’t you make the first move? Are you really that arrogant that you have to have a woman come to you?”

“Baby, I didn’t think you’d say yes.”

“Really?”

He grunted, the sandpaper pads of his thumbs continuing to rasp over my nipples. “You’re pretty. Smart, too. And you have every man drivin’, sniffin’ after you.”

“But you’re handsome. I bet you don’t get many no’s from women.”

He arched a brow.

“Okay, so not handsome like a movie star. But you’re rugged and built like a god. I didn’t think you’d want me.” I drew a deep breath before I admitted my biggest fear. “I’m too old for you.”

“There’s only eleven years between us.”

I raised my brows. “How do you know that?”

“I ate your birthday cake and counted the candles.”

When he pinched my nipples, I tensed, my eyelids dipping. “I guess eleven years doesn’t really matter,” I gasped, “when all we’re doin’ is screwin’ around.”

He pinched harder, then holding my gaze, he came up on his elbows and rooted at one of my breasts, sucking the tip, and more, into his mouth. His moan was deep and gravelly. I felt it all the way to my toes.

My other breast tingled, dimples popping up around the areola, and the tip sprung. I cupped it with my palm to ease the ache, but he pulled my hand away and shook his head, wagging my breast right along.

I gave a strangled laugh. “So not sexy.”

He released my breast. “Got any complaints about my technique?”

“Maybe about your pacing.” I ground against his erection. “You’re killin’ me here.”

“Get your clothes off,” he growled.

“You first.”

“No way. I’m the guy. I get off on watchin’.”

I swallowed hard, but I’d asked for this. Wanted for him to take charge, and he had with a vengeance if that hard-eyed look was any indication.

I slid down beside him and rolled to my back, and then awkwardly tugged off my heels, tossing them between the seats in front of us. Then I shimmied out of my skirt, being careful not to lose the scrap of lace shielding my sex from his hungry gaze.

Danny slid a finger under the lacy band at my hip, pulled it, and let it go to snap against my skin.

“Not nice.”

“I didn’t tell you to stop.”

“You gonna order me around all night?”

“I think so,” he murmured. “Seein’ as how it turns you on.” He traced a finger down the lace, right between my folds. He couldn’t miss the moisture soaking through the satin.

When he popped his finger in his mouth for a taste, I pushed my panties down the rest of the way, and then waited as he looked me over.

Danny traced the edges of my nude outer lips. “Did you do that for me?”

I shook my head. “I prefer it.”

“Spread ’em open for me.”

I reached down and opened my lips, and then held them that way while he fingered the thin inner labia and pushed a long thick digit inside me.

My pussy clenched around him, and then released. Then squeezed again. A trickle of moisture greeted his invasion, and he quickly pulled out and sat up in the small, cramped space beside me to tug his shirt over her head. He unbuttoned his jeans and pushed them past his hips—just far enough to free his cock, which sprang free, lifting toward the ceiling of the cab.

I didn’t wait for him to tell me what he wanted; he was too tight, too quiet, his breaths coming fast. I climbed over his knees and curled down to take him in my mouth while his fingers combed through my hair and framed my face.

I bobbed down, my lips suctioning, latching around his crown to suckle hard, my tongue swirling over and over his soft, sleek head. I found the slit, teased it with the point of my tongue then swirled again, sinking down his cock to take more of his length, caressing the sides of his thick shaft with my long, slippery glides.

His hand fisted in my hair and pulled me off. “Thought this was supposed to be your fantasy.”

I looked up and licked moisture from my lower lip. “Think I haven’t thought about doing this? What it would feel like? How thick and long it would be? I’m just gettin’ acquainted.”

“Damn. Come on up here.”

I started to crawl up his body, sliding my chest over his belly, but he shook his head. “No, turn around and sit that bare-nekkid pussy over my mouth.”

I pressed my lips together to keep the laughter trapped.

“Not cool enough?” he gritted out.

“It sounded sort of cheesy.”

“Didn’t I say it with enough snarl?”

“Just the right snarl if you were The King.”

“Who?”

“Never mind,” I muttered. Baby.

