Page 99 of Cautious Love

Ledger chuckles and pulls me to his side. “You’re right. I’m sorry.”

“Thank you,” I huff.

He leads the way out of the kitchen and onto the back deck, where the grill sits.

I flow him out of the sliding door and off to the side while he lights the grill. The wind blows my hair back, and I take a deep inhale of the fall air, ignoring the goosebumps rising over my arms.

Once it’s to temperature, Ledger drops the steaks on the grill and closes the lid.

I lean against the railing, looking out over the rises and dips of the mountains in the distance. I wonder what whiskey would do up there. The temperature changes are unpredictable. When summer comes, it’s still cool, but the snow melts off.Hmm.

Ledger comes up behind me, pressing into my back. His arms slide around my waist, and he buries his nose into my neck.

“You smell delicious,” he grumbles.

I laugh and rest a hand on his arm. “Thanks, I think.”

He chuckles, and the vibration of his laugh makes my bones shake.

His large hands turn me to face him before lifting me onto the banister. I grab his shoulders to steady myself and lock my ankles at his back.

“I’ve got you,” he murmurs.

And I know in my gut. In my heart. He does. He won’t let me fall.

We’re eye to eye with the help of the railing. “I know this is our first date and you’re supposed to wait until after the meal to kiss the girl, but…”

I grin and tilt my chin up. “What are you waiting for, sheriff?”

He huffs, amused, and slips a hand to the back of my neck and at the base of my spine before pressing his mouth to mine.

I sigh into the kiss, and it feels like relief. He lifts the pressure off everything. Maybe even gravity because I feel like I’m floating.

“You’re so demanding,” he says between kisses.

I smile and kiss him again. “I don’t know why you keep pretending you don’t like it.”

He shakes his head and sweeps his mouth over mine. It’s not rushed. He’s tender and gentle, and it makes the heat pooling in my belly turn to magma. It’s about to burn right through me.

The tip of his tongue grazes mine, making me shiver, and he releases my mouth as he presses warm lips to my cool skin.

“I need to check the steaks,” he murmurs.

“I swear I have the worst luck on the planet,” I mumble.

Ledger chuckles and helps me down. “I don’t know how flipping steaks and eating good food is bad luck.”

“Well, it’s definitely something.”

Ledger opens the lid and flips the steaks. “Or you’re just terribly impatient,” he says, looking at me as he shuts the lid and adjusts the temperature.

“And maybe you’re too easily distracted?” I toss back.

His stern gaze levels completely on me, and I straighten. Ledger’s full attention is nothing short of overwhelming. He’s the first sip of whiskey and the perfect finish all in the same look.

He stalks over to me and presses a hand between my shoulder blades, hauling me to his mouth. “Trust me, Shy, I’m perfectly capable of focusing on what matters.”

A rush of air evacuates my lungs, and they struggle to inhale. His thumb brushes over my pulse, and my thighs clench.