“I will get you to sing.” Katherine allowed herself to laugh.
Daniel could feel her relaxing. He would normally have pursued and pushed the issue of bringing her to his room, using every trick in his seduction book to lure her to his bed. He was good at it and had done it all of his adult life. Most women required very little encouragement. But Katherine, on the other hand, wasn’t someone to be persuaded. Any attempts at luring this woman would make her run. That’s the last thing he wanted.
The stars were so bright across the sky. There was a gentle breeze, and the air was so clean. Daniel parked his pickup, walked around to her door, and opened it for her. Katherine let him take her by the hand to support her as she climbed down from the seat. Her soft curls blew away from her face, and when she had both feet on the ground she looked up at him. He smelled of clean and goodness, and if there was one thing that could weaken Katherine, it was a man who smelled good. She went to pull her hand away. She was fearful of the feelings that were soaring through her.
Daniel didn’t let go.
“Come with me and let’s walk,” he whispered. His lips were close to her face. He placed a gentle kiss on her cheek and looked back into her eyes. “Did I tell you how beautiful you look this evening?”
“No, I don’t believe you did. Does that mean I look ugly the rest of the time?” Katherine let out a soft laugh to try and tame the atmosphere that was lingering between them.
“Ever since the first time I met you I was taken back by your beauty. You are, indeed, a very gorgeous woman.” Daniel was used to women who went to great lengths to be beautiful. Katherine wasn't even wearing makeup and her face was perfect.
“Thank you, John. You’re not so bad yourself.” Katherine knew she had never seen a more breathtaking man in her life, but the last thing she wanted to do was reveal just how attracted to him she was.
Walking hand in hand, Daniel guided her around a natural spring, then through a field to a meadow that had wild flowers growing. The moon was bright and made her look angelic.
He could sense her nervousness, so Daniel stopped in the middle of the meadow, and with both of his hands he held hers and pulled her towards him. Their bodies were barely touching.
“Katherine, I don’t want you to be afraid of me. I’d never hurt you.”
“I’ve heard that many times, John. Every time a guy breaks my heart, I close up. I don’t want to risk letting anyone in. I just want to move on with my life and try my best to leave this town, leave my past, and be happy.”
“But you can’t see yourself being happy with me?”
“I don’t even know you, John. You showed up in town and I felt some things. I don’t believe in love at first sight and all that other crap. Been there, done that. Hopes of living a fairytale left me years ago. There is no prince, there isn’t a white horse, there isn’t a castle or happily ever after. Not for me anyway.”
“I like you a lot, Katherine, and I think about you.”
“Like me how? I’ve seen you look at me. That’s what most guys want. Nothing like a nice roll in the sack. I’m not like that. Do you know what it feels like to be promised things, then give yourself to someone just for them to never call you again? I’m done being stupid.”
“I’m not going to lie to you. I have definitely fantasized about being with you. But it’s more than that.”
“Okay look me in the eyes, John, and answer me something. Have you ever used a woman for sex?”
Uh oh. That’s all Daniel has ever done. He’s never had feelings for any woman other than for sex. If they were really good in bed he called them back. He never led the women he slept with into believing he’d settle down with them, or that they meant anything to him. But he was used too. He was used for his money, his power, his looks even. I don’t want that with her. His thoughts were surprising him. The first sight of commitment made him run.
“Yes. Yes, I have used women for sex. That was in my past, I’m not like that anymore.”
“Have you ever been married?”
“Katherine, I’ve never been married, engaged, or had a long-term relationship with a woman. I’ve never found anyone that I wanted that from. Not only that, I was very immature. What I needed was to grow up.”
“At least you admit it.” Katherine looked down at the ground, and a tear slid down her cheek. She knew he’d be no different.
Daniel placed his hand softly under her chin and raised her face to him. He wiped away her tear with the other hand. “Wait right here.”
Daniel ran into the darkness and came back with a small bouquet of wild flowers. He smiled and handed them to her. Daniel had never in his life hand picked flowers, nor bothered to pick them out at a florist. A simple phone call and delivery boy did just fine.
Katherine took the flowers and looked at him. “John, thank you for picking these for me, but I just think this is wrong. My body is telling me one thing being this close to you, but my mind is yelling at me to run. I’ve never listened to logic and reason. That’s why I’ve been hurt every single time.”
“Come here.” Daniel wrapped his arms around her and pulled her into his chest. “Does this scare you?”
“No…” Oh God. Katherine knew she should just back the hell up, but his smell, his warmth, and strength were causing her to move in closer.
“Look at me.”
Katherine lifted her cheek off of his chest and looked up at Daniel’s beautiful, perfect face.
“Katherine, may I kiss you? I’m having a hard time being this close and not kissing you.”
“Seriously, John, I’m not sure if it’s a good idea.” Katherine repeated as she slowly backed away.
Daniel wrapped his arms around her, running his fingers up through the back of her hair and bringing her mouth slowly to his. Not one movement was rushed.
Katherine opened her lips and let the soft, gentle kiss happen. Her legs became unsteady, causing Daniel to hold her even closer. She couldn’t ever remember being kissed so passionately, so deliberately, so sweetly.
This guy is too amazing to be single. He must have wreckage where he used to live. He’s probably married and looking for something on the side. Any cute girl who crossed his path would end up in his bed. Katherine quickly backed away.
“John, I should go.”
“I would love to see you again.”
“I don’t know. I’ll call you but I don’t think I’m ready to see anyone. Let’s just be friends, okay?”