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“Near seven.”
“I should go.”
I reveled in the disappointment in her voice.
“You could stay.”
“If I thought I could walk after what staying would mean, I’d take you up on that.”
I chuckled.
“They’re going to know I didn’t come home, and the longer I wait to get back, the worse the heckling.”
“What are you going to tell them?”
“The truth. Why would I tell them anything else?” She was genuinely confused by the question.
“Because you’re sleeping with the enemy.”
“They already told me to.” At what must have been surprise on my face, she clarified, “Daisy and Presley did, at least. Poppy remains firmly in the no column, but she won’t start any fires or anything. Probably.”
“But why did they tell you to?”
“Have you looked in a mirror recently? That’s reason number one. Also, there’s no chance of you getting the farm, and they had the same take on things as you—you’re leaving, thus making you even more safe. Daisy also said I needed to get laid, so there’s that.”
“Well, I’m eager to help.”
“Help? I just saw more action in one night than I have in … well, never mind in how long. You broke the record.”
“You’re welcome.”
With another laugh, she rose enough to kiss me briefly, then shifted. I moved out of the way so she could get out of bed.
“What time should I come over?” I propped up some pillows and sat back, watching as she pulled on her dress and buttoned it up.
“I’ve got chores and need to get everything set up in the kitchen. And gossip about your dick with my sisters.”
I flinched, compressing my smile. “Naturally.”
She straightened up, sobering. “Shit. My truck is still at town hall.”
“Can I give you a ride?”
She sighed, buttoning the last button. “It’s not that far. I can walk.”
“Walk of shame in Lindenbach? It’ll end up in the papers.”
“Oh, everybody already knows by now my truck was there when I wasn’t. And likely that we left at the same time.” Boots in hand, she sat at the end of the bed to put them on.
I moved until I was close enough to kiss the smooth skin between her shoulder blades, resisting the temptation to slide the strap over her shoulder. “You sure we don’t need some sort of cover story?”
“I’m sure. No point in hiding it, although I would like to be home before church starts. I don’t love the thought of being discussed during Bible study.”
I swept her hair out of the way to kiss the curve of her neck. “Are you afraid of anything?”
She leaned back a little until she was resting against my chest. “Not generally. Are you?”
Only this. “Not generally.”
“Didn’t think so.” She turned her face to kiss my cheek, then hauled herself up. “So I’ll see you in a few hours?”
“I’ll text when I’m on my way.”
“Good,” she said with a sealed, happy smile before sweeping toward me for a brief, tender kiss. “Unlock your car so I can get my things?”
“Keys are right there.” I jerked my chin toward the table, and she unlocked the car with the fob. “Sure I can’t give you a ride?”
“I’m sure. It’s too pretty not to enjoy the day for a minute before I get home and answer a thousand questions about how the devil got me into bed.”
A chuckle. “Come here.”
She did, still wearing that smile. I angled for her lips, and she leaned over to meet them. Her mouth opened, her tongue sweeping my lips, and when the kiss deepened, I pulled her into my lap with a yelp and a giggle and a long, hot kiss. When she leaned back and looked into my eyes, she held my face in her palm.
“I’m going,” she said firmly, but everything about her was happy. With a final peck, she slid off my lap and headed for the door, her skirt swaying as she went. “See you in a bit.”
“You will.”
With a final smile over her shoulder, she was gone.
For a minute, I leaned back, my gaze focused on nothing as I replayed what had happened and how stupid it’d made me. Not in that I’d made a poor decision, only that she’d reduced me to a swooning imbecile.
I didn’t know that I’d ever swooned. If I had, it’d been nothing like this.
I realized that over the last few days, my plan had shifted into a tactic I’d never employed—honesty. It was the only way to Jo and the rest of this town, who were so different than anywhere I’d been before. It was the people themselves that set Lindenbach apart—they were a family, tightly knit and fiercely protective, even when they disagreed. What they valued had to do with the whole, not the individual, and the truth was the only way in.
Only the truth needed a slant to make it through their armor.
