Page 22 of Chasing Honor

“Wash your hands again,” I instructed.

She jumped off the chair she was standing on, and I picked it up to move it back to the table when Ethan stepped in my way.

“What just happened?”

I looked behind me trying to figure out what he was talking about. Nothing seemed out of place.

“What do you mean?”

“You went from smiling to looking like I’d punched you in the gut.”

“I did?” I tried to play it off.

“Yeah, Honor, you did.”

I tried to hide my disappointment that he’d called me by my name.

“There it is again. Smalls, you can’t hide a damn thing. Your pretty face shows everything you’re feeling.”

Warmth spread over me, and I wanted to deny I was pretty just to hear him say it again. Thankfully there was a chair between us because I wanted him to pull me close for another hug.

“Will you do me a favor?” he asked, and I nodded. “No matter how embarrassing, inappropriate, or mean, tell me the last thought that ran through your head. The one you had just when you looked at me. Complete honesty.” My face flamed, and he smiled. “Yes, that thought.”

I took in Ethan’s hopeful expression and found I couldn’t deny him. Or maybe I didn’t want to. Maybe this was part of being the new me, brave and taking what I wanted instead of being a meek bystander too afraid to rock the proverbial boat.

Fuck it. Here goes nothing.

“I was thinking I was grateful there was a chair between us because now that your vest is off I wish I could feel your hard chest pressed against me.”

If it was possible, my cheeks burned hotter, but Ethan didn’t give me time before he moved the chair, the legs scraping on the tile floor, and yanked my hand until I was flush against him, my breasts smashed between us. He lowered his head to whisper in my ear.

“Smalls, I’ve been doing nothing all day but thinking about how good you’d feel pressed up against me.” I shivered at his words. Ethan, taking that as encouragement, went on. “I’m pleased as fuck to hear you’re on the same page. But I’m not taking whatever this is between us any further until we’re both sure.”

I nodded in appreciation and, tucked there under his arm, I felt every bit of the nickname he’d given me. He could wrap both his arms around me and engulf my entire body in his embrace. Something I’d never felt before had taken root, safety.

He let me go as Carson came barreling back into the kitchen.

“Are they done yet?”

“No, darlin’ we have some time left. Let’s set the table and get the salad out.”

“Do I have to eat the salad?” Her lips pinched together.

“That’s up to your daddy. His rules. But if you don’t eat the salad, you’ll miss out on my homemade cheese crisps and special salad dressing.”

“What are cheese crisps?”

“Yummy, delicious, fried cheese. You crumble it on top of your salad and pour my super-secret-recipe dressing over them. But, if you don’t want any, more for me.”

“Okay. I’ll try it.” Ethan was back to watching us, and I hoped I wasn’t overstepping his boundaries. “I’ll show you where the plates are,” Carson offered.

“Perfect.”

The two of us moved around the kitchen, gathering everything we needed to set the table. By the time we were done, dinner was ready to be served.

* * *

I was pleased when Carson declared she loved the salad and Ethan went back for seconds. Complimenting me and Carson on how good the meatballs were.