Page 40 of Some Like It Hops

Griffin frowns. “That’s not…” He sighs. “Yeah, I guess I do. If it has a price tag…”

“And if it doesn’t?”

A slow smile spreads over his face. “Then it’s probably the sexiest, most frustrating woman I’ve ever met.”

I flash a grin.

“And I’m going to fall in love with her before she even decides if she likes me.”

I swallow hard, blinking as his words soak in.

Griffin whistles as he opens the passenger side door, and Pops comes running, flying past me before Griffin can even get out of the way. He hops right up into the passenger seat and stares straight ahead, ready to go.

Griffin points to the backseat. “Get in the back, buddy.”

I put my hand over my mouth to cover my laughter.

“Come on.” Griffin motions to the backseat more dramatically. “Get in the back.” He waits. “Pops. In the back, buddy.”

Pops just stares straight ahead as if he doesn’t hear a thing.

Griffin looks back at me for help.

“You must not have heard him call shotgun.” I giggle, then walk to the driver’s side. “I’ll sit in the back.”

“Charlie, come on. It’s tiny back there.”

“I could take my truck.” I motion toward Pops. “Let you and your date have some alone time.”

Griffin closes the passenger door and strides toward me. “That won’t be necessary. But before you climb in…”

I pause, turning toward him in time to get pressed up against the car, the weight of his body pushing firmly against me. He slides his hand behind my neck and looks into my eyes, then licks his lips and brings his mouth to mine.

I relax into his kiss, letting his mouth ease the tension in my body, his tongue push the negative thoughts from my mind. All too soon, he pulls away, searching my gaze, then takes one step back to give me space so I can climb into the car.

Once I’m settled, he pushes the seat back and hops into the driver’s side, meeting my gaze in the rearview mirror, his green eyes smoldering.

“We’re going to finish that later, right?”

He swivels his head to look back at me over his shoulder. “Charlie, it’s taking everything in me not to finish that right fucking now.” He takes a deep breath, then looks at Pops, who still just stares straight ahead, waiting patiently for his car ride to start.

I giggle in the backseat.

Griffin’s eyes flick up to meet mine in the rearview. “You’re enjoying this.”

“Oh,immensely.”

Chapter Twenty-Two

Charlie

The sun is setting when we exit the freeway, my favorite time of day. There’s a bright orange glow backlighting the sky from behind the mountain range. Griffin pulls up to the brewery and my heart stutters in my chest. The parking lot is packed, and though seeing all those cars should offer me some relief from the negative thoughts I’ve been grappling with all day—look at all those customers!—seeing them only sends my mind into a deeper tailspin.

Because, look at all those customers…

All of them could potentially hate me.

“Where should I park?” Griffin asks. “You want me to drop you two off—”

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