Amanda's POV

I stretch as I try to wake up. I look at my clock and see it's ten o'clock. I usually don't sleep this late. It's a good thing that I don't have to work today. I get up and walk over to my dresser to smell my flowers and I smile as I think about last night. We had so much fun. That kiss was amazing. His hands on me set my skin ablaze. I had never felt like that before. He has started feelings in me that I have never felt before. As I was thinking about last night my phone alerted me, and I see that Heather has texted me.

Text- Hey girl. I'll be there in thirty minutes.

Text- See you in a bit. I am getting ready now.

After I get out of the shower, I go get dressed and am putting on my makeup when I hear a knock at the door.

"I'll get it daddy. That's Heather."

"Alright pumpkin." he says from the kitchen. I open up the door and Heather comes in.

"You ready to go?"

"Yes, let me go tell my dad goodbye and grab my purse." I ran into the kitchen to grab it.

"Where are you headed pumpkin?"

"We are headed to the mall. Do you have anything planned today?"

"Just gonna do some yard work and watch some baseball. Nothing too exciting."

"Alright, daddy. Take care of yourself and don't overdo it."

"Don't worry about me, go have some fun."

"See you later tonight."

"Will you be home for dinner?"

"I should be." I say as I head out with Heather. After about a twenty minute ride, we head into the mall. We spend a few hours window shopping and decide to get something to eat.

"So how long have you and Mr. Hottie been seeing each other?"

"His name is Eric and it's been about a month. It's so new, I don't know what to call it. I'm really starting to like him. It scares me."

"Oh wow. I would have thought you guys have been dating for a long time. The way he acts around you. I know I only see you two for a few minutes each morning, but the way he looks at you, is pure love." I blush at her comment, as I shove fries in my mouth so I can't answer. We had been sitting there for a little while and I felt someone sit next to me. I look over and Eric is sitting next to me.

"Hey baby, saw you sitting here and thought I'd come say hi."

"What are you doing here? Not that I'm not happy to see you."

My buddy and I were hanging out and he wanted to come get something for his girlfriend's birthday, so I came along."

"How nice of you."

"Thanks, how about you come over this weekend and I cook for you, maybe stay the night? No funny business. I promise."

"Sounds good. I will have to come up with a story for dad. He definitely won't want me staying over with you."

He chuckles and shakes his head.

"Don't worry. You can tell him that you are staying at my house. I don't mind."

"Are you sure? I don't want you to get in trouble."

"No problem and you can give him my number. I will cover for you if need be."

"Thank you."

"So, I will see you Saturday?"

Absolutely." He leans over and kisses my lips as he gets up and heads over to his friend. They get up to leave and he winks at me as they leave.

"See I told you."

"I'm so nervous about it. I have never slept over with a guy. I don't want to lead him on. I don't think I am ready for anything else."

"If he truly loves you he will understand and not pressure you."

"I hope you are right. I do really like him."

"Only like?"

"For now, but I think I may be falling for him."

"Just be careful. He does have a reputation in this town."

"I know. That's why my father doesn't like him and doesn't want me to see him. Which is why we have been so secretive. I want to see where it goes before I tell him."

"You don't have to worry. I won't say anything."

We finish our lunch and head back out. I decided to find something for this weekend. Nothing too revealing. We spend a few more hours at the mall and then head back to my house.

"Hey daddy, we're home." I say as we head into the house.

"Hey pumpkin, did you have fun today?"

"I did."

"Hey Amanda, how about you come over to my house Saturday? We can have a girls night. Watch chick flicks and what not."

"That sounds great. Is that okay daddy?"

"Sounds good to me, but you don't have to ask me. You are an adult now."

"Wow, thanks daddy. Just being respectful."

"Thank you, but as long as you let me know where you are going I don't mind, within reason."

"Alright." I say as I hug him."

"Well, I gotta get home. I will talk to you tomorrow. Thanks for hanging with me today."

"You're welcome. I had an awesome time. See you tomorrow." I head back into the kitchen and dad is fixing dinner.

"What's for dinner, daddy?"

"It's meatloaf tonight. Your mama's recipe."

"That is my favorite. What's the occasion? You usually don't make something complicated."

"No reason, I was just craving it and kinda missing her too." He said with a tear in his eye. He loved her so much and we both still miss her. I walk over and pull him into a hug.

"Dad, she is always with us."

"I know pumpkin. I just wish she never had to go."

"I know, me too." I go set the table as he pulls dinner out of the oven. We sit and eat our meal in silence for a bit.

"So anything fun planned with Heather this weekend?"

"A girls night in. We plan on watching movies and girly stuff."

"Sounds like fun." He laughed as he finished his meal. I gathered up plates and utensils and cleaned everything up. I think about this weekend and butterflies start flying around in my stomach. This is something new for me. I have never spent the night at a guys house. I hope he doesn't expect anything from me. I don't want him to think I am a tease. I really like him. It will be nice to spend more time with him. It always feels like not enough time with him and it goes by so fast. I finish in the kitchen and let daddy know that I am headed to my room for the night.

"Good night, pumpkin."

