“Get in the truck, Emily.”
For a moment, we just stood there. Then she nodded. “Okay.”
She climbed into the passenger side, and immediately the cab felt too small. Too full of her—that scent, the soft sound of her breathing, the way she tucked a loose curl behind her ear.
The drive to Joe’s was quiet. Not uncomfortable but loaded with everything we weren’t saying. I could feel her looking at me, could sense her trying to figure me out.
Good luck with that. I was still trying to figure myself out.
We both got out once we reached the lot and Joe emerged from the garage, wiping his hands on a rag. His grin widened when he saw us together.
“Tucker! And you must be Emily. Car’s all set.”
“Thank you so much,” Emily said, moving toward her car to inspect it. “How much do I owe you?”
“Already settled up.” Joe shot me a look that was pure amusement.
I watched Emily’s back stiffen. She turned slowly to face me. “You already paid.”
“Yes.”
“Tucker—”
“It’s done, Emily.”
“I don’t care if it’s done.” That fire was back in her eyes, the stubborn set to her jaw. “I’m paying you back.”
“No, you’re not.”
“Yes, I am.”
Joe was openly grinning now. “You two want me to give you some privacy for this?”
“No,” I said at the same time Emily said, “Yes.”
Joe laughed and disappeared back into the garage, still chuckling.
Emily turned to face me fully, hands on her hips. “You had no right to pay for my car without asking me first.”
“I didn’t need your permission.”
“That’s not how this works.”
“How what works?” I took a step toward her, and she held her ground.
“This. Whatever this is.” She gestured between us, frustrated. “You can’t just... do things for me and expect me to be okay with it.”
“Then learn,” I said, closing the distance between us. “Starting now.”
She looked up at me, eyes wide, lips parted like she was about to continue to argue. And I couldn’t take it anymore. Couldn’t stand the space between us. Couldn’t fight what I’d been feeling since the moment she’d knocked on my door.
I grabbed her face with both hands and kissed her.
She made a sound—surprise or protest or need, I couldn’t tell—and then her hands were on my chest. Her mouth opened under mine, and I deepened the kiss, pouring days of wanting into it. Days of trying to convince myself to stay away.
She tasted sweet, like bubble gum, and when her tongue touched mine heat shot straight through me. I angled her head, taking the kiss deeper, harder. Her body was soft against mine, curves pressing into me in ways that made my blood run hot.
She was making soft sounds now. Her hands lid up my shoulders, nails digging in through my shirt. I had to fight the urge to lift her up, wrap her legs around me and take this somewhere private where I could explore every inch of her.
