Page 91 of Small Town, Big Storm
“Baby, look at me.”
I don’t even realize I’ve averted my gaze, that I’m staring out at the water, avoiding his stormy gray eyes.
“We should eat,” I say.“Holly?—”
“Gets out at three, right?”he says.
I nod.
“So we have time.”He cups my face, tilts it up so I’m either forced to close my eyes or look at him.“You’re broken, baby?”he asks so gently it nearly makes my knees buckle.
And as I stand here in his arms, my gaze locked with his, my heart and body aching for so much more…
I have no hope of ignoring the question.
But that doesn’t mean I’m going to answer it truthfully.
“Ignore me,” I say.“I’m just emotional at the possibility of eating Molly’s.”I slap a smile on my lips, nod at the cooler.“That’s what you brought, right?”The last is eager, and it makes his eyes warm.
“I brought Molly’s,” he confirms, shifting his hold on my face, sliding his slightly roughened palms down the outside of my throat, resting them lightly on the tops of my shoulders, his thumbs brushing along the edges of my collarbones.“And Scoops,” he adds.“Rocky road.”
I light up, a real smile gracing my lips this time.
He touches my nose, his own mouth curving.“For the record, I think your body is fucking beautiful, baby.”
My lungs hitch and I nibble at my bottom lip.“Yours too,” I whisper.
“What’s that?”
“You’re gorgeous—” I narrow my eyes when I see the mischief in his.I smack his chest.“You heard me.”
“I heard that you like my body, Poppyseed.”
The nickname washes over me…and it’s chased rapidly on its heels by relief.
Because he drops his hands, guides me toward the blanket.
He’s going to let my slip of the tongue go.
“I’m glad you do,” he says, nudging me down onto it.“Considering how many hours I spent in the gym to get it.”
“Really?”I ask.
He nods.
“Do you like it?”
“Working out?”
“Yeah.”
“I—” He pauses for a moment.Then snags the cooler, comes back over.“I guess I do.”
I wonder why he sounds almost surprised.
But I don’t get the chance to question him about it.
He opens the lid of the cooler, passes me?—