"Good night, daddy." Ince I am in my room, I get ready for bed and grab my book to read for a while before I go to sleep. Then I hear my phone buzz and I look to see a text message from Eric.

Text- I loved seeing you today. Is everything set for Saturday?

Text- Yes, daddy thinks I am staying at Heather's.

Text- I am excited to see you this weekend. I hate that you have to lie to your father.

Text- I do too, but it is the only way to be able to see you. Someday I will be able to tell him.

Text- I guess I can live with that for now. I can't wait to have you with me. I will send you my address. I will let you sleep. I will see you in the morning. Goodnight sweetheart.

Text- Goodnight handsome. See you in the morning.

The rest of the week went by slowly. We talked every day and evening. He would stop every morning for coffee. He made me smile every day.

"Are you ready for tonight?" Heather asks as we clean up for the night.

"Yes, I have a bag packed."

"Do you have something sexy for him?" She says as she wiggles her eyebrows and I blush.

"No, I'm not ready for that."

"A guy doesn't invite you to his house just to sleep with you. Especially bad boys like him."

Now I am really nervous. Is that really all he wants from me? I don't think I can give him that. He promised me no funny business. Now Heather has me second guessing my decision.

"I'm sorry. I see the look in your eyes. Maybe I am wrong and he doesn't want anything from you. I really don't know him."

"We will see. Have we got everything finished for this evening?"

"Yes, now go be with your man and don't worry about anything. You got this."

"Thanks again for covering for me. I owe you big time."

"Just go. He's waiting for you."

I head out and put his address into my GPS and I am on my way. It didn't take long and I was pulling into his driveway. I park and start to get out and I see him come out the front door and run to my side.

"I missed you so much sweetheart." He pulled me into a hug and pressed his lips to mine, and I melted in his embrace.

"I missed you too."

"Come on. I have dinner almost ready." He grabs my bag with one hand and my hand with the other. We head inside and he shows me around the house and when we get to his room he sets my bag in a chair and my stomach tied in knots. I think he can sense my nervousness.

"Don't be nervous, baby. We won't do anything you don't want to do. I can wait till you're ready. Just having you here in my arms is enough."

"Thank you." I say as I blush. He places his fingers under my chin and lifts it up so I have to look at him.

"There's that blush I love so much. Don't worry. I really like you and have too much respect for you to force anything. It's just our dates never seem to be long enough and I wanted to have more time with you."

"I would like that too."

"Good, let's go eat." He says as he smiles and kisses my lips. We head downstairs and into the kitchen. It smells amazing and my stomach starts to growl. "Sounds like someone is hungry."

"Yeah, didn't have a chance to eat lunch today. I am starving."

He finishes up the dish and starts to plate everything while I sit at the island.

"I hope you like chicken carbonara. I also made a salad to go with it."

"That looks amazing! You can cook too? What other secrets do you have?"

"You'll find out eventually." He says with a smirk, as I blush and stuff my mouth with the carbonara.

"MMm, this is so good."

"Thank you, it's really easy."

We sit in silence for a bit as we eat.

"I want to tell you something, that I have been holding back."

"You don't have to tell me anything you don't want to."

"I want to, and I feel you really need to know this about me."

"Okay, what is it?" I ask nervously.

I have been to prison before, when I was sixteen I stole a car. I was in a gang back home. When I got arrested I assaulted a cop. I was sent to juvie until I was twenty one. My parents disowned me and I came here to live with my uncle and I work with him. I rent this house from him. He lives with his girlfriend now."

"Oh, there's no trouble anymore, right?"

"NO, although I do have anger issues which I am trying to deal with. Sometimes it gets me in trouble."

What I want to know is, why me?"

"What do you mean?"

"You could have any woman you want. So many out there so much prettier than me and more experienced. I'm not that pretty." He quickly stood up and turned my stool to face him. Placing his hands on either side of my face, he made me look at him.

"I don't want to hear you say that again. I don't want anyone else. You are the most beautiful woman I have seen. You're the only one I see. You are amazing, kind, caring, and I still wonder why you are here with me, the town trouble maker."

"I don't see that. It's your past. You're not that person anymore. You are sweet, and you treat me with respect. No one has ever done that for me."

He leans down to me and kisses my lips. They feel soft and warm. I melt into his embrace. His tongue slides over my bottom lip and I open them as his tongue slides in to dance with mine. I feel myself heat up and I feel myself getting wet. What is this man doing to me. I feel tingly all over. He pulls me closer to him as the kiss gets deeper. His hands tangle in my hair as he pushes into me and I can feel his bulge rub against me. I gasp and my body tenses. He quickly stops and looks at me.

"I'm sorry. I just can't help myself around you. If I go too far just tell me to stop."

"Okay, but you just make me feel good. I have never felt this way before."

'Sweetheart, there are so many ways I can make you feel good, but only when you are ready. We can take this as slow as you need."

"Thank you."

"How about we go watch a movie?"

"That sounds great."

"You head into the living room and pick one out. I will clean up here and bring in dessert."

"I'll be waiting." I smile as I head into the living room to pick out a movie and wait for him to come in.