Page 19 of Never Wed an Outlaw

He was everything I ran away from.

Just a big, handsome anchor threatening to yank me back to my roots, and that scared the ever loving crap out of me.

“Hey.” His fist banged gently on the door, practically making me jump out of my skin. “Your coffee's getting cold, darlin'. Everything okay in there?”

I held my breath and grabbed the doorknob, tugging it open. My eyebrows went up as soon as I saw him, two mugs in one hand, and dressed...mostly.

“What the hell happened to your shirt?” I said, grudgingly taking the coffee and raising it to my lips.

“Still soaked from last night. I ain't wearing a cloth with holes in it sprouting mildew the whole way home. Having this cut slung over my shoulders will have to do.”

Great. Not only did I have to hang onto him while we took the twists and turns through the mountains, I needed to cling to hisnakedabs underneath the open leather vest.

“Brought you some biscuits and gravy from the place up the street. Firefly always said you two loved 'em growing up.”

Whatever else I felt, my stomach growled, reminding me that none of this craziness was worth passing up my favorite breakfast.

We sat down on our bed, tucking into our food. This town had to be tiny, judging by the lack of infrastructure and stores glowing through the rain, but somebody here knew how to cook.

“Wow. These just might be the best I've ever had since grandma's.” Remembering her brought a smile to my lips.

“Yeah?” Dust asked, taking another huge bite of his own. “Never knew your granny could still cook when she was around. Firefly said her arthritis got real bad before she passed. Damned fine lady, I met her a couple times before I went into the Navy.”

“Oh, no, she could barely hold her hands steady enoughto measure flour by the end. But nobody could stop that woman from fixing her Sunday breakfasts. I think she would've walked over hot coals and broken glass to do it. Best square meal of the week Huck and me had, really, especially after mama couldn't work anymore.”

He nodded. “Here's to breakfast. We might have a reason to see this little town again someday.”

“We?” I asked, taking another big sip of coffee, eyeing him over my cup.

“Sure.” Dust smiled, realizing his mistake, running one hand through the salt and pepper stubble on his chin. “I don't close the door on nothing, darlin'. Maybe that's part of getting older and wiser, who the fuck knows. Truth is, I'm certain I'll be coming through these parts again with my boys when we decide to take a nice slice of Georgia for the club. Always a chance I might come back on my own someday, too, maybe with a lady at my side.”

“Won't be me. Don't get your hopes up, Dusty.” I turned my face to my food, cheeks warming, hating myself for sounding like such a bitch.

“You sure love hiding how you really feel, don't you, darlin'? Far as I'm concerned, we had ourselves a great time on this little getaway, even if I didn't find out what's underneath those bright purple panties you wore to bed.”

More wicked heat rushed straight to my face, licking my cheeks bright red. His hand cupped my shoulder, gradually winding its way down my arm, leaving me covered in goosebumps.

“Don't ever think we don't have an understanding. Iknow you want it just as bad as I do, but we've both got a hundred reasons it won't happen. It can't. Last time I'm teasing, Hannah. Let's finish up our grub and check the fuck outta here.”

Ugh. Why did I seem so disappointed that this might be the last time today, or ever?

We finished our breakfast in peace, and then I got my stuff together, following him outside. It only took a few minutes to check out before we headed to the parking lot.

It was a warm day for early summer. The humidity in the air started adding an extra curl to my naturally wavy hair in just a few seconds. One more thing I didn't need as I tucked as much as I could into my helmet, slid down on the back seat, and curled my hands around his waist.

“You good?” he asked, just before starting up the engine.

“Yeah, Dusty. For real.”

Like hell I am.I lied through my teeth for about the tenth time since we'd gotten together last night, but it wasn't like I had another option.

We took off into the high mid-day sun, relishing the shade from the trees along the winding roads. Didn't even stop for gas the whole way to the Smokies, his engine purring a reassuring white noise that nearly put me in a trance.

Honestly, I welcomed it. Needed something to forget about his warm skin against my fingertips, slabs of rock hard muscle more built than most men half his age. With a few more years on him, he could've been my father, or at least a solid stand in for my big brother.

Didn't matter whatsoever. My heart craved what it liked, and that desire sizzled every time we took the winding exits or climbed the elevation home, pushing my hands just a little more firmly into his immaculate flesh.

He was a bastard, a killer, a beast from a world I only understood because Dom dragged me into it. None of it stopped me from wanting him, and that steady, constant attraction turned me into a sticky summer mess by the time we were on Knoxville's streets.

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