Page 66 of The Sweetest Devotion

All I could do was smile as we got back into his truck and buckled in. Keith handed me the food and I felt a jolt of energy straight to my heart when his skin brushed against mine.

If he felt it to, he didn’t let it show as he focused on starting up the Tahoe and pulling out of his spot.

I couldn’t wait to get home and talk to Jadyn. She would be all for this latest escapade of ours. Really, I had no idea what had gotten into me.

Keith parked a couple of spots away from my Lexus when we made it back to Rod’s Repair.

I gathered my bag of food and left Keith’s bag on the seat before getting out of the truck. Keith got out as well. Ever the gentleman, he walked with me over to my car, making sure the coast was clear at the shop.

“Well, guess I’ll see you next time,” I said as I went and placed my bag on the back seat floor.

Keith appeared quizzical. “Where you think you goin’?”

“Home?” I said, confused.

He angled his head. “You got something to do?”

“No…?”

He gestured with his head back toward his Tahoe. “Come back to my spot with me. We can chill.”

“Chill” as in, hanging out casually.

“Isn’t that against the rules?” I challenged.

Keith advanced on me. “You and my uncle decided to disrupt my workday, so I’ve got the time.”

“And what do you do for fun?” I took a step back, and he took a step forward. It was like a dance.

“Work,” he countered. “Occasionally I volunteer at the community center.”

Aww.

“To steer kids down a different path than you took?” I guessed.

Keith nodded solemnly, as if ashamed of his past.

That touched my heart, and halted my retreat. Keith took a hold of me, pulling my body into his. “Besides, maybe I don’t want to see you go just yet.”

“No?” Being jobless, I had an open schedule most people would envy. The luxury to do whatever I wanted, whenever I wanted. These days, post engagement, I preferred sulking in my penthouse. And even that was becoming more depressing, because I didn’t even know if I would live there come next year. If Cain was movingin, or if I was movingout.

I blocked all that out as I focused on the man in front of me, the man holding me to him.

“I still got the brownies,” he said, attempting to convince me.

It worked like a charm as I lit up. Without even thinking, I jumped on him, going and wrapping my legs around his waist. Keith caught me effortlessly, not even flinching with my added weight. “You bought the brownies?”

He chuckled. “You wanted them.”

It was a simple request, one he’d obliged.

“Maybe I want you to kiss me now,” I said as I locked my arms around his neck.

Keith shook his head. “Bad idea.”

It was. But like a pyromaniac, I was growing to be completely in love with playing with fire. “Why?”

He leaned close, his forehead against mine. “Because I’m afraid once I start, I’ll never stop.”

---