I Choose You (6 page)

             
Once they had ordered and picked up their food, Kent led her out the back door, and Nicole was surprised at the set up outside.

             
A stage took up the entire backside of the property, with a dance floor in front of it, and picnic tables filling in the rest of the space. There was another bar outside, and the place was decorated with old signs and bar paraphernalia.

             
There was a band warming up onstage.

             
Nicole couldn’t help the pleasure that coursed through her, and smiled widely at Kent as she joined him at a table.

             
“This is amazing.” She exclaimed.

             
“Yeah,” he replied. “I’ve heard it was great and always wanted to come, but never had a chance to before tonight.”

             
They sat down and began to tear into the meals before them: pulled pork, brisket, creamed corn, corn bread, and macaroni and cheese.

             
“So, you never said what you went to school for. Are you applying for jobs?” Kent asked her in between bites.

             
She didn’t want to go into her whole backstory on their first date, so she just said, “I majored in English. I haven’t been applying anywhere yet.”

             
Kent nodded as he worked on his corn on the cob. “Do you know what you want to do next?”

             
Nicole looked at him shyly as she picked up her corn bread. “Actually, I’m a writer.” She looked down at her hands. This was the first time she’d ever told anyone what
her
dream was and was afraid of what reaction she would see on his face.

             
“Really?” He asked simply, a small smile on his face. “Well, it looks like we have something in common.”

             
Nicole looked up at him quickly, took in his smile, and returned a brilliant one of her own.

             
They sat in a comfortable silence as they ate, then Kent looked down and Nicole’s plate and realized that she was keeping up with his gusto.

             
He used a wet nap to clean his fingers and gazed at her with appreciation in his eyes. “I love that you actually eat.”

             
Nicole stopped savoring her corn bread long enough to look up at him with a puzzled smile. “What do you mean?”

             
“Well, I love to eat, and it makes me happy to see that you do too. I was worried that you would want to just order a salad or something.”

             
Nicole laughed and admitted, “Sometimes I like to eat salad, but I love to eat too, and there is nothing I enjoy more than Texas barbecue.”

             
They grinned at each other, then Kent reached over to get some sauce off of Nicole’s face, and her grin disappeared, her eyes glazing over at his touch. When he put the same finger into his mouth and licked the sauce off of his finger, her mouth closed and she found it hard to breath.

             
Kent looked at her intently as he tasted the sauce, then smiled seductively at her, “Dance with me.”

             
Nicole smiled absently and took the hand he offered.

             
When they got on the dance floor, they fell easily into the two-step, Kent leading Nicole around the dance floor as if they had been dancing together forever.

             
Nicole allowed herself to just enjoy dancing with Kent. They looked into each other’s eyes as they moved, and she felt her body warm under Kent’s gaze.

             
He was one sexy man.

             
When the band began to play a slower song, Kent gathered her into his arms and they swayed to the music.

             
Nicole’s head rested against his strong chest, and she enjoyed the feel of being in Kent’s arms.

             
They danced for hours, and didn’t end up leaving until the band started to pack up at the end of their set.

             
They rode back to Nicole’s apartment in a comfortable silence, and Nicole replayed the evening they’d just spent together, over in her mind.

             
Nicole came back to reality when they pulled into her place and Kent said softly, “We’re here.”

             
He walked her to her door, and they both paused before she went inside.

             
“I had a wonderful time. Thank you so much for everything,” Nicole said as she looked up at him.

             
“It was my pleasure,” Kent replied as he reached a hand up and gently touched her hair. “You’re so beautiful.”

             
Nicole felt her face grow warm with pleasure and started to deny his claim, but stopped when he reached his other hand out to touch the side of her face. He leaned in slowly to taste her lips with his.

             
Nicole felt like she’d been waiting for this moment for months. Without thinking, she reached her hands up to pull his head in closer, moaning softly as she opened her mouth and greedily invited him in.

             
Kent paused for a moment, shocked at her response, then his instincts took over and he pushed her up against the door. His hands moved lower to explore her body, and they both got swept away in the moment.

             
When his hand brushed the underside of her breast, she turned her head to catch her breath, causing him to stop and back up a step.

             
“Sorry,” Kent said quietly. He ran his hands over his face in an effort to gain a semblance of control. “I didn’t mean to move so fast.”

             
Nicole smoothed out her dressed, then looked up at him with a smile. “You don’t have to apologize; I enjoyed every bit of that kiss.” With that said, she gave him an embarrassed smile, then leaned in to give him one more quick kiss on the lips, before opening her door and going inside. “Goodnight.”

