“So, we’re taking the Charger tonight?” she asked to fill the void of awkward silence threatening to make her run back to the safety of her house. Why was it so easy to flirt with him, to lean in, when they were in the backyard, but she felt so stiff and unsure now?
“I, uh, thought you might like it better.” Kyle opened her door, but his expression…he looked uncertain, too. “Did you want to ride in the truck instead?”
She shook her head quickly. “No, the Charger’s great. I’ve always wanted to see what one was like, aside from being fast.”
He visibly relaxed. “They are, but I promise not to drive like an idiot tonight.”
It took him longer than it should have to come around the car after closing her door. In her side-view mirror, she caught him pausing to take a deep breath, his shoulders drawing back and his chest expanding out.
When he got into the driver’s seat, she asked, “Are you okay?”
“What? Oh, I’m fine.” He flashed her his typical “I own the world” smile. “But…are you scared to ride in this car with me? Because I promised your dad I’d drive safe.”
She couldn’t help but melt a little inside. He’d actually paid attention to her dad? Cameron had spent more time mocking her parents’ overprotective nature after the fact than listening. “I’m not scared at all.” She leaned back in her seat. The leather was supple as a well-worn pair of jeans. “This is one sexy car, though.”
Kyle raised an eyebrow and turned the key in the ignition. The engine rumbled to life, vibrating the entire car. “You have no idea.”
She laughed and her hand flew to her mouth. He reached out and pulled it away. “Why do you put your hand over your mouth when you laugh?”
She swallowed her laughter and cocked her head. “I do?”
“Yes, you do.” He smiled, puzzled. “It’s cute, but I like it when you smile, so…”
He nodded at her wrist in his hand, and a little shiver ran through her middle. “I never noticed, I guess. I don’t know why I do it.”
He leaned across the console between them, eyes alight. “I’ll help you quit the habit if you want me to. Means some hand-holding, though. Any objections?”
Her heart stuttered over a few beats. “No.” She stared down at his hand and wriggled her wrist until her hand was in his. “Cameron thought holding hands was childish. But he’s a douche.”
He gave her a solemn nod. “He is.”
She met his gaze, feeling something unwind inside her. “And you’re not.”
Kyle stared down at the console. “You don’t know me, Faith.”
“Not much. Not yet,” she answered softly. “But I like what I see so far.”
He cleared his throat and let go of her hand. She wasn’t sure if she should be hurt by that or not, but when he turned to check his side-view mirror, she noticed a grin spreading across his face.
He put the car in gear, both hands on the wheel—which made her feel better about him letting go—and they glided away from the house. The Charger growled its way through town although, true to his word, Kyle stuck to the speed limit. Okay, maybe five miles an hour over, but that didn’t really count.
Faith peered out the window. The sun had long since retired and streetlights glowed as they drove to downtown, where historic buildings and trendy restaurants lined the sides of the road. “Will you tell me where we’re going?”
“I will,” he answered, flipping on the right turn signal. “Because we’re here.”
He pulled into the lot at the Suttonville Gardens and Arboretum. There wasn’t a single car around, and all the lights were off, save a few in the back of the large greenhouse that held most of the exhibits. A little knot of anxiety burrowed into her spine. Just what did he think was going to happen here?
“Um, I think they’re closed,” she squeaked, instantly hating herself for sounding so timid. Seize the day, girl! That thought was in Vi’s voice, but it wasn’t any less true.
Kyle was watching her. “I know the manager. He said we could tour the gardens after hours, a private showing. If you’d rather go somewhere else, we could—”
He sounded so earnest, not like a guy trying to seduce a naive dancer. And it was the arboretum. He’d brought her to a place that meant something to him. Not some party, cheesy club, or even to his house for his version of “Netflix and chill.” He’d brought her to a place full of plants, and from his expression, he really wanted her to like it.
She unfroze and smiled. “There’s no other place I’d rather be.”
His smile in return was pleased. “Good. Because the place isn’t the only surprise. Come on, I’ll show you.”
Deciding to trust in whatever Kyle had cooked up, she climbed out of the car. “Lead the way.”
They entered the greenhouse through a back door. Kyle had a key. “Where’d you get that?”