Page 15 of Sassy Pants

“Why?”

“Because I want to know.”

“But why do you want to know?”

“I have an errand to run and want to know how much time I have before I need to pick you up once I drop you off at your brother’s.”

“I can catch a ride with Jelissa.”

I shoot Chaser a look and he grins. “Actually, honey, don’t we have to go by the bank to do that thing?”

“What thing?”

“You know the thing.”

“Oh…” she finally catches on. “Right the thing yeah. Sorry, G, you’re gonna have to go with Stud here.”

Gianna covers Erik’s ears. “Oh for fuck’s sake. Not you too.” She glares at her sister-in-law.

“You need anything out of your car, babe?”

She glares at me then answers, “My purse.”

“Let’s roll.” I grab the kid and plop him in Chaser’s lap.

Chapter 8

Gianna

“Thanks for the lift.” I lean across the seat of the truck and give Stud a kiss on the cheek. I keep telling myself I need to stay away but there’s something about his whole cocky macho alpha thing he’s got going on. He makes it work. Any other man talked to me the way he does, I’d probably tell them to get lost, but he owns it and its sexy.

“I’ll swing back by to take you to work around three. I gotta go talk to a man about a kitchen.”

“I told you. I’m a terrible cook.”

“We’ll see, princess.”

“You want me to cook for you, you’d better stop calling me princess.”

“All right, sassy pants.”

“Ugh.” I don’t know which is worse. Though part of me secretly enjoys the way his eyes light up and he smiles when he uses sassy pants on me. I won’t admit it to him though.

“Later, baby.”

I shake my head and exit the truck. This man. Meeting Stud is unexpected, but he seems easy and uncomplicated. A bit bossy, but I find it attractive that he says what he’s thinking and feeling without holding back.

I get on the porch and start digging out my house key when I’m spun around and Stud is pushing me up against the door. “You’re forgetting something.”

“What’s that?” I manage to croak out even though my breath is caught in my throat.

“This.” His head dips and those skillful lips dominate mine, stealing what little breath I hadleft. When he’s done, he doesn’t say anything. Only giving me this look that says, ‘you’re mine.’ And right now, I so want to be his. I want to tell him to forget the kitchen and take me to bed, but I hardly know the guy. Except for some reason it feels so much longer than hours. Like part of me has always belonged to him. Maybe I drank too much moonshine. Because these thoughts and emotions are crazy. So crazy I must still be drunk.

Stud leaves for real this time, and I am in desperate need of a shower. By the time I’m out and dressed, Jelissa and my brother are back. He’s gone to bed and she’s starting the laundry I meant to do when I got in.

“So you and Stud, huh?”

I grab half the pile of towels and start folding. “Maybe.” I raise my shoulder slightly. “I do like him.”

---