Page 87 of The Summer of Us

He ran a hand through his hair. “Not sure.”

I bent and gathered them up, stuffing them back into the envelope Linc handed me. “Let me take care of it, Linc. You destroyed them. Now let it go.”

He hesitated, his hand already reaching out for the envelope. I met his gaze—mine sure and steady, telling him to trust me. Give me this task and let me share the burden.

His hand fell and he nodded. “Do what you think is best.”

“I will.” I already knew what I would do with them. There was a loose floorboard in the hallway at the house on the hill. I would bury them under the floorboard, and when the house disappeared, so would they. He would never have to think about them again. I stuffed the envelope into the pocket of his suit jacket. “Thank you for trusting me.”

His smile was warm, his lips cool as he pressed them to mine. “Always. Thank you for being here with me.”

“Always,” I repeated.

He straightened, indicating I should stay where I was, and I tried not to laugh again as he peered around the corner, disappearing, then his hand appearing. “Coast is clear, Sunny. Let’s go.”

I grabbed his hand, and he pulled me around the corner and we hurried toward his car. He pushed me into the back seat, then grabbed his bag from the trunk and joined me. He dug around, handing me a pair of sweats and a shirt, finding a set for himself. We changed, and he grunted as he bundled his suit into a ball.

“So much for that one.” Then he glanced my way, his expression warm. “So worth it.”

I giggled. “Odd we’re in our favorite spot and we’re putting clothes on. It used to be the opposite.”

He smirked. “God, I lived for those moments you’d let me stick my hand under your shirt. Your tits fascinated me.” He leered at me. “They still do.”

“If it wasn’t light out and this wasn’t a public parking lot, I might let you cop a feel again, Linc.”

He winked. “I might anyway.”

A car pulled into the parking lot, and we both laughed.

“Damn,” he muttered. “Cockblocked.” Then for the first time, he noticed Abby’s SUV. “What is that doing there?”

“It was closer and faster than the bakery van.”

“I’m buying you a car.”

“I don’t think so.”

“As your husband, it’s my right to buy you anything I damn well want.”

“You’re not my husband, Linc.”

“Not yet,” he agreed. “But that is going to change.”

“Oh really?”

He nodded, his voice firm when he spoke. “Soon.”

With a grin, I opened the door and stepped out, heading over to Abby’s vehicle. Linc stepped out of the car, watching me.

“If that’s your idea of a proposal, Mr. Webber, you are sadly lacking. I will have to say no to your tempting offer at the moment.”

He leaned on his door, a wide grin on his face. “If that tempted you, just wait. You won’t be able to resist.”

I snorted. “Such ego.”

In three long strides, he was at my door, leaning into the SUV. He bent inside, his chest warm and hard against mine. “Challenge accepted, my Sunny-girl.”

Then he kissed me. Until I was dizzy. Until I would have agreed to anything he asked at that moment. His mouth was tender but demanding. Firm but gentle. Possessive and dangerous. When he eased back, we were both gasping for air. He smiled and traced my lips.