Page 132 of How You See Me
Hayes laughs, full and low and completely unfair to my equilibrium. “You took Jordan with you?”
“He’d do anything for his sister. Right, little brother?”
“Probably anything but that.”
“You’d be right,” Jordan chimes in. “But she didn’t give me much choice. Can we be done now? I need a stiff drink to forget this ever happened.”
“Have one for me,” Hayes says. “It’s been a day.”
Jordan snorts. “I heard. You look like shit.”
“Thanks, buddy.”
I turn the phone toward me. “Don’t talk to my man like that. He dragged himself in here to check on me when he should be resting.”
And now that I’m paying attention . . . he’s holding the heavy bag of drinks and crackers. He must have taken it while I swooned.
I lean in and kiss his cheek—a silentthank you.
Jordan groans. “Hanging up now. Therapy isn’t cheap.”
“Byeee.”
Hayes gives me a lopsided grin, then circles an arm around my waist, steering me toward the doors. “That was worth getting out of the van for.”
“Did you really come to check on me or did you need something?”
“Just you. That’s all I need.”
Right there in the middle of the store, I stop and tug him down for a steamy kiss. He’s warm and accepting and . . . tastes of mint?
“And to also brush your teeth, huh?”
“And that.”
I laugh. “Was your bathroom just as nightmarish?”
“Oh yeah. So disgusting. No wonder you hate them.”
“Finally. Someone who understands.”
Back at the van, Hayes pulls the keys from his pocket and dangles them.
“Want to keep driving?”
“No, way. I’ve hit my daily quota for excitement already . . . unless you’re not feeling up to it.”
“I’m good. Just need some of these snacks.” He opens the passenger side door for me. “By the way, does your ‘no more excitement’ rule mean you’re skipping the horseback ride later?”
“That’s on Ava’s list, too?”
“It is. Along with a sunset over the Grand Canyon.”
Thinking of the memories we could make, waves of warm anticipation ripple through me. A sunset. Hayes. The two of us on horseback in one of the most majestic places in the country.
My adrenaline surges, though I keep it corked for later. “I think I can find some energy for that.”
Chapter 28
