Page 21 of Lucky Haven

“I’ve got you.” His hands settle on my hips as he helps me into the back seat. He leans into the cab after I settle. “You got the seat belt there?”

“I think so…” But I fumble for it, so he helps me with that, too.

Mercy climbs in next, sitting in front of me.

I lean my head forward, resting it on the padded headrest between us, and pat her shoulder. “Thank you for taking me out tonight, friend.”

She squeezes my hand. “Any time.”

Cash, who’s just come around and hoisted himself into the driver’s seat, glowers at her. “But maybe something different next time?”

She laughs at him. “Like what, a knitting club?”

“Sounds perfect.”

“Take me home, guard dog.” She glances back at me. “And then you can go tuck in Little Miss Rye and Coke.”

“It’s not like that.”

“Of course not,” she murmurs.

Maybe they think I can’t hear them. Or maybe they think I’m so drunk I won’t hear them. I didn’t have that much to drink, I think sourly.

But then the next thing I know, Cash is waking me up. I missed him dropping Mercy off completely.

“Did I fall asleep?”

“A little bit, yeah.” He carefully moves my seatbelt out of the way.

“I missed you undoing that,” I pout, even though I can hear him saying it’s not like that. But I can’t keep a filter on my words, apparently. “I liked it when you did it up.”

“Come on.”

He guides me out of the truck, his hands on my hips again. It reminds me of the dancing couple, and I wish I could arch into him, make my body soft against his.

Another uncensored confession rips out of me. “I like it when you touch me.”

He grunts, then says, “Good to know.”

So I touch his face. He’s got more of a beard this week than he did last week. Close-cropped, but it’s well past stubble length now. I wonder what it would feel like if I kissed him again. I liked the stubble, too.

“Haven, let’s get you inside.”

I don’t move.

He leans in, pressing his forehead against mine. “Stop petting me, woman. You’re drunk.”

“I like your face,” I whisper.

“I like your face, too.”

“You’re a good kisser.”

“Okay.”

“I wish I was a better kisser.”

“You’re a fantastic kisser, don’t you worry.”