“I mean it. You got close and personal with me, turnabout is fair play. Bring it on up here, girl.”

“I’m not a girl,” I said, pushing out my lower lip.

He rolled his eyes. “Will you stop with the age thing? I want that pussy on my mouth.”

The way he said, his jaw tightening like he’d turn me over his knee if I didn’t move fast enough, had me inching my way up until I squatted over his face, reaching up to curl my fingers over the edges of an overhead cabinet for balance.

Fingers parted me. He inhaled and gripped my ass in both hands and moved me slightly until my pussy made contact with his mouth. His lips latched onto me, sucking one side then the other, releasing me with moist pops that had me blowing out breaths in short, hard streams through pursed lips because it felt so damn good, so foreign. Like a dream come true because I’d imagined what it might be like and now it was happening.

Danny Echo was eating me out.

He gave long soothing strokes of his tongue and short ones that flickered over my soft wet edges. Then he hardened the point to flutter at my clit.

I couldn’t hold still and began to rock in short glides, guided by his hands as I moved forward and back. I gave a moan when he rubbed his tongue harder over the swollen knot burgeoning at the top of my folds, and held still while he laved it over and over again.

“God, Danny, that’s good.”

“Like it?”

“Oh, yeah.”

He gave my sex a loud smacking kiss, slapped my ass, and pushed me down his body.

I heard a tear, the slick snap of latex, and then he rolled, fitting me under him and thrusting his arms beneath my knees to lift my ass. “Put me inside you.”

I gripped his shaft with both hands, and he rocked forward. I aimed him right at my entrance, felt the nudge of his broad, round cap, and let go, bracing a hand against the wall and clutching the notch of his hip with the other as he entered me.

He was large. Perfect. Pushing gently upwards, crowding through wet, swollen tissue that hadn’t felt the stretch of a cock in good long time. Air hissed between my teeth, and I turned my face away.

“No,” he said softly. “You wanted this. You have to watch.” He reached and hit a light switch. The overhead glared down, exposing us both to the harsh, bright light.

I covered my breasts, but couldn’t help looking down to where our bodies joined.

He pulsed inward, halted, and then pulled out. His shaft glistened with my juices. He slid his fingers around the base of his cock and squeezed. “Keep lookin’ at me like that, and I’ll blow.”

A smile tugged at the corners of my lips, and I knew I must have looked like the kitten licking up all the cream. I was the one who’d made his body so tight and hard that his belly shivered.

“Angela,” he ground out. “Fuck.” He released his grip, angled his cock just right, and slammed up my pussy.

My mouth opened and a long, thin groan joined the nasty sounds echoing around the cab. Juicy slaps. Soft, masculine grunts. Short, metallic creaks. Coming faster as he pounded toward my core.

Release, when it came, roared through me. Toes curling, I snapped open my legs as wide as they could go, arched my back and sank my nails into his backside, trying to hold onto the moment because it was so damn perfect.

When my peak began to wane, he jerked, stroking in short, sharp bursts. Then he dug deeper at the last moment. His head fell back, his mouth opening around a loud, aching groan.

The sight of him, all primal male, chest and belly quivering, his cock still lodged deep inside me, was deeply gratifying.

At last, he gave a sigh and collapsed over me, my legs still wedged high, trapping his arms in the bend of my knee. I couldn’t help it. I laughed.

His head jerked up. His gaze met mine, and his lips twitched. “Think I didn’t do that on purpose?”

“Losin’ circulation yet?”

He ducked and mashed his lips against mine before lifting his body slightly. His arms slid from under my legs, and I eased them down, stretching them on either side of his long frame.

Resting on his elbows, he narrowed his eyes. “So, I hear you’re leavin’.”

The change of topic surprised me, and I blinked. “Word gets around.”

His gaze stayed locked on my face. “Movin’ out of town?”

I nodded, wondering where this was going. Did he want to see me again? I began to regret the fact I hadn’t done this sooner. I would have liked spending more time getting to know him. “To Prescott. I have another job. But how’d you know? I asked Cooter to keep it quiet.”

His mouth stretched. “Your new job—is it dispatch for Ragland?”

