Page 39 of Make Me Whole
Not looking at her was impossible. The amazement in her tone was written all over her make-up free face. I smiled as I wondered whether she realized how beautiful she was without even trying.
The freckles on her nose were more pronounced courtesy of all her time in the sun. More than once I'd found myself pondering where else she had them. She had these impossibly thick lashes; so dark they made the green in her eyes pop. And don't even get me started on her luscious lips and all the places I'd fantasized about having them.
"Shouldn't you be concentrating on the road?" I snapped out of my daze and found her giving me a sideways glance.
Shifting in my seat, I turned my attention to where it was supposed to be. "I should," I finally agreed. "But I got distracted."
The softest laugh filled the air, and I was helpless to stop my own mouth from curving upward. "You never did tell me how your shopping trip with the girls went."
"It was good." Out of the corner of my eye, I noticed how she pushed her hair behind her ear. "Better than I thought it would be." She went on to tell me all about her day. I swear, the more she spoke, the more she lit up. And for whatever reason, that had a warm feeling spreading through my chest.
As her story reached its end, we turned into the marketplace's parking lot. I cut the engine but instead of getting out, I shifted in my seat so I could face her. "I'm glad you had fun, Hailey."
That red tinge was back. I quickly realized that seeing her blush was becoming one of my favorite things.
"I've been having a lot of that lately…fun." The last word came out as a whisper almost as if she couldn't believe she was saying it. That gnawing need to know her deepest secrets was back. It was all I could do not to surge forward and kiss her until she divulged every single one of them.
Deciding it was safer, I hopped out of the truck and headed to the back. Jeremy joined me a second later; offering to help me carry the crates to our usual stall. Every few seconds, I'd catch him giving Hailey an appreciative glance. Hell, I could hardly blame the man because she looked all kinds of hot in the off-the-shoulder white dress and cowgirl boots.
But shit, I didn't have to bear witness to the jackass undressing her with his eyes. I smacked my palm against his shoulder a little harder than what was deemed polite. "Thanks for the help, man, but I think we're all good."
Like a man who couldn't help himself, his eyes drifted to where she was stacking the jam jars on top of each other. "You're sure? I don't mind staying and helping out today."
I bet you don't. My grip on his shoulder tightened. "Nah. Like I said, we're good." I pinned him with a