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“We already ate, remember?”Yeah, the evening had felt that long for me too.“But you can have a snack after I’m done unloading.”
They both piled out and ran to the house.Once the shop door was open far enough to get the pickup in, I finished backing in.I’d just leave it inside tonight.
Kenny had the tailgate down before I was out.“I can’t believe this lamp didn’t sell.It really is gorgeous.”
I had liked it before, but Kenny had bought a translucent cream lampshade that allowed the twist of the lamp to become the centerpiece.
I had regretted loading it earlier and had been relieved when interested shoppers had moved on.“That’s because it’s yours.”
She smiled while her fingers danced along the shade.She glanced at me and did a double take.“Are you serious?”
“Of course.”
“I can’t take this.You can sell it and put it in your Grandma Gin fund.”
“And if Grandma Gin found out I sold it for fifty bucks to save for her when you really liked it?You want to get me into trouble?”
“Liam, I…” She eyed the lamp, her brow furrowing.“This is the first thing I’ve brought home that’s just…mine.”
It’d never be hers and Derek’s.Just hers.She hadn’t bought more than groceries and the necessities since he’d died.The faucet was for the house.All the home improvements were more about the activity and not so much the new material she used for repairs.
“I can hang on to it until you’re ready to take it home,” I offered.
She hugged the lamp to her, the shade cocking up against her head.“No.It’s time.I haven’t even bought new underwear.”Pink flushed her cheeks.“TMI.I’ll put this in my car.Be right back.”
I’d finished unloading by the time she returned.
She twisted her hands together as she approached me.“I know I apologized before, but I’m so sorry about tonight.”
“I’ll never blame anyone else for the way they treat me, Kenny.”
“I know, but—”
I put my fingers on her soft lips.We hadn’t kissed yet, but I dreamed of it every night.“No, I’ve made a decision.I’m not letting them drive my boys from their home.I’m going to talk to Grandma Gin.Then I’m going to the bank and having a long chat.And then I’ll call the school.”
She blinked her big brown eyes.I’d been so sure of my decision, but her reaction meant everything to me.Yes, I wanted to stay for her too.I wasn’t wasting more time working in a different town away from everyone I cared about.There had to be a job near Coal Haven but out of Cameron’s reach.
She didn’t answer for so long, nerves knotted my stomach.“What do you think?Seriously?Think the boys will just relive what I went through?Think this decision is stupid and impulsive and maybe I’m just trying to piss off my dad?Tell it to me straight, Kenny.”
She twined her arms around my neck and drew my head down to hers.Was I imagining this?
Our lips touched, tentatively at first, then she increased the pressure.I let her lead, too afraid she’d stop.Until she opened for me.I had to know what she tasted like.I licked into her mouth, and she timidly met my tongue, stroking it like she was exploring.I gripped her waist, flaring my fingers to touch as much of her as possible.Lush flesh under my hands.A warm mouth on mine.
All too soon, she was pulling away, gazing at me from hooded eyes, her pupils fathomless.
“Was that to shut me up?”I asked, my voice husky.My body was rock hard from head to toe.This woman wound me up tight in all the best ways.“Was that your way of telling me it’s an awful decision?”
She pulled her red lip between white teeth.“I wanted to know what it was like to kiss you and thought celebrating you sticking around Coal Haven was a good time to find out.”
A slow grin spread across my face.I probably looked like a giddy turned-on clown.“And?How was kissing me?”
She ran her teeth across her lower lip again.“I mean, I think I need to experiment more before I know for sure, and it sounds like we’re going to get more time together.”
A soft chuckle puffed out of me.I was drawing her closer, dropping my head down, when the screen door banged.
We stepped apart.
The backs of my legs hit the bumper.“They’re waiting for a snack.”
“Later, then?”she asked, almost shyly.
“Promise.”A day I thought was ending like shit had turned out to be one I’d never forget for all the right reasons.
