The Quietest Shop on Main (Shops on Main #3)

Chapter 11

11

A re you willing to date me…

Skyla’s mind had gone completely blank. It felt like they were jumping from a level zero to one hundred, and she was trying to catch up between the distance.

Dalton’s smile drooped a little at the edges. “Too soon?” he asked. Leaning back in his seat, his hands clenched into fists. “This was exactly what I was worried about.”

“No,” Skyla choked out. She shook her head. “I’m sorry, you just…you just caught me off guard.” Closing her eyes so she could concentrate, Skyla tried to formulate a response. “I’ve had it in my head for so long that you weren’t interested, that I’m just trying to adjust, but…” She took a deep breath and forced her eyes open, even as her stomach flipped and her pulse skittered. She’d been dreaming of this moment for a long time, it felt…unreal to have it suddenly handed to her on a silver platter. “I would really, really like to date you.”

Dalton’s smile regrew, and his eyes crinkled at the edges. “Are you sure?” He made a face. “I’m not exactly a great catch.”

Skyla laughed softly and tucked a piece of hair behind her ear. “I think you’re pretty amazing,” she said with a shrug. “And not just because you’re willing to take my grandpa fishing.”

“Speaking of…” Dalton folded his arms over his chest. “We need to set a date for me to take you fishing.”

“You just said it wasn’t really about taking me fishing.”

Dalton pursed his lips and nodded. “It isn’t.” He smirked. “But I’d still like to get you alone.” He leaned his elbows onto the table. “But it’s probably a good idea to talk about how best to take care of your grandpa.”

Skyla’s heart was never going to beat normally again. They’d just agreed to date. Dalton wanted to get her alone. Skyla had admitted to having feelings for him as well.

It felt like everything was laid out on the table. And she was still alive, despite the loud voice screaming in her head about playing her cards a little closer to her chest.

Now what?

Her fingers tingled, her skin overly warm.

Was it wrong to want to hold his hand again? Was she now just free to touch him whenever she wanted? To lay her head on his shoulder? To smell his shirt or keep the scarf he’d wound around her neck?

“We can plan while we eat,” Dalton said, his tone as easy as if he were talking about the weather.

How was he not affected by this discussion? Skyla felt like an absolute mess!

Dalton began unwrapping his tacos, pushing a massive bite in his mouth. “Mmm…” he groaned, closing his eyes. “Every time. How do they get it right every time?”

Skyla found herself grinning at his enjoyment and opened her own meal, wanting to join him. The first bite of her taco was only lukewarm, but the flavors hadn’t diminished at all. “Mm…you’re right,” she agreed, then ducked her head at her terrible manners. She finished chewing and wiped her mouth. “This is so good. Always.”

Dalton nodded, his own mouth full.

The next ten minutes were full of chewing, loaded glances, and quickly disappearing food.

Dalton wiped his mouth one final time and leaned back in his chair. “Oh man…I’m so full.”

Skyla chuckled. “It’s so hard to stop when it’s that good.” She was a little overfull herself, but she’d kept herself from making too much of a pig of herself.

But her stomach was full, and she was warm and the house was quiet…if Dalton hadn’t been there, she’d have fallen asleep in a heartbeat. Instead, his presence seemed to keep her nerves on edge, especially since they hadn’t quite laid out what exactly their next steps were.

Dalton half stood and gathered the garbage from their dinner, stuffing it in the takeout bag.

Skyla rose as well, taking their plates and glasses, but Dalton quickly intercepted her.

“I’m taking care of you tonight, remember?” he asked, his smile soft and his tone a caress across her skin.

“You help with the dishes at my house,” Skyla argued, unable to look away from his mesmerizing stare.

Dalton slowly shook his head and took the dishes, setting them on the counter. “Are you up for a movie?” he asked, taking her hand and leading her to another room. “What’s your favorite?”

“Ummm…” Skyla tried to come up with one, but she was stuck. “I don’t really watch a lot of movies.”

Dalton laughed. “You read.”

She nodded. “Yeah. It’s not that I don’t like movies,” she hurried to explain. “But when I have downtime, I usually find a book instead.” She huffed a laugh. “Being raised by my grandparents probably had more to do with that than my love of books though. Grandpa didn’t take the time to watch television until the last few years. Always said it was a waste of his own imagination.”

