Page 30 of Hold the Line

“You have.” He almost smiled. “I’d be out on my ass if you were through with me.”

“That’s right.” I rubbed my lips together as little butterflies attempted to fly up my throat. “You know, you’re welcome to knock on my door too.”

“I don’t have anything to offer. No baked goods or delicious dinners.”

“Your company is all I need.”

He inclined his chin. “That, I’ll be happy to give any time you want it.”

Silence descended as our eyes locked. Part of me wanted to crawl across the cushions and plant myself in his lap so I could kiss his mouth, while the other part was content to stare at him from a cushion away. That part won. My pulse fluttered, and my stomach swooped dangerously. I sucked in shallow, sharp breaths, getting whiffs of his soap and spice. Deacon was still and steady, drawing his eyes along my face.

Then I screwed it all up by yawning. Big and obvious, there was no stopping it once it started. I was tired. Not so tired I wanted to stop whatever this moment was, but Deacon took it as his cue to leave.

“You must’ve gotten up early. I’ll let you get some rest.” He climbed to his feet and twisted his body left and right to stretch. The bottom of his T-shirt lifted to show a sliver of skin and a peek of tattoos on his abdomen, and my mouth went dry.

Oh, this man…

He truly had no idea how devastatingly beautiful he was to me. When had I ever thought of another man this way?

Refusing to answer myself, I grabbed the rest of the blondies and stood. “You have to take these with you.”

He patted his stomach. “Don’t think I ate enough?”

I had to bite back a smirk. He’d eaten a lot, but I bet he’d eat the rest when he went home. “I don’t. Take them, please.”

“I won’t turn you down.” He slipped the box from my hands, our fingers brushing. “Thank you, Phoebe. I had a good night.”

“I did too.” I opened my door and leaned against the side. “I’ll see you around, Deacon.”

He took a step back, then hesitated, rubbing his knuckles against the wood frame. “Do you ever get off work around four?”

“I can. If I have a reason to.” Camille and Hailey could close just fine without me.

He shifted back and forth between his feet. “I’m heading to Laramie this week to get a couple tattoos touched up. Think you might want to come with me? I’ll treat you to dinner afterward.”

I did not hesitate. “Yeah, I’d love that.”

His shoulders dropped a fraction like he’d been bracing for a different answer. "Good." He rubbed a hand down the side of his jeans, his eyes darting away before finding me again. "Wednesday work?"

“It works great.” I dug my teeth into my bottom lip to stop from grinning. I got the impression Deacon was nervous and as surprising as that was to realize, I thought it was sweet. “I’m looking forward to it. I can’t say I’ve ever been to a tattoo shop.”

“I don’t guess you have.” He gave me a quick once-over. “You’d look good with some ink. You decide you want something; my guy’s talented.”

“I’ll think about it.”

“Okay.” He retreated from my doorway, but his eyes were still locked on me. “Pick you up at the shop?”

“I’ll be there with bells on.”

His mouth curved—just a little. “Night, Phoebe.”

“Good night, Deke.”

I closed the door, pressed my back against it, and sucked in a sharp breath.

Oh, my muffins.

Did that just happen?

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