Page 99 of My Favorite Hero

And once again, I found myself over his shoulder.

JESSE

Good God, the woman knew how to push my buttons.

She gasped as I flung her over my shoulder, carrying her out of the garden center.

“Let me down,” she demanded, smacking my back.

“No. You’re going to the truck.”

“I didn’t get my plants!”

“Because you were too busy picking up shit,” I snarled.

“It’s not shit! It’s decorations!”

“Same thing.”

I passed a man who laughed as he saw Casey over my shoulder. “I got one of them too,” he chuckled. “Gotta drag her out of the place before she breaks the bank.”

Casey huffed and grabbed at my ass. At the truck, I slid her down my torso, stepping back and waiting for the explosion. It didn’t take long.

“How dare you drag me from the store like a…a toddler having a tantrum,” she seethed. “If I want urns and baskets, I can have them. I’m not spending your money. I’m spending mine, you dipshit.”

She had a point. But I didn’t want that stuff all over my house.

“You would have to hang your sculpture on the wall,” I stated. “And I don’t want holes in it.”

“I was going to use the outdoor hooks. Not drill something in. I have a brain, you know, Thorne.”

“We don’t need all that crap.”

“Not we. Me,” she stressed. “I want it.”

We stood toe-to-toe, glaring at each other. She was riled up, her chin stuck out, ready to go to war. Her eyes snapped in anger and I knew she thought she looked fierce, but she was utterly adorable. My lips twitched, and I had to look away.

“You find this funny?”

I couldn’t explain it, so I held my phone up to my eye level, turning on the camera and switching it so she could see the screen.

“What?” she snapped.

“Look at yourself from my perspective, Pixie.”

She frowned, staring up into the camera. “It’s just me.” She paused. “Okay, I look a little short.”

“Short?” I snorted. “With your little chin stuck out so far it’s almost pointed and how endearing you are when angry, I feel as if I’m arguing with one of Santa’s little helpers. One more word and I’ll be put on the naughty list.”

“It’s where you belong,” she muttered, then giggled. “I do look ridiculous from up there.”

I lowered my arm, and she took the camera, aiming it up at me. I knew I was a lot taller and bigger, but I loomed over her, irritated and scowling.

I tilted my head. “Do I scare you?”

“No, you annoy the shit out of me.”

“Back at you, Pixie. Or should I call you Elf?”