His Pickle Her Jam (Cherry On Top Tales #4)

Chapter Nineteen-Buck

Still Day 9 of Block Party Prepping (1 to go)

“You expect me to fight and argue and you still insist you don’t care?” Jan asked, her glittering amber gaze steady on mine.

“Don’t care? Weren’t you listening? Of course, I care. I love it when you give as good as you get. It's what attracted you to me in the first place.”

I flexed my arms around her, like I was making sure she was really there.

I never intended on blurting my feelings out like that, but the issue had been kind of forced.

I knew the second I saw Jan’s sweet ass hustling away from my house with Mel half-dressed at the door that the little minx had gotten the wrong idea.

No way was I going to let her leave thinking I would ever touch another woman after her. She was it for me. And she needed to understand that.

“It is?” I gasped.

“No, it's not! My cousin told me it was your big sexy ass,” Melanie shouted from the doorway.

“Shut up, Mel!” I yelled back without taking my eyes off her, and Jan busted out laughing.

“Okay,” I confessed, “maybe it was your gorgeous ass that drew me in at first. However I got to this point, the important thing is I am here now. I love you, Jan Baby. So no, we're not over.”

“Okay,” she whispered.

“Okay?”

“Yeah.”

She sniffed, and I pressed my forehead gently against hers, closing my eyes as reality sunk in. I just told this woman I was in love with her.

Jan didn’t run away screaming. She didn’t laugh at me. But she was crying. I didn’t like that. But I understood.

She sniffed and I raised my hands, cupping her face, kissing her tears away.

“David,” she murmured, lifting her mouth to mine, and I took what she offered, unable to resist.

I kept the kiss sweet, not willing to ravage her in the driveway in front of all and sundry. Especially not with Mel watching. Brat that she was, my cousin was likely recording this already.

“Are you good to drive?” I asked, slowing our kisses until I was simply pressing my lips to her soft ones.

“Uh huh,” she replied.

“Good. Now, I want you to get in your car and drive safely over to Del's. You two have yourself a girls’ night on me, okay? I'm gonna call a spa I know and get them to come over to pamper you both. Then, when you get home, I want you to call me and let me know you got there safe, okay?”

“Okay.”

“Good girl. Tomorrow, I will see you at the store. We will put the finishing touches on our displays, and tomorrow night we will both go home alone.”

“Why?” she protested.

“Because you need time to think about what I told you. To process all of this. And I am going to make sure you get it,” I said, loving her with every single inch of my being.

“Okay, David.”

“One last thing. The morning of the contest and before Mr. and Mrs. Jones arrive to judge things, you're gonna give me an answer.”

“An answer?”

“On whether or not you're in this with me. I love you, Jan, and I won't have any miscommunications between us. I want to keep you. I want 100% commitment, I don’t think I can stand less. So you will take the next 36 hours, give or take, and you will consider everything I’ve said. I won’t confuse you with sex. But I think that should be enough time. I'll be waiting for you, okay?”

“Yes, David.”

I closed my eyes. I was taking a huge risk. Trusting her feelings to be big enough for me that she was willing to take a chance on this. On us.

“Fuck, I love it when you say my name,” I told her, needing to give her something in return for all I was asking of her.

“David,” she whimpered.

“Just a kiss. I need you to be clear-headed next time I see you,” I growled, and I bent my head, kissing her one more time before I helped her into her car.

“Drive safe and text me when you get there.”

“I will.”

“That’s my Good Girl.”