Page 6 of Working For Her Attention

“Oh, you don’t have to do that. You were probably on your way to work.” I pointed towards his truck. “I can call a locksmith and⁠—"

“Avery,” he cut me off. I stared up at him. “I got you,” he rumbled like a vow, and my breath hitched.

Before I knew what was happening, Sam picked me up like a groom would with his bride. “Wait, what are—” I gasped, but at his smile, the words died on my tongue.

“You’re barefoot, baby girl.” The term of endearment had my hands wrapping around his neck.

I was too stunned to look away from his prefect profile as he carried me across the street. He used the FOB to unlock his truck, and before I knew it, I was in his truck, watching in silence as he leaned over me so close I could smell the scent of his body wash or cologne, or maybe it was just him? He pulled the seatbelt across my torso and clicked it in place.

“Precious cargo.” He winked, and I was pretty sure I was leaving a puddle on the seat beneath me. He shut the door, and I swear all I heard was the sound of my heart thundering against my ribcage as I watched the man of my literal dreams round his truck, picking up his to-go coffee tumbler. Oddly enough, he opened the back cab and put it in the cup holder back there before getting in the driver's side and looked at me after he put his own seatbelt on.

“I thought you were going to help me get back in my house,” I said, wondering what was wrong with me. Usually, I had more common sense than this. Sam was basically a stranger, yet I let him carry me into his truck without a fight, without letting anyone know where I was going or who I was going with.

“I am.” He smiled. “But first, there is one thing more important than that.” His truck roared to life, and my lips parted, about to ask what that was, when he grinned, pushing his glasses up the bridge of his nose. “Coffee.” He winked, and we’re off.

Sam drove… great. And that was coming from someone who was the worst backseat passenger in the world!

I was always that friend or acquaintance who would rather drive or meet you there than give up control. Or hold on to the oh shit handle the entire ride. I knew it was a me problem, but it was one I didn’t have with Sam. I wanted to blame it on the mix of embarrassment and lack of sleep, but I’d never been keen on lying to myself.

It’s him.

Despite basically being strangers who live across the street from one another, Sam made me feel safe. A first for me. He drove us to the cute little drive-thru coffee shop, and while we waited, he saw me squirming in the chair, crossing my arms over my chest. I was very aware of the fact I was still in my night shirt and tiny panties, and that was it. No bra. No shoes. Not even socks. When you do something, Avery, you really do it! I scolded myself.

“Cold?” he asked. I shook my head even though it was a little chilly.

“I’m just… I’m still in pajamas.” His eyes skated down my body and back up, hooded with something I couldn’t completely read. “And now I realize I’m in the middle of town and there are a bunch of people around seeing me in—“ I pointed down at myself. He blinked.

“Shit,” he cursed before he shook his head. “I’m sorry about that,” he mumbled, shifting the truck into Park in the middle of the drive-thru. “I got you,” he reassured me again. I knew those three words would be replaying in my head on repeat once I recharged my battery-operated boyfriend. He reached for something in the back seat and pulled out a hoodie. “Here, this should help.” He handed me a black hoodie with a Miranda HVAC logo I recognized from his website printed in white and handed it to me.

“Take it.” I looked at him and, ever the gentleman, he turned to look out the window.

Quickly, I unbuckled and pulled it over my head, biting away a moan at the soft, warm material that smelled so much like daddy. No, don’t go there! It smelled so good, I couldn’t help but sniff the collar before pulling my seatbelt back on.

“How do I look?” I asked. Sam turned, and his gaze darkened while his jaw clenched and his knuckles turned white around the steering wheel.

“Beautiful,” he rasped. I laughed nervously.

“You probably say that to all the girls,” I teased, hating the green-eyed monster that poked its head out at the thought of all the women probably falling over themselves for him. Before he could say something, someone behind us honked, and we looked forward and realized two cars had already moved forward.

Sam didn’t let me pay for our coffees and even stopped at the diner, telling me to wait for him. I sipped my perfectly brewed coffee, hating how much I loved the touch of sweetness in the iced latte I’d ordered because I knew I’d be a regular there now. I wondered about how the hell I was just having a Sam sex dream, and BOOM! I was in his huge truck.

He returned quickly with two huge breakfast burritos. One for him and one for me.

“Thanks,” I whispered after he handed me one. “Great first date, huh?” I said without thinking and was immediately horrified.

Where was a huge black hole to suck you up when you needed one?

The only thing that lightened the embarrassment was the chuckle he let out.

“Coffee and breakfast burritos. I’m a big spender.” The sound of his chuckle slid down my body like a warm throw.

“Hey, you don’t hear me complaining. Though, maybe I should have dressed up a little more for the occasion.” My mouth kept getting the better of me, so I took a huge bite of the breakfast burrito to stop myself from saying another embarrassing word as I stared out at the city while he drove us back home.

“I don’t know. I think you look cute in my hoodie.” My cheeks brightened, but I didn’t have to turn to know his eyes were on me. “It looks a hell of a lot better on you than it does on me.”

“You’re sweet,” I mumbled between bites.

“Baby girl, I know we just met, but trust me, I highly doubt even one of my sisters would use sweet as a way to describe me.”