Page 134 of Resting Beach Face
His kiss was aggressive, pressing in and demanding I open for him. I hadn’t been kissed this way since the night I’d invited him to take me without holding back.
He wasclaimingme, I realized. Showing me that no one else mattered. Showingthem,too.
I raised a hand to his face, brushing my thumb over his scruff, so damn grateful that I had a man who would make me feel like the center of his world.
“Whew! Are we interrupting something?”
Cash drew back, eyes still on mine. “I don’t know,” he said. “Are they?”
I shook my head, struck mute by the emotions clogging my throat. Cash dropped back into his seat with a satisfied smile. It was a little smug, probably one I’d have taken as arrogant when we first met. Now, I knew it was more of a promise than a brag. He wanted me to know he’d kiss me again that way anytime I wanted.
I shifted in my chair, surprised to find that I did want it quite a bit just now. I wasn’t an exhibitionist, but Cash’s devotion to me was damn inspiring.
“Good,” Danny said, dropping into one of the open seats at the table. “Because now Ireallywant to join.” He wiggled his brows and reached for Abe’s hand, tugging him down into the chair beside him. “Right, babe?”
Abe blushed as prettily as any schoolkid with a crush, but he didn’t argue.
“Isn’t he the cutest?” Danny continued, as if we were in the middle of a conversation. “He’s so shy.”
Abe sighed, but when Danny leaned in, he slung his arm over his shoulders with a tiny smile.
“So,” Cash said, “did Danny tell you the lengths he was willing to go to for your attention, Abe?”
Danny gasped dramatically. “How can you do me dirty like that, Cash? I thought we were friends!”
“I mean, I’m just making sure Abe understands what he’s getting into,” Cash teased. “You’re a handful.”
“Oh trust me, Abe knowsexactlyhow many handfuls I am.” He winked.
“Dear god,” Abe muttered.
I chuckled, taking pity on the guy. “So, how are you liking Swallow Cove now that you’ve had time to settle in?”
He cast a warm look at his spitfire boyfriend. He was continuing to speak in so much innuendo with Cash it was like the two of them had another language.
“It’s been…surprising.”
I smiled to myself. “Life can be that way.”
Abe glanced at Cash with a wry tilt to his lips. “We didn’t stand a chance, did we?”
I chuckled. “No, I don’t think we did.”
“Lucky us,” he said, fondness coating his words.
I couldn’t disagree.
By the time we left, it was fully dark, with bright stars sparkling in a velvet sky. Cash sat beside me, head tilted back as he drank in the sight. “Tonight was really great. Thanks for taking me out.”
“I’ll take you out anytime you want,” I said. “Just because I’m a homebody doesn’t mean you have to be.”
He rolled his head toward the left, smile soft and sweet. “I like being at home with you, too, you know? My job gives me plenty of social outlet with all the people I meet.”
“No kidding,” I said. “I don’t know how you do it, but you charm every guest.”
With Cash’s charisma, I could probably happily run the B&B for years to come. But of course, I’d never have that. Although, I did have Cash by my side now…
That changed things, didn’t it?
