“Hey,” I say breathlessly. “You look gorgeous.”

Her cheeks dust with color as she smiles. “Thanks, so do you,” she says as her eyes lazily run over me. I am dressed nice enough, I guess, in a pair of khakis and a blue button-up shirt but in a way, I feel inferior to her, which is crazy since I’ve never felt like that before. I’ve never thought someone was better than I am, but at that moment, getting lost in Amberlyn’s eyes, I feel that way. I’m not sure I deserve to spend the night with this beautiful woman.

“Well, be home by midnight, please.”

We both look over at Mr. Maclaster, and I notice that a grin is playing on Amberlyn’s mouth as Fiona smacks her da on the arm.

“Da! She’s twenty years old! Let her be!”

But I don’t think Mr. Maclaster cares how old Amberlyn is. He wants her home, and I respect that. I go to say that as Mrs. Maclaster blurts out, “Yes, don’t listen to him, Declan. You do what you’d like with her. Bring her home whenever.”

The room falls silent except for Fiona’s giggles, as Amberlyn gawks at her aunt and Mr. Maclaster sets her with a look. I have no clue what to say to that so I look back at Amberlyn as she rolls her eyes. “No, I’ll be home at midnight, and he won’t have his way with me! Jeez, Aunt Shelia!”

Fiona is still laughing as Mrs. Maclaster sets her with a look. “He’s Declan O’Callaghan… he’ll do what he pleases.”

“No, he won’t,” Mr. Maclaster and Amberlyn say at the same time.

“Yeah, I won’t,” I agree.

I doubt anyone is listening to me as Amberlyn says, “I don’t care if he’s the pope. Jeez, can you believe this lady?” she asks me, but I don’t answer as she steps to her aunt. “And to think, you’re my favorite aunt ever?”

Mrs. Maclaster’s face is red, but her smile is still beaming. Kissing her cheek, Amberlyn leans to Mr. Maclaster and kisses his cheek before saying, “I’ll be home by midnight.”

He nods before setting me with a look. This is really weird. I don’t do this. I don’t date and to have a set limit on when I have to bring a woman home is a little weird, but I don’t have a problem doing what is asked of me. I want them to like me.

“Ye have fun!” Mrs. Maclaster calls as we head out the door after Amberlyn hugged Fiona bye. Once the door shut, Amberlyn laughs. “If this is what it would have been like when I was younger going on my first date, I’m glad I waited. My dad would have been worse than my uncle, and my mother probably would have cried.”

I glance over at her. There is a smile on her beautiful face, but I can see the pain in her eyes and the laugh isn’t a regular Amberlyn gut-busting laugh. “You didn’t date when you were younger?”

She shakes her head. “Nope, I took care of my mom. She was sick for a long time before she passed.”

“So what, this is your first date?”

She smiles nervously up at me. “Officially, yeah.”

I smile, too. Why does that make me feel so good? When she stops suddenly, she glances back over at me before pointing to my Mercedes CL65. “No horse?”

I scoff as I reach for the door. “Not tonight.”

“Darn, I was hoping to be whisked away on horseback. I even wore pants,” she teased with a wink. I smile as I shut the door and head around the car.

Sitting down, I put the key in the ignition. “It does have a 510-horsepower engine though.”

She giggles, and the smell of her fills the inside of my car. It’s intoxicating, a mix of flowers and shampoo. I love it and want to nuzzle my nose in her hair. Turning the key in the ignition to make sure I don’t, I glance over at her as she says, “That will be fine then. Whisk me away, Declan.”

She does a very flourish wave with her hand like she is royalty as she leans back, her face bright with a smile as her eyes stay locked on me. I can’t get enough of her and the nerves from before are gone, as I nod with a grin pulling at the side of my mouth.

“I hope to.”

I’m nervous.

So freaking nervous that my knee is bouncing out of control as I ride in Declan’s very expensive car. I’m not sure if he’s had it long, but it smells new and has me afraid to touch anything. I glance over to admire him; he looks simply scrumptious as always but then I notice that damn beanie. I wish he wouldn’t wear it. I love his curly hair. Shaking my head, I say, “Still with your trusty beanie, I see.”

He smiles over at me sheepishly, causing my body to catch fire. There is something about this man’s smile that makes me come completely undone. He has dimples and his teeth are so straight and white, which makes me realize that I must have a thing for white, straight teeth because I am hot just watching him smile. I grin as he reaches up, pulling the beanie down some. “I thought about leavin’ it off, but then I remember that I don’t like my hair.”

I reach out but he moves out of my way, sending me a grin. “Take it off. I like your hair,” I plead, giving him a little pout.

He scoffs. “No way, that pout is cute, hot even, but I need my hat.”

“Why?” I ask, my body liking that he said I was hot a little more than it should.

“’Cause, I just like it on.”

I roll my eyes, letting out a breath as I lean back, mock pouting. “Fine.”

He laughs as he takes my hand in his. The warmth of his hand is consuming and soon I forget about the beanie as his fingers lace with mine. “This is okay?”

I nod quickly because I like the way my hand fits in his. I’ve wanted this, and I am soon watching as his thumb moves across the back of my hand. A smile is pulling at his lips as he drives. His eyes are on the road, and I wish they were on me. I have been a wreck all day. I tried to work to keep myself from thinking about tonight but when it came time for me to get ready, I was basically shaking with nerves. Fiona helped and I have to admit I look hot as hell, but even knowing that doesn’t calm the butterflies in my belly.

Silence stretches in the car, and I’m not sure if that is a bad thing or good. I am comfortable, happy even, but what if he is bored and I need to talk to make him feel better? I’ve learned very quickly that Declan is a man of few words and I am fine with the silence, but I’m not sure if he is. I want to make him comfortable with me because I am with him. He makes me all giggly and oh my goodness, how I love this feeling.