Page 59 of Double Play

He isn’t entirely wrong; my house is warmer than his place. I’m not really concerned.

Instead of leading us further up the hill, Declan escorts me to the tailgate of his truck and helps me up into the back. Then he returns to the cab and pulls out a blanket. He climbs into the bed, tossing the blanket so it spreads, and I shift to help straighten the woven fabric. We both settle over the blanket, staring over the tops of the trees to the bright illumination of Nashville off in the distance. Even in the last hour of sunlight, the place is all neon lights, and I can almost imagine hearing country music despite the miles between here and there.

“I promised your brother I’d show you Nashville.” Declan waves his hand toward the city. “I present to you . . . Nashville.”

I softly chuckle. “Looks a little like Vegas,” I admit about the blinking lights and the streams of neon.

“Looks like home to me,” Declan declares, and when I turn my head toward him, he’s staring at me.

Nashville. Declan. Home.

On second glance, Nashville is nothing like Vegas, and I breathe in a grateful breath of mountain air and summer breeze, and the hint of cinnamon gum and sunflower seeds on the man next to me.

When Declan lies flat in the truck bed, I follow his lead. We might be out in public, but no one can see us in this position, with my head on his shoulder and one of my legs wrapped over both of his. Plus, no one really cares about a couple snuggling in the back of a pickup truck around here. The view of the sky holds everyone’s attention, and we watch as the clouds shift to blushing pink, then orange-yellow petals before a lavender haze takes over. The display is beautiful, and we continue in this position as the brilliance fades and darker blue blankets the sky.

“The past four days have been some of the best in my life,” Declan states, cupping the back of my thigh and hitching my leg higher, resting it just below his waistband.

I stiffen in his arms, holding my breath. “But . . .”

“No but.” He shifts his head, and I tilt mine against his shoulder to glance up at him.

“Why do I feel like you’re about to break up with me?”

Declan chuffs. “I’m most definitely not.”

“I still feel a but.”

“Well, I’d be feeling your butt, except we are out in public, even if it is growing dark.” He lifts his neck, peeking his head over the side of the truck before looking back at me and awkwardly grabbing my ass.

“You’re so corny.”

“I’m horny. And I’m just being honest. I want you to know, I’ve enjoyed spending time with you.” He tucks his free arm behind his head and stares up at the sky once more.

“Tomorrow, it’s back to business,” I remind him, lowering my head and running my finger down the middle of his chest. His T-shirt smells like him.

“Tomorrow means nothing.”

“What does that mean?” I chuff.

“It means team back or no team, you and I remain the same.”

“And what are you and I?”

“Together.”

Together. He presses a kiss to my forehead, lingering there a second.

The sensation is sweet. The sentiment sweeter.

“Dare,” I whisper beneath the darkening sky and tilt my head upward again.

Declan meets my eyes, arching one brow in acceptance.

“Kiss me.”

Slowly, his lips curve, and he lowers for my lips, bonding us. Together.

I’m not opposed to making out in the bed of his truck like randy teens, and our bodies shift so we face one another, only we move like we can’t get close enough.