Page 78 of All I Need (Hearts of the South)
Damn, he’d missed this.
Walker slanted a smirk in his direction. “You’re enjoying the hell out of this.”
“I am.” Emmett tapped a finger against the windowsill. “Just waiting for something to happen.”
“Ah, man, don’t wish that on us.”
Emmett grinned. “You know you’re waiting on it, too.”
“Well, yeah, but you’re not supposed to say it out loud.”
“Yeah, but when you’ve lived without something you love for months, you’ll take it any way you can get it.”
Walker’s gaze flickered up to the photo on his visor. “I know.”
Chapter Fifteen
From her seat on the bench in front of Sundries, Savannah watched Emmett walk from his truck to join her. The hat and sunglasses were gone, and late-afternoon sunlight glimmered off his badge and collar brass. But dear God, that stride. A slow smile crept over her face, and she rose to take his outstretched hand. “I really like you in that uniform.”
A wicked glint lit his eyes. “Does that mean you’re going to try to get me out of it later?”
“Most definitely.” Somehow, their casually linked hands and the decorous distance he kept between them only made the whole situation hotter. She slid her palm along his. “How was your day?”
“Amazing.” He released her to open the door and usher her before him into the warehouse-like space crowded with new and reclaimed furniture, an eclectic blend of styles and antiques. “I’ve worked a theft by deception, a suspicious person, two entering autos, and an animal-at-large call.”
“Sounds fascinating.”
“After the last year? It’s like getting tickets to the SEC Championship Game.”
“Emmett! Hey! It is so good to see you in here.” The young blonde salesperson could not possibly be any perkier. Skinny jeans tucked into brown riding boots hugged her thighs beneath a chunky tunic sweater, topped with an infinity scarf. She wrapped a quick, enthusiastic hug around his neck then stuck out her hand to Savannah. “I’m Libby.”
“Savannah.”
Libby sifted one hand through her silky straight hair. “What can I help y’all with?”
Emmett rested his hands above his gun belt. “I’m leasing a new place, and I kind of need to do some furnishing.”
“I’ve seen your furniture, and yes, you do.” The phone rang behind her, and she grimaced. “Let me grab that real quick while you look around.”
She sashayed away, and Emmett passed a hand over his hair. “See anything you like?”
“Is there a woman in this town you haven’t dated?”
“A couple.” He flashed a grin at her. “Quit looking at me like that. You don’t have any reason to worry.”
“Oh, I’m not worried.”
“Savannah, focus.” His hand at the small of her back, he steered her deeper into the building. “What do you like? Is there anything at your place you want to keep?”
He thought he was so slick. She brushed his arm away. “Stop assuming I’m going to live in this house with you.”
“I’m not assuming anything.” He lowered his head, voice near her ear. “Are you going to honestly stand there and say when I move out to the house, you’re going to stay in that apartment alone? I’ve been in your bed or you’ve been in mine every night for almost two weeks. My stuff is in your closet, and you’re going to kick up a fuss now because the location is changing and you don’t want to admit we’re basically already living together.”
She narrowed her eyes. “I can’t give you an inch, can I?”
“If it makes you feel better, we can say we’re doing today by maybe thinking about what tomorrow looks like.” He gestured around them. “What do you want to keep and what do we need to buy?”
“Living and bedroom furniture.” What was she saying? “I’m keeping my grandmother’s dining set. The other stuff in my apartment is rental items.”
