Page 16 of Nate Hayes

“Jasmine Sunrise is flying off the shelves today,” I told Mrs. Dinwiddie as she sniffed one bar like it held the meaning of life.

“Because it smells like hope and clean laundry,” she declared, dropping it into her basket. “Now when are we going to meet that handsome SEAL who’s been sniffing around you?”

I forced a smile. “I don’t know what you’re talking about.”

“Don’t play coy, Willa Mae. This town hasn’t seen that much action since the square dance scandal of ’03.”

I was just about to change the subject when the crowd near the main path shifted.

And Ifelthim before I saw him.

That ridiculous walk—long strides, lazy confidence. Gray t-shirt, sunglasses hooked in the collar, and a smile that made my brain glitch, and my thighs twitch.

Nate.

He spotted me and didn’t slow down.

Didn’t smile. Didn’t wave.

Justwalked.

Straight through the crowd, eyes fixed on mine, as if I were the only person in the whole damn county.

My heart tried to escape through my throat.

I opened my mouth to say something—anything—

And then he kissed me.

Right there. In front ofeveryone.

One arm wrapped around my waist, the other lifting my face as his mouth claimed mine like he’d been waiting his whole life to do it.

It was warm, solid, and honest, and my knees were officially at ease. My panties were getting wet. Damn, he was so frigging hot.

The box of soap I’d been holding slipped from my hands and crashed onto his foot.

He didn’t flinch.

Didn’t evennotice.

He pulled back slowly, like he was giving me time to catch up.

Which I couldn’t. At all.

“I—what—Nate—why—?”

He grinned. “Because four days is too damn long.”

People clapped.

Someone whistled.

Pancake headbutted the corner of the booth.

I blinked up at him, my face burning. “You kissed me in front ofeveryone,” I whispered.

He stepped closer, his voice low. “Good. That way, no one’s confused about where I stand.”

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