Dalton settled her on the couch, then grabbed the remote before coming back to sit next to her. “I guess we can rot our brains together tonight.” He clicked it on. “Your choice. Pick a genre.”

Skyla grinned. “What would you say if I asked for a rom-com?”

Dalton shrugged and began pushing buttons. “I’d say it’s no wonder you and Analiese get along so well.”

Skyla’s laugh was barely audible. “I think she likes Grandpa more than me.”

“There’s probably truth in that statement.” Dalton finally set the remote on the coffee table and scooted down the couch a little, putting distance between them.

Skyla couldn’t help the disappointment that immediately tugged at her. Why was he moving away? Was he worried about moving too fast again? Had she not been clear that she was interested in him?

She’d hoped the movie was going to give them a chance to cuddle, but?—

“Here.” Dalton held out a hand and wiggled his fingers.

“Here, what?” Skyla asked.

Dalton jutted his chin toward her feet. “Give me your foot. I’ll massage it.”

Once again, the connection between Skyla’s brain and her mouth seemed to be broken.

“Y-you want to give me a foot massage?” she wheezed.

Dalton smiled. “I said I’d pamper you. You’re on your feet a lot, so I’m guessing they get sore. I want to help.”

Slowly, still feeling off-kilter, Skyla lifted her socked foot and twisted on the couch so she could put it in Dalton’s hands.

“Just turn the whole way.” He patted his thigh. “You can rest the other foot here, and when I’m done, I’ll switch.”

Skyla obeyed, racking her brain for enough self discipline to thank him. Never. Never had she had someone go so out of their way to take care of her.

She’d been loved, adored even, by her grandparents, but their age made it impossible for them to cater to all her needs or wants. That meant Skyla had learned to sacrifice her own things to take care of those she loved.

And she’d never dated someone who did more than the absolute minimum. Holding hands, paying for dinner and stealing a few kisses.

Before their relationship had ever gotten off the ground, Dalton was proving himself a step above the rest.

Sighing, Skyla settled into a pillow and closed her eyes in bliss. She’d have to find a way to pay Dalton back, but right now, she was going to enjoy what he was offering.

At one point during the evening, Dalton had known exactly what was going on in the movie, but he’d quickly lost track, his attention completely stuck on Skyla’s face.

She’d laughed a few times at the story, squirmed a little when he’d discovered her feet were ticklish in one spot, but ultimately, she’d settled in, looking drowsy and utterly delectable.

He’d eaten his weight in tacos, but right now, Dalton was hungry for something else.

But it was too soon. Her reaction to his question about dating had been positive, but still shocking. She wasn’t ready for him to yank her across the couch, pull her into his arms, and lay one on her.

He, however, was more than ready.

But Dalton had been patient before, and he could be patient again.

One glance at his phone said he probably didn’t have a lot of time left with her for the evening. It was getting late, Skyla was tired, and Analiese would be waltzing in that front door all too soon.

Trying not to be too suspicious about it, he gently set her feet on the floor and scooted over.

“Oh, sorry,” Skyla immediately sat up straight.

Dalton used the momentum to slide all the way over, putting them hip to hip. He gently took her hand, resting their combined fingers on his thigh. “Feeling better?”

Skyla ducked her head and nodded.

A few more minutes went by. Now to try the next step. Using his free hand, he traced her fingers, enjoying the softness of her skin and keeping an eye in his periphery for her reaction.

Just how much touch was she willing to accept?

He was going to find out.

She sighed, and Dalton bit back a smile. Time to prepare for step three.

Switching her hand to his right one, he brought his left arm up and let it lay across the back of the couch. When she stiffened slightly, he held very still.

He was still anchoring her hand against his leg so she couldn’t get away, but would she relax? And how long would it take?

He bit back another smile because if her actions were any indication, it wouldn’t take long at all.

Slowly, Skyla’s shoulders came down, and she quit putting pressure on the hand he was holding. Then slowly…much slower than Dalton would have preferred…her shoulder slid sideways, tucking into his side.

A weird desire to let out an evil chuckle hit him, and Dalton struggled to stay quiet and nonchalant. While he couldn’t imagine that Skyla had no experience with men, it seemed clear she didn’t have a lot.

That was fine.

He’d be more than happy to teach her.

After five minutes of her resting against him, Dalton put his last step into action. This step was more complicated, so he needed to be careful to get it right.

Using the arm he had resting on the back of the couch, he simultaneously shifted his weight to open up to her a little more. With his hand, he tucked her head onto his shoulder and brought his arm down to her waist and kept her anchored at two points.