I eyed him warily. “That’s it. Just a good guess?”

He shook his head slowly, his smile never dimming.

Warmth centered in my chest. The way he was looking at me, so smug, so certain, told me this wasn’t going to be a one-night stand. I ran my palms over his belly, and scratched my fingernails down toward his groin. He came out of me, and I rolled the wet latex slowly down his length. I held it out and he disposed of it. “Lemme guess. You drive for them.”

“Uh huh. Owner said this hot as hell woman from HT was hirin’ on and did I know you?”

I pulled his cock hard, just to get his attention. “You couldn’t have mentioned this earlier?”

He came over me, bracing his torso on his arms, a wicked glint in his gray eyes. “And spoil one fine-as-hell goodbye? I was already afraid you were going to change your mind.”

“Well, this is awkward,” I said, glancing at him from beneath my lashes. “My contract says no fraternizing.”

“Since we already know each other, it’s not going to be a problem. Told the owner we were friendly. Might only have been wishful thinking on my part, but I didn’t want to close that door to the possibility, Angel.”

“He didn’t mind?”

“Said since I was always professional, so long as we keep it on the down low, he’s got no worries.”

“Does that mean…” I combed my fingers through his chest hair and tugged it.

“That we’re gonna do this again. Yeah. Right now.” He stroked his cock and glanced down. “Well, maybe in a minute,” he said, giving me a crooked grin. Lowering, he pressed his hardening cock against the juncture of my thighs. “And to answer the question I see in your pretty eyes, I plan to camp on your doorstep. You got a place there?”

I nodded. “Movers’ll be at my place at eight. They’ll deliver before nightfall.”

“Need help unpacking?”

My smile trembled, but I couldn’t help it, anymore than I could help the moisture welling in my eyes. “I could use some help putting my bed together.”

“We’ve got the weekend. We’ll get a hell of a lot more done by Monday. If you don’t mind the help.”

“I don’t mind. And I’d love the company.”

“I’ll take my compensation in trade,” he said with another waggle of his eyebrows.

“You will?” I laughed. “Wish I’d known you came cheap.”

“Baby, I’m not cheap. It’s gonna take a while to work off the debt.”

I liked the sound of that. Liked even better the smoky look he gave me. He wasn’t just teasing. “You’re sure about this? About us? This doesn’t have to lead anywhere.”

“I’ve been thinking of settling down for a while, darlin’. Just didn’t have the right partner.”

My chest tightened. “And you think I might be her?”

“I’ve been holdin’ out. Hopin’ you’d notice me.”

I shook my head. “I noticed all right.” I inserted a hand between our bodies and gripped his hard shaft. “Think we might do it again?”

“Think you can manage to turn yourself around? I wanna go deep.”

My breath shuddered outward.

He moved back, kneeling as I clumsily turned. His arms came around me; his hands cupped my breasts. “I love the way you’re built to cushion a man.”

Chuckling, I glanced behind me. “You saying I’m fat?”

“Wouldn’t dare, and you’re not. Just sayin’ it’s gonna give me a lot of satisfaction makin’ you shake and shiver.”

“Dear Lord.” I gave a moan and faced forward, once again bracing a hand against the wall.

Behind me, he arranged my hips and thighs, widening my stance, cupping my sex and warming it before he slipped two fingers inside me.

My channel melted, moisture slipping down to surround his stroking fingers. My belly tightened as arousal built. When he withdrew, I waited, biting my lip to still my moans as he donned yet another condom. Then he was pressing against my pussy, parting me with his thick cockhead, pulsing to push deeper and deeper until he was fully seated.

One hand came under me and fondled a breast, tweaking the tip. “Ready?”

“As I’ll ever be,” I whispered.

His next thrust drove the air from my lungs. Those that followed blew my mind. Hard, targeted strokes raked my G-spot as he pounded me again and again.

I couldn’t believe the wild creature keening beneath him was me. I braced myself, and pushed backward, meeting his hips, welcoming his powerful strokes. How had I gotten this lucky?

When I was nearing the peak, he paused. “Not yet. Not ’til I say.”

