Page 90 of They Are Mine

She tucks her little pink bag between us, folds her hands on top of it, and tilts her head. “Where are we going?”

I should have a plan. I don’t.

But when I look at her, golden hair catching the glow of the streetlights, I want to take her somewhere quiet.

Somewhere I can figure out what the hell I’m doing.

“Thought we’d drive out past the ridge,” I say, shifting into reverse. “Eat cupcakes. Look at the stars.”

She smiles. Slow. Sweet. “That sounds perfect.”

And fuck, so does she.

I ease us out of the lot, rolling onto the highway, keeping one hand loose on the wheel.

Juliet is quiet for the first few miles, watching the dark landscape pass outside the window. But I feel her looking at me, little flickers of attention, her gaze dragging over my arms, my hands, the slow shift of my fingers against the gear shift.

It should make me cocky.

Instead, it makes my pulse kick up.

This girl, this soft, sweet, way-too-damn-pretty girl, is looking at me like I’m something worth watching.

Like she’s learning me.

I clear my throat. “So, uh… what’s your deal?”

Her lips twitch, like she expected that question. “My deal?”

“Yeah. You just… show up at the gym with cupcakes, wander around campus needing security to walk you to your car…” I slide her a look. “You’re kind of an enigma, sweetheart.”

She giggles. Fucking giggles.

Like I’m cute.

Like I’m the one who should be worried about her.

“I just like making people happy,” she says. “And it’s so easy with men. A little sugar, a little softness, and you’re all putty.”

I should be insulted. I’m not.

Because she is sugar. She is soft. And yeah, maybe I am putty.

At least where she’s concerned.

I don’t respond. Just shake my head, fighting a smile as I make the turn onto the old ridge road.

She hums. “So, what’s your deal?”

I blow out a breath, adjusting my grip on the wheel. “What do you want to know?”

She doesn’t hesitate. “Everything.”

Fuck.

I don’t answer right away.

Not because I don’t want to tell her.

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