             
“Night,” Kent replied as she shut the door.

             
He stood there for a minute, his body screaming out at the loss. Taking it slow with Nicole was going to be harder than he thought.

             
He was going to have to go home and take a cold shower.

Chapter Seven

             
Nicole and Roni decided to have a small housewarming party, and invited everyone over after work. They didn’t want anything big, just a small gathering with drinks and appetizers.

             
They cleaned up and prepped everything before work, so they would just have to come home and get changed.

             
Nicole finished getting ready first, so she was setting the food out on the counter when the first knock sounded on their door.

             
She tucked a stray stand of golden hair behind her hair, and opened the door. She was caught off guard when Kent swept her up and kissed her until she was breathless.

             
When he put her down she was laughing.

             
“What was that for?” She asked.

             
“I missed you today,” Kent said softly, as he bent to plant a kiss right below her ear.

             
Nicole shivered slightly and admitted, “I missed you too.”

             
He pulled away and smiled into her eyes. “Good.”

             
“Really?” Roni asked incredulously as she walked out of her room. “We’re about to have our first party, Kent, it’s not make out time.”

             
Kent wiggled his eyebrows at his sister.

             
“Oh, it’s always make out time.”

             
He grabbed her by the waist and started to pepper her face with kisses. Roni broke out in laughter, and yelled, “Uncle.”

             
Nicole smiled and felt a moment of envy at how close the twins were. Her family seemed so cold in comparison.

             
Kent released Roni when there was another knock on the door. Roni tried to smooth out her hair and clothes before she opened it.

             
“Hey,” Kara said, giving Roni a quick hug as she and Pete came inside. She held out a bottle of wine and said, “This is for you guys.”

             
“Thanks,” Nicole said, as she walked over to hug both Kara and Pete. “Thanks for coming.”

             
She was showing them to the kitchen when some more people from work showed up at the door. Roni greeted their guests, and Nicole began to make sure everyone had a drink.

             
Kent came up behind her in the kitchen and thanked her when she handed him a glass of crown and coke.

             
“How’d you know this is my drink?” He asked her when he took his first sip.

             
“I pay attention,” She responded with a sly smile.

             
Kent leaned over and nuzzled her neck.

             
“You’re a good hostess.”

             
“Oh, my momma made sure of that,” she replied wryly.

             
He watched her as she passed out drinks to her guests and wondered about her comment.

             
Kent moved to the couch and started a conversation with Pete about football. He enjoyed talking with the other man. Pete always had a kind word for everyone, had a good sense of humor, and was a killer poker player. He was one of the people in town that Kent could really call a friend.

             
As they talked, Kent watched Nicole work the room, and wondered again about her earlier statement. It was obvious from the way she carried herself, that she’d had a very different upbringing than he had. He couldn’t imagine his mother ever being so at ease entertaining in her home. He found himself comparing his life with Nicole’s. He was sure that they were from different worlds and wondered what she would think of him if she knew where he came from.

             
When he saw her slip into her room, he excused himself from his conversation with Pete and followed her.

             
Nicole grabbed the lip gloss off of her dresser and applied it, before turning to go back into the living room. She stopped when she saw Kent enter the room.

             
He stepped inside and closed the door, leaning against it as he smiled.

             
“You sure know how to work a room. I don’t know why, but the way you move is really hot. I’ve been waiting for the chance to get you alone,” he pushed up off of the door and walked over to her, offering her the glass of wine he’d poured for her.

             
“Thanks,” Nicole said as she took a sip of the chilled wine. “Mmmm, that’s good.”

             
“I noticed you were so busy serving everyone else, that you never had a chance to enjoy a glass yourself.”

             
“Well, a good hostess has to make sure her guests are happy.”

             
Kent looked at her quizzically. “That’s the second time you’ve made mention of that. Tell me.” He said simply, and gestured for her to sit.

             
She looked at the closed door, then back at him. “I guess it’s okay to disappear for a minute.”

             
Kent chuckled at her response as he settled on the bed next to her.

             
Nicole knew that she would to have to tell him about herself eventually, and figured now was as good a time as ever. She hoped it wouldn’t totally change the way he saw her, and that he would still want to date her once she told him everything.

             
She took another sip of wine, then took a deep breath, before looking at him and saying, “I grew up in Dallas, as you know. My parents are very wealthy and enrolled me in private schools. They are very active in the church and had high expectations for me and my future.”