Page 52 of The Hermit on the Hill

"And we'll be here if you need anything," Aubrey said. "Anything at all."

"Speaking of that," May said. "When's the baby shower? I want to start buying cute things for my nephew."

Jared laughed so hard he fell off the couch.

CHAPTER TWELVE

Jenna

Ifound Sam in the kitchen, trying to fit all the plates in the dishwasher.

My family had left. Even Brittany had left with Jared, claiming she was going to help him pack. I suspected something was going on with the two of them, but I'd pry it out of Jared later.

It was after nine, but it felt like it should be past midnight. I yawned and took a seat on a stool at the island to watch him as he stared down at the dishwasher like he could somehow make it bigger with the power of his mind.

"I told you we should have used paper plates."

He ignored me, put soap in the dishwasher, set it to run, and closed it.

He walked over and stopped in front of me, taking my hands in his. "Did that go the way you'd hoped?"

"Better actually. I guess I have to tell Mom about not having a job."

"You don't have to tell her anything. That's for us to worry about."

Us. I loved that he'd used that word. Loved feeling like I wasn't in this alone. It was a dangerous feeling. "I'm sorry they gave you such a hard time."

He smirked. "I deserved it. You've only seen the sweet, mushy side of me. I can be a real asshole."

"Really? I had no idea."

He snorted. "They don't have to like me."

I envied his ability not to care what other people thought of him. "I'm sorry about your grandmother. I'm sorry no one in the town helped you or her."

"It was a long time ago." He didn't meet my eyes, and he took a step back like he wanted to pull away from me. Clearly, it didn't matter how long ago it had happened. The death of his grandmother and the abandonment of the town still hurt him.

I pulled him back to me and wrapped my arms around his chest.

"What are you doing?"

"I'm hugging you. Just go with it."

"Do I seem like the kind of guy who just goes with things?"

"Come on. Just try it. You might like it."

He bent his knees, wrapped his arms around me, and hugged me back. It wasn't the first time we'd hugged, but it was the first time we'd done so because I was comforting him.

I held on tight until he relaxed against me. He smelled good, like fresh wood and pizza sauce. He felt even better. Gruff or not, the man gave great hugs.

I leaned out of the hug, but he didn't let go of me. His gaze landed on my lips and my body, so tired a moment before, woke up. I wanted the feel of his lips on mine, and my power to resist him was totally sapped.

He met me halfway. He kissed the corners of my mouth, and when he kissed the center, I opened for him. I just wanted to see if he tasted as good as I remembered.

He tasted better. Like pizza and himself.

Why was it that everything about this man felt like home to me? His smell, his taste, the sound of his laughter. I wanted to sink into him and forget all the things I should be worrying about.

---