Page 260 of Worth the Trip

“It had cardstock.”

I laughed and took the bag.

Inside was the hardcover edition of a novel I had mentioned wanting several weeks earlier, along with a deep-brown leather book sleeve stamped with my initials.

No message hidden between the pages.

No lesson.

Just something he had seen and remembered.

I looked up.

“You like it?”

“I love it.”

“Good.”

“And I love you.”

His entire face changed.

Still.

Months later.

Every time.

“See.”

“What?”

“That right there.”

“You’ve heard it before.”

“Don’t matter.”

“You want me to stop?”

His arm tightened around my waist. “Try it and see what happen.”

I laughed. “That sounded threatening.”

“Devastation, baby. Nothing criminal.”

“Good clarification.”

“I’m committed to ethical romance.”

“That degree getting abused again?”

“Regularly.”

Behind him, Mama Brooks made a sound.

“Lord, y’all flirt a lot.”