parents.”
“You’re from Dunn?”
“I am. A genuine country boy.”
A sexy country boy.
“So your parents were very involved with your upbringing.” She stirred her food with her fork, but didn’t pick up anymore to eat. Not meaning to, she had directed the conversation to the one topic she considered off-limits.
“Yours weren’t.” He kept his tone low and unthreatening, but that didn’t stop Vanity’s stomach from knotting. Having turned twenty-eight earlier in the year, she should be over this mess. In many ways, she was. She had made a nice career for herself. She got there because she had worked her way through college, refusing help from Aunt Ella. Her own will and determination had brought her success. Not that she looked at it as if it was her against the world. She would not allow herself to depend on others.
Owen seemed to sense her reluctance to talk about her past, so he continued on without pressing. That attitude drew her closer to him than she wanted to be.
“Every year, my father took us out to a plot of land owned by a friend of his. We cut down a tree and dragged it home to decorate. I continue the tradition with Jamie. Not so much cutting one down, but getting a real one.”
Vanity’s eyes widened. “Are you serious? That crazy-looking thing at Aunt Ella’s house is what we always had. I have to come by and see yours.” She snapped her teeth together and squeaked. “I didn’t mean to…”
He burst out laughing. “Can’t take it back now. You have to come to my house.” He wriggled his eyebrows suggestively as if he intended to molest her as soon as she stepped through the door. Vanity couldn’t help laughing back at him, and it surprised her because around this time of the year, she almost never did so.
She put her fork down and took a sip of wine. “Well, maybe I’ll swing by. Before I leave.”
Conversation continued to the flow, and before long, they were back in Owen’s car headed away from the restaurant. Outside her aunt’s house, Owen stopped the car and killed the engine.
“You know you live right next door. You could have pulled into your own driveway.”
He shrugged. “I see a lady to her door.”
Vanity was about to get out but hesitated. “I admit I’m not used to the Southern charm. I’d heard of it, but are all men down here like you?”
He captured her fingers, and heat flared from her tips and all the way up her arm. The pounding in her chest deafened her, so she hoped he didn’t hear it. Where was the familiar calm, the ability to be unfazed by whatever a man said? All that had ever been necessary was to decide if he warranted sleeping with. Most of the men she met made their aim clear right away, and then the two of them went from there, or didn’t. Owen said nothing beyond wanting to know her better, but would he kiss her on the first date?
She peered across at him and couldn’t help noticing the shape of his lips. They looked like they tasted good, and the way he carried himself gave her the impression he knew how to kiss well. That might be her attraction making her hopeful.
“Southern men know how to appreciate a woman,” he said. “However, I am special.”
She raised an eyebrow. “You think so?”
He leaned toward her. Vanity caught her breath.
“Would you like to test me out?”
Hell to the yes. “I-I’m not sure.”
“Then when you are…” He raised her fingers and kissed the tips, then stepped out of the car to go around and open the door. Vanity sat there dazed. He wasn’t going to kiss her. He really wasn’t.
She got out and stood before him, and he led the way her door. Vanity started to dig for the key Aunt Ella had given her, but Owen turned the knob. As usual it wasn’t locked, and Vanity swore. That woman.
“Lock up,” he told her as he started away.
“I will.” At least he had sense. “Good night.”
“Good night, beautiful Vanity.” Owen hopped into his car and drove off down the street
“You’re from Dunn?”
“I am. A genuine country boy.”
A sexy country boy.
“So your parents were very involved with your upbringing.” She stirred her food with her fork, but didn’t pick up anymore to eat. Not meaning to, she had directed the conversation to the one topic she considered off-limits.
“Yours weren’t.” He kept his tone low and unthreatening, but that didn’t stop Vanity’s stomach from knotting. Having turned twenty-eight earlier in the year, she should be over this mess. In many ways, she was. She had made a nice career for herself. She got there because she had worked her way through college, refusing help from Aunt Ella. Her own will and determination had brought her success. Not that she looked at it as if it was her against the world. She would not allow herself to depend on others.
Owen seemed to sense her reluctance to talk about her past, so he continued on without pressing. That attitude drew her closer to him than she wanted to be.
“Every year, my father took us out to a plot of land owned by a friend of his. We cut down a tree and dragged it home to decorate. I continue the tradition with Jamie. Not so much cutting one down, but getting a real one.”
Vanity’s eyes widened. “Are you serious? That crazy-looking thing at Aunt Ella’s house is what we always had. I have to come by and see yours.” She snapped her teeth together and squeaked. “I didn’t mean to…”
He burst out laughing. “Can’t take it back now. You have to come to my house.” He wriggled his eyebrows suggestively as if he intended to molest her as soon as she stepped through the door. Vanity couldn’t help laughing back at him, and it surprised her because around this time of the year, she almost never did so.
She put her fork down and took a sip of wine. “Well, maybe I’ll swing by. Before I leave.”
Conversation continued to the flow, and before long, they were back in Owen’s car headed away from the restaurant. Outside her aunt’s house, Owen stopped the car and killed the engine.
“You know you live right next door. You could have pulled into your own driveway.”
He shrugged. “I see a lady to her door.”
Vanity was about to get out but hesitated. “I admit I’m not used to the Southern charm. I’d heard of it, but are all men down here like you?”
He captured her fingers, and heat flared from her tips and all the way up her arm. The pounding in her chest deafened her, so she hoped he didn’t hear it. Where was the familiar calm, the ability to be unfazed by whatever a man said? All that had ever been necessary was to decide if he warranted sleeping with. Most of the men she met made their aim clear right away, and then the two of them went from there, or didn’t. Owen said nothing beyond wanting to know her better, but would he kiss her on the first date?
She peered across at him and couldn’t help noticing the shape of his lips. They looked like they tasted good, and the way he carried himself gave her the impression he knew how to kiss well. That might be her attraction making her hopeful.
“Southern men know how to appreciate a woman,” he said. “However, I am special.”
She raised an eyebrow. “You think so?”
He leaned toward her. Vanity caught her breath.
“Would you like to test me out?”
Hell to the yes. “I-I’m not sure.”
“Then when you are…” He raised her fingers and kissed the tips, then stepped out of the car to go around and open the door. Vanity sat there dazed. He wasn’t going to kiss her. He really wasn’t.
She got out and stood before him, and he led the way her door. Vanity started to dig for the key Aunt Ella had given her, but Owen turned the knob. As usual it wasn’t locked, and Vanity swore. That woman.
“Lock up,” he told her as he started away.
“I will.” At least he had sense. “Good night.”
“Good night, beautiful Vanity.” Owen hopped into his car and drove off down the street
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