Page 61 of Cherry Picked
“Going around inspiring people again, Hawkins?” a familiar, teasing voice said in my ear.
I turned to see Jack with a soft smile and eyes seemingly only for me. My heart fluttered, wild as a trapped hummingbird. “Hey. Hi. Hey.”
My face ignited. “Hey,” I said again as if that would erase the previous three attempts.
His smile widened. “Hey.”
Crys looked back and forth between us and shook her head. “What is happening right now?”
Jack reached out and ran his fingers through the back of my hair, cupping my head and leaning in to press a kiss on my cheek. My heart beat so fast I thought I might slide to the ground in a dead—but hopefully graceful—faint. “Hey,” he whispered into my skin.
“Yeah,” I breathed. “Heyyyyyy.”
Crys snickered. “Tell me you’re in the honeymoon phase without telling me you’re in the honeymoon phase,” she said to no one in particular.
“Crys,” Jack said dryly, his gaze flicking to her. “Enjoying your first Pye Day Potluck?”
“I’m trying to figure out my battle strategy here,” she admitted. “Do I attack the savory foods first and then the sweets? Or kill off the sweets first since they’re likely to go faster and I refuse to live at the mercy of anyone else’s stomach?”
Jack and I exchanged an amused look.
“Machiavelli would tell you to find an ally first,” I said gravely. “Divide and conquer.”
Crys narrowed her eyes in thought. “Good call, boo. I see other-Chris over there. Imma force him to join an alliance with me.” She nodded once, then saluted me. “See you on the other side.”
“She terrifies me,” Jack murmured, sliding his hand into mine and holding it firmly as we walked toward Darren Pascal’s barbecue table.
“Honestly, same. But sometimes a little terror is a good thing.”Take, for example, the terror I feel at finally holding your hand in public, I thought to myself.
Jack’s smile said he knew exactly what I was thinking, though, and the answering tenderness on his face warmed my stomach way more than the single bite of Darren’s smoked chicken sliders I managed to choke down.
If Jack was feeling any kind of way about the curious looks and beaming smiles people gave us as we wandered the town common, checking out the delicious food with our hands linked together, he didn’t show it. And when we rocked up to Knox’s table to get an order of corn ribs, Jack’s hand retained a firm grasp on mine.
Gage’s gaze landed on our joined hands, and he gave Jack a teasing smile. “So, I guess this means poor Joey Kincaid’s not going to get another model for his shibari photography?”
“Goodman,” Knox warned, shaking his head in amusement.
I shot Jack a confused glance.
“No,” Jack told Gage shortly. “Definitelynot.”
“Probably best that I never talked to him, then, hmm?” Gage said happily. He gave me a wink. “Really thrilled for you two.” He hip-bumped Knox. “We both are.”
“The whole family is,” Knox said firmly. “Or will be, once they hear about it.”
Jack didn’t seem quite so sure, but he simply nodded and slid his hand around my waist, like their approval of our relationship wasn’t going to change his mind either way… which was possibly the hottest thing he’d ever done in a lifetime of incredibly hot things.
As we strolled away, his hand tightened around me, and I couldn’t help wondering what it would feel like on other parts of my body. What was Jack Wyatt like in bed? Ademonlike Smug Peter claimed? Or gentle, the way he usually was with me? Bossy? Sweet? Aggressive? Playful? Loving?
I was like a kid on Christmas morning, waiting to unwrap my present and see what I’d gotten, but in my dreams, I’d enjoyed every possible incarnation of our lovemaking, and I had no doubt the reality would be just as amazing.
“Omigod! Hawkins Sunday!” Gracie Hubbard squealed. She waved at me eagerly before racing over.
I shot Jack a bemused look. Gracie was one of Emma’s friends, and I’d known her for a billion years, but she was six years younger than me, and we weren’t particularly close.
“Hey, Gracie,” I said as she rocked to a stop in front of me.
“Hi!” She beamed. “I’msohappy that you made it back safely and didn’t have to, like, burn all your money or whatever.” Her eyes widened. “Wait, did you?”
