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“Look, you’re here for a couple of weeks, right?”
She nodded.
Time for him to put it out there. He wanted to know her. First he had to…what had she said? Stop being a jackass first?
“Now you have a job. You’re making friends. And I’ll be damned if I come between you and them by leaving you high and dry.” Her eyes were locked on his with anticipation, and he smiled.
“How do you feel about the largest button collection in Kansas?” Huck asked, pulling a napkin out of his back pocket and reading from it.
“Ah…what?”
“How about the museum of the founding of Diamond?”
She frowned. “You lost me.”
“Jenna and Colt asked me to show you around town. We should start with the town’s two greatest treasures.”
She crossed her arms. “I have legs. I can walk and look at buttons on my own.”
He met her gaze with seriousness. “I just want some of your time,” he admitted.
She stared at him for a long moment, those pouty lips parted, and damn if he didn’t stop breathing, hanging on to whatever she would say next.
…
Yes.
It was what Autumn wanted to say. It was the only word she seemed to know when it came to Huck. That and “more.” Problem was, she did enjoy spending time with him. Maybe it wasn’t such a bad thing to get to know him. He wasn’t asking a lot from her, but for the first time in a long time, she didn’t feel completely worthless.
He’d done a kind thing for her. While it was a foreign feeling, this “someone helping her out” thing, her mind wanted to reject it. People had agendas. They never did something for you without looking for something in return. More importantly, counting on someone else to help her out just contributed to her own weakness. And she wasn’t weak. She’d been taking care of herself for a while now.
Yet she couldn’t be mad at him. No matter how hard she tried, she just felt like a brat. But wanting more of her time? Wanting another night even?
“Why?”
The word came out softer than she’d meant, but she needed to know.
His expression turned serious. “Because I enjoy your company.”
“The majority of my company has included my thighs around your waist.”
“And my neck, don’t forget that. I sure as hell haven’t.” He winked.
She couldn’t help it, but a small laugh escaped her, and she felt a real smile sneak onto her face. Huck’s green eyes sparkled like he’d just struck gold or something, and she had no idea why he was gazing at her like she was some treasure chest.
“Honestly, Autumn.” The way he said her name made her eyes snap to his and put her body on full alert. “I’m not going to turn down another chance to feel your legs wrapped around me…” He locked his sultry gaze on her. “But if we just look at buttons, that’s fine.”
Yeah. About that. There was no way that if she agreed to spend time with him that they wouldn’t end up in bed again. And damn if his offer to leave sex off the table didn’t make her want him all the more.
He looked sincere and steady as his eyes ate up her entire being. And she was pretty sure she was looking at him right back the same way. Between the white T-shirt that was currently clinging to his slightly sweaty and impressive chest and the low-slung tool belt around his waist, Autumn had to check the urge to fan herself.
“Forget about the buttons and the museum. Why don’t we just meet at Penny’s BBQ tomorrow night?” he offered. “Natural territory. We can grab a beer and hang out with everyone. It’s spring break, so the back area is opened up. Word on the street is there’ll be a band and dancing.”
She raised an eyebrow. She wasn’t much of a dancer. As in she’d never danced before. Not even at Jenna’s wedding. But she realized that Huck wasn’t pushing for anything to happen tonight. He was willing to wait until tomorrow. Was he actually trying to set a precedent that sex wasn’t his number one priority?
She wanted to believe a guy would want more out of her than a good lay. She wanted to believe Huck wanted more out of her. That the guy who’d become her enemy could see her as something more than a conquest.
What did she have to lose? Even if they ended up at each other’s throats, she’d be out of here soon enough. Maybe even before it all fell apart.