There was no stiffness this time, only a melting of her weight into him. Dalton mentally cheered his victory. Girls had absolutely no idea how much men planned these kinds of things out before risking rejection.

There was nothing worse than taking the risk and having a woman pull away as if you had some kind of disease or something.

But Skyla hadn’t done that. She was leaning into him, her head nestled against his shoulder and chest, and it seemed as if she were completely relaxed.

Dalton couldn’t have been happier.

He didn’t even remember what movie they were watching, but he knew every breath and every movement Skyla made, especially when she pulled her legs up so she could cuddle into his side even deeper.

Should he risk one last move? It was always risky to push it when things were going so well, but…

Slowly, he leaned his head down, cautious of every inch, until he finally rested it against her hair.

Awww, yeah. This was exactly where he wanted to be tonight.

His head bobbed slightly when she laughed at something going on in the movie, and Dalton smiled. He could get used to this. He wanted to get used to this.

He’d dated girls before, but even this early in his relationship with Skyla, none of the other women had ever felt quite so amazing in his arms.

Was it really possible that there was one person created especially for another? The thought seemed ludicrous, but why else would she feel so…so…perfect?

He groaned in his head. Why the heck was he getting so sappy? Analiese, and good grief, the McCoy brothers, would all laugh Dalton to kingdom come.

Men weren’t supposed to be the mushy ones. They were supposed to be the strong ones. Dalton was a ship captain! He didn’t really confide in his crew, but they’d never let him live it down if they knew the stupid thoughts going through his head right now.

Skyla sighed and hummed her approval, seeming to melt even more.

Forget the other guys and Analiese. Who cared? If she promised to stay here and let him hold her, he’d be as mushy as she wanted him to be.

Let the mocking come.

He was strong enough to handle it.

He—

“Well, well, well…” Analiese drawled.

Dalton jumped so high that if he hadn’t been holding her hand, he’d have knocked Skyla off the couch.

His sister sauntered in and dropped into a seat opposite the couch. “What do we have here?” She raised an eyebrow, a very pleased smirk on her face.

“Liese,” Dalton warned, praying his voice didn’t break. “Knock it off.”

Skyla was now stiff as a board. Every move Dalton had just finagled was completely gone, and it was all thanks to his too-sneaky sister.

How’d she get in without him knowing, anyway?

Analiese’s grin never wavered. “Skyla…are you sure you want him? I can tell you all sorts of stor?—”

“That’s it.” Dalton reluctantly let go of the hand he was still holding, his only contact with Skyla now that Analiese was home, and pushed to his feet. “Good night, Liese. I think it’s time you went upstairs.”

Analiese stood as her brother approached and leaned around him. “He used to run naked down the street!” she screeched before running out of the room.

“Analiese!” Dalton bellowed, chasing after his sister.

“And he ate glue as a twelve-year-old!” Analiese’s voice came from upstairs just before she slammed her door shut.

Dalton stopped jumping the stairs and hung his head, his chest heaving before he did the walk of shame back to the family room. “Sorry,” he muttered, shoving his hands in his pockets. “I’ll take you to your car.”

Skyla kept her head ducked and didn’t say a word as they got to the front door, which only made things worse.

He could only imagine what she was thinking. All that work for nothing.

Stupid sisters.

Dalton held up her coat, slipping it onto her shoulders when she put her arms in the sleeve. Grabbing his keys, he walked to the door.

“Your coat,” Skyla argued, the first words she’d spoken since Analiese broke up their moment.

“I don’t need it,” Dalton grumbled, but Skyla picked it up and held it up for him to wear. Sighing, he stepped into it. “Thanks.”

“I wouldn’t want my boyfriend getting sick just because he was kind enough to drive me home.”

Dalton froze and looked over his shoulder. “Am I? Your boyfriend?”

Skyla walked around until she was facing him, a playful smile on her lips as she rested one hand on his chest. “I’m pretty sure you don’t still run down the street naked, and I would guess, at that age, the glue thing was a dare, so…I’m game if you are.”

Dalton shook his head, smiling. “You’re really up for this?”

Skyla nodded.

Dalton leaned in and kissed her forehead. They didn’t speak a word as they left. They didn’t need to. Besides…mushy Dalton was back in all his glory, and this time, Analiese couldn’t do a thing about it.