The fact he wasn’t breathless impressed me. That he expected me to obey sent a thrill rocketing through me. “And if I can’t wait?” I asked, pulling my hair to the side as I glanced back.

“Expect consequences,” he said, his stormy eyes darkening.

I had thought I was the one with the power. I had initiated this. I was older. But in an instant, I learned I wasn’t the most experienced.

He brought me up so that I sat impaled on his cock, and then smoothed a hand down my belly, fingers gliding into the top of my mound to pluck my clit. It was a hard pinch. He had my full attention.

“I’ll wait,” I gasped.

“Thought so,” he murmured against my hair. Then he moved his hands again, this time cupping my buttocks to lift me and shove me down. Not gently, either.

Not that I minded. Not one bit. I savored the power in his hands, the feel of the wall of muscle against my back. This was no man-child fucking for fun. This was a man asserting his ownership. Power shifted, and not in a subtle gradual way.

“You’re mine, Angel,” he said, then waited, holding me up, letting me know he wouldn’t fill me until I acknowledged his claim.

“I’m yours.” I didn’t recognize my voice. It was thin, tight. Every muscle of my body clenched because I wanted to beg him to finish this. I was right there at the edge.

He bit my shoulder then slammed me downward. I shouted, more out of surprise then pain. “I can’t wait!”

“Now, baby. Now.” He shoved me up and down, then twice more.

With a rush of sweet heat, I shattered. I rocked up and down, out of rhythm, jerking as my orgasm radiated outward from my tightly wound core in waves. When I was able to draw a deep breath again, he was crooning in my ear. Sweet promises of things he’d do to me. Of things he’d demand from me.

And I wanted it all. “Yes, yes, yes.”

For the longest time, he cuddled me against his chest. “I’d like to be there when the movers come.”

“Angling for an invitation?” I asked, smiling with my eyes still closed. I didn’t want to let go of the moment. Wanted to remember the way we felt in the powerful aftermath, sweaty and quivering.

“Do I need one?” he whispered, kissing the spot he’d nipped.

“No,” I said softly.

“I have a confession.”

The way his voice teased my ear only deepened the sweet lethargy sweeping through me. “What do you have to confess? Do you have a secret dungeon?”

He laughed softly. “No, although I do think I want to invest in a paddle.”

My pussy squeezed around him. “So you can watch my ass shiver and shake?”

“I think you’ll like me warming up your ass even more than I’ll like makin’ it jiggle. But that’s not what I want to confess.”

I pinched his thigh. “Then what?”

“I approved your application at Ragland.”

I froze. “What do you mean?”

His hands roamed my belly then spread over the tops of my thighs. When I glanced down, I marveled at how large they were. How capable. But what he’d said didn’t make sense. I shook my head.

“I bought into the company. It’s why I took extra routes with HT. I needed the money. Will you mind workin’ for the boss?”

Leaning my head against his shoulder, I waited, not sure how I felt about the fact I knew so little about him. “Why didn’t you tell me?”

“I had this plan. I was gonna keep this on the down low. I’m still gonna be drivin’ for while. I wanted more time to get to know you. For you to know me. And then you did this—tonight—and I wondered if you might have a thing for a blue-collar guy. I didn’t want you disappointed.”

I angled my head to meet his gaze. His expression was shuttered. “I don’t have a thing for a blue-collar guy. I have a thing for you, Danny.”

His expression cleared, and he gave a nod. “I wouldn’t have liked starting with a lie between us.”

“Sounds like you’ve been thinking about this for a while. About me.”

“I have. I just didn’t think I had a shot.”

I shook my head. “You’re an idiot. You have everything to offer a girl. You could have your pick.”

“And I choose you.”

I let my gaze slide away as warmth spread through me. I’d been so afraid to even think beyond one night because I wouldn’t have been able to bear the disappointment. When his arms tightened around me, I knew he was waiting, and that he was unsure. He was crazy to think I’d reject him. He’d been driving me crazy for the longest time.

Glancing back again, I let him see all my longing, all the hopes I’d held so tightly inside me. I reached back, tangled my fingers in his thick hair, and kissed him.