Page 64 of Small Town Firsts

Yeah, this is exactly the kind of dream I like. One where my man is the star. And I swear, I hear his voice calling my name.

It’s not until I feel a warm, rough hand shaking my shoulder that I realize I’m not dreaming. Cash is here.

Cash is here! I whip my head up, almost knocking it on his. “Easy there, darlin’. Don’t want you getting hurt.”

“What are you doing here?” My eyes widen as I hear how incredibly rude I sounded. “I mean, not that I don’t want you here. I’m just surprised. Very pleasantly, though.”

“You told me how busy you were today, and I wanted to make sure you ate, so I stopped and grabbed a few slices of pizza from Rocco’s. That suit you, darlin’?” My belly grumbles loudly in response. “Guess that’s a yes, then.”

Cash pulls up a chair right next to mine, so close that I can feel the heat of his body. That man seems to run hot, but you won’t ever hear me complain.

I dig into the pizza, taking one huge bite after another, and like he can read my mind, Cash is there, holding out a bottle of water right when I need it. “Seriously, Cash, thank you so much. I wouldn’t have eaten until dinner?—”

He cuts me off. “No. That’s not okay, Myla Rose.” His stern tone takes me by surprise.

“No? Excuse me, but what?”

I know he can see the fire in my eyes. After Taylor, I’m done with men telling me what to do. “Take a breath, darlin’. All I’m saying is you need to look out for yourself. You need to eat three meals and then some. Keep you and that baby fed. I’ll bring you lunch every damn day if that’s what it takes.”

I look down to hide my smile.This man. “You’re too good to me,” I tell him honestly.

“I’m nowhere near good enough, but I’m sure as shit gonna try, darlin’. I know it’s fast, but you mean everything to me. I’m falling—know that.”

Instead of responding, I push my chair back from the table. Cash’s stormy eyes are clouded with confusion, but they quickly clear when I close and lock the door. “You can’t say things like that if you don’t mean them,” I tell him as I straddle his lap.

“I mean every word I say to you . . . ever.”

With my arms looped around his neck, I roll my hips and whisper in his ear, “I’m falling too.” He brings my lips to his, and his hands fall to my hips, gripping them to guide my movements, rocking me against him until I’m shaking—gasping—panting.

“You are so goddamn beautiful when you fall apart,” he tells me as he brushes my hair out of my face. “So beautiful.”

“What . . . what about you?” I ask, gesturing to the bulge in his jeans.

“Don’t worry about me, darlin’. That was all about you.”

“Well, hell. This was the best lunch break I’ve ever had.” Lunch break? Lunch break! Oh, Lord have mercy. I just got off at work. I’m going straight to hell. But damn, was it worth it.

“Glad to be of service.” He winks and gathers up our trash. “Call me when you get home, ‘kay?”

“You know I will, b–babe.”

His eyes widen at the endearment but quickly soften. “I like that, darlin’.” With a quick press of his lips to my forehead, he’s out the door and on his way.

Once I make sure my hair is not a bird’s nest, I cautiously open the dispensary door, only to come face-to-face with an incredibly curious Azalea. “Okay, sister-girl, wanna explain that glow you’re rocking?” She steps forward, urging us both back into the dispensary.

“Well, you know what they say—pregnant women glow.”

“Hmm. Wanna tell me why your man just walked outta here, looking like the king of the world while humming a little tune?”

I can’t help the smile that takes over my face at the picture she’s painting. I can just see him—a spring in his step and a smug grin. “Couldn’t tell you.”

“Oh, you most certainly can, and you will. Because if you leave me to piece this together on my own, I can only assume you just had some mid-morning delight . . . AT WORK!”

With wide eyes, I slap a hand over her mouth just as Seraphine steps into the room. “Azalea Josephine, you hush up.”

“Hush up about what?” Seraphine asks.

“Oh, Myles here just hooked up at work. Oh, Jesus! Did you Lysol?”

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