Page 55 of Small Town Firsts

Oh, how I wish it were that simple. Because yes, while Taylor is a jackass, his words have a certain truth to them.

"Or are you running away because you think it matters to me that you didn't finish high school?"

"I'm not running away, I'm just going?—"

Cash stops my words with a finger to my lips. "Shh, you're not going anywhere."

He slides the straps of my bag back down my arm, dropping it at our feet before pulling me to him.

“Why’d you drop out, Myla?” Even though his tone is soft, the question sets me on edge.

“My Grams. She got really sick when I was in high school and needed more care than what her insurance covered.” I suck in a deep breath through my teeth. “So, I dropped out just before I turned seventeen to help take care of her.”

Cash steps closer to me, so close that I can almost feel him. “Darlin’, I want you to listen to me. Not too many people would do what you did, and I don't care what that entitled little prick says. You're something special, and if he was too dumb to see it, that's his problem."

I shake my head, causing my nose to brush his chest. "You're wrong. I'm not worth it, Cash. I have nothing to offer you except another man's baby and a metric ton of baggage."

"That's not true." He tilts my face up to his. "You have your heart, darlin', and that's more than enough."

His voice is adamant, and his eyes are firm. He means what he says. This man . . . this man thinks my heart is enough. He thinks my heart is worth my baggage.

He leans down, pressing his lips to mine, and I can taste the salt on his skin from the water. He nips at my bottom lip, and I love it.

"Uncle Cash, why're you kissing Princess Myla if she's not your girlfriend?"

Pulling back from him, I smile. "Guess the twins are up?"

"Sounds like it." He smiles right back. I could get lost in those eyes and that smile. One look, and this man melts me without even trying.

"Uncle Caaaaash . . ." Preston and Lucas whine simultaneously. I almost wonder if they sit around and plan this stuff.

"Ah. Well, boys. Sometimes, when two grown?—"

I smack my hand over his mouth, "Hush. P, Lou, your Uncle Cash kissed me because he likes me and because he wanted to. Grown-up perks. Simple as that."

"Perks? What you mean, perks?" Preston squinches up his little nose while his brother leans in a little closer, like he's about to learn the secrets to the universe.

"Perks. Like, it's the upside. The good parts."

Lucas makes a gagging sound. "If kissing girls is a perk, then I don't wanna grow up."

"Yeah, girls have cooties."

Cash and I are both doubled over, gasping out our laughter. These boys are too much. I wonder if my little man will be as funny as Preston and Lucas?

"What else do you have planned for this weekend?" I ask Cash as we all make the trek through the sand toward the parking lot.

"Not really sure. What I do know is you should join us for dinner."

His invitation to have dinner with them has my heart swooping low into my belly. I guess he isn't ready for our time together to end, and that makes two of us.

"That sounds amazing, as long as P and Lou don't mind." I turn to face the twins. "Is that okay with y'all?"

"Can we have pizza?" Preston asks with all the seriousness a six-year-old boy can muster.

"Well, of course. Pizza is my favorite." Preston and Lucas slap their hands together in a double high-five.

"You wanna follow me back to my place?" Cash asks as he hefts my beach bag into the backseat of the Land Cruiser.

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