Page 39 of How You See Me
“Sleep well?” he asks, not looking at me.
“Like a baby thanks to the comfy mattress. I’m scared to ask you.”
“It was fine.” He hands me a full plate—scrambled eggs, two slices of perfectly cooked bacon, and a biscuit.
My stomach growls in gratitude. “It smells amazing. Where did you get all this?”
“The barn where we checked in is also a convenience store. It had all the essentials.”
“Bacon and eggs are essentials?”
“In my world, yes. Protein is good for you.”
I take a bite of bacon and let the smokey flavor seep into my tongue. “Not bad, Sergeant.”
His eyes roll at my intentional use of the wrong title.
“Seriously. Thank you for this and for staying with me last night . . . in the bathroom. You didn’t have to. You could have told me to deal.”
“I’d never tell you that,” he quips, looking like he rather talk about any other topic.
I put him out of his misery as he does the same to the fire. “I’m excited for today. Will you ride a rollercoaster with me?” I point the fork at him. “Not one of the tall,loopy ones that make you come out of your seat. I’m sure those are the kind Marines like.”
“I don’t think I’ll fit in a kiddie coaster.”
“Ha. Maybe there will be something adult-ish but straighter.”
“Rollercoasters, by definition, aren’t straight. It’s in the name.”
“Fine. Something less loopy, then.”
He checks the time. “The park opens in an hour. Can you be ready to go in thirty?”
“Sure.”
“After you eat.”
“Yes, sir.” I shove a heaping helping of eggs into my mouth to make him happy. “So good.” I’m teasing, but this really is the best breakfast I’ve had in a while. Dry toast and cereal are my usual go-tos and not exactly filling or healthy.
“Not funny. I’ll clean up, then take you to the bathroom.”
“Aww. Look at you. I didn’t even have to ask.”
“I’m easily trained.”
“Like a puppy."
He frowns at the joke, his preferred grumpy facade gliding back into place like a mask. He may not want me to think there’s anything puppy-like about him, but his tender side adds too many contradictions. That side knocks me off balance and makes all sorts of bad ideas, like grabbing his stupidly handsome face and kissing him senseless, sound like good ideas.
That’s why I’m not the least bit upset about K9 Hayes making a reappearance. That hardened version of him is safe, predictable. And what I'm starting to feel toward him is nowhere near those two things.
Chapter 9
Hayes
Josie and her tiny outfits are going to be the death of me. Thankfully, I passed out last night. If I’d known she was stripping out of those bulky sweats and into that thin pajama set within reach, I don’t think I’d be standing here right now. Pretty sure my heart would’ve given out.
Touching her again had been game-changing enough. Like putting my hands into a fire. I can still feel the sting this morning—phantom burns I’ll carry for days. And her skin is another sinful flame cloaked in satin.
