Page 48 of Salvation

His eyes rose to the deck on the second floor. Whatever happened, he needed Anna to know he cared about her, too. He tapped his fingers against his thigh. Laying the Astroturf had been step one of a bigger plan. It was time for step two.

And step three,his bear murmured, adding a dozen new ideas to the plan.And four and five and six.

He hesitated, but his bear was adamant.Come on. Go get her. What do we have to lose?

How about the last remaining bit of his pride? The last vestiges of honor? The tiny kernel of hope she’d planted in his heart?

You saying she’s not worth it?his bear goaded.

He growled under his breath. He’d risk anything for her.

Then do it. Hurry up already.

Two seconds later, he was heading for the back door of the café.

Chapter Twelve

Anna had skipped coffee that morning, because she was already running on an energy kick of the very best kind. Even the hours she spent on her feet waitressing didn’t wipe the stupid grin off her face.

She hadn’t actually walked into the café that morning announcing,Wow, what a night,but she knew it had to be written all over her face. The others were kind enough not to say anything, although she did catch the occasional knowing smile.

Yep. I did it,she wanted to say.I finally slept with the man I’ve been obsessing about.

Of course, having spent the night with Todd only made her obsess even more, because she was dying to see him again. To make an excuse to cross paths with him and maybe sneak in a secret kiss.

Or two. Or three. Or ten.

She almost wished someone would come out and ask her about her night so she could say it out loud. Something like,Yes, I really did strip naked on the deck last night. Yes, it was incredible. And yes, he’s as sweet and generous a lover as I thought he would be.

Nobody asked, so she didn’t get to sing Todd’s praises, but she did hum as she moved.

You know what the best part was?She cued her imaginary audience to ask and immediately filled in the answer.This morning.

She’d been snoozing in that deeply satisfied state only a woman who’d orgasmed multiple times in a few short hours could. She barely stirred when Todd woke, but she still remembered it all. He’d kissed her on the forehead and murmured something she didn’t quite catch, though it made her grin. He stood at the doorway watching her for a long time before he left, and though she hadn’t been able to keep her eyes open the whole time, she could feel him there. Watching. Protecting. Dreaming of what might be.

God, she wanted more mornings like that. Mornings that spelled out the definition ofserene. The peace and quiet stayed with her even when the café bustled with action. Some customers were worried, others just hurried. She wanted to laugh and tell them to slow down.

“Can I get a refill, please?” a customer asked, prodding her back into action.

“I got it,” Janna said, already coming her way with a steaming pot of coffee. “Can you get that?”

The phone in the back of the café was ringing, and she grabbed it after the fourth or fifth ring.

“Quarter Moon Café. Hello?”

Too late, it seemed. The line went dead.

She was just turning back to the café when the back door opened. A bolt of sunlight streamed into the kitchen, backlighting a man.

Her heart leaped. Actually, her legs did, too, and before she could think, she’d dashed across the kitchen, into Todd’s arms, and straight into a kiss.

A kiss that was a taste of heaven, what with the golden light filling the space around him and around her soul.

“Hey,” she whispered when she finally mustered enough control to pull back an inch. She meant to pull back a whole foot to a more chaste position, but that much control was a little too much to ask for just then.

“Hey,” he whispered. A tiny smile played around his lips, but his eyes were worried. Why?

“You good?” She tilted her head to one side, studying his face.

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