Page 12 of Stealing Kisses

“Yeah, it has a cable system sewn into the edge of the cover. It’s supposed to be theft-proof, although I’ve never tried cutting through it, so that might be a marketing ploy.”

“Couldn’t someone just cut through the fabric? It looks like canvas.”

“I’m sure if there’s a will, there’s a way, but again, it’s seven layers of polypropylene and billed as the best available.”

“Will Jax be able to tow it with the cover on?”

“Yeah, and it’ll help protect Boxy while she’s on the tow truck.” Somehow, the way he called the car by name had stopped sounding ridiculous and started sounding cute.

Lord, help me.

Baylin put the truck in gear. Teddy snapped his seatbelt.

But she didn’t take her foot off the brake.

“$100 a night,” she spat.

“Okay,” he agreed.

“Fine. $200 a night,” she said, doubling her original offer.

“Done.”

“$400 a night,” she amended, challenging him. Hoping he’d sayno?

Or praying he’d sayyes?

“You drive a hard bargain,” he said with a sly smile. “But I’m good for it.”

“$500 a night,” she declared, throwing down the gauntlet. “That’s my final offer.”

“$500 a night,” he repeated, still wearing that victorious smile like a badge of honor. “It’s a deal.”

“Five hundred dollars a night,” she repeated, just to hear the words one more time. “And you sleep in the barn.”

6

It’s nice to have a crush on someone.

It feels like you’re alive, you know?

Scarlett Johansson

“With the animals?”

Baylin didn’t answer until after she’d made a U-turn and headed back in the direction of the farm, her house, and his apparent barn.

“With the pigs and the horses and the chickens?” He tried again, for clarity of the situation and such.

“You’ll survive.”

“In the winter?”

“We’re in southeast Oklahoma,” she reminded him.

“Where it’s rather chilly,” he pointed out.

“I promise you’ll be just fine,” Baylin said, teasing or cajoling. Teddy couldn’t be sure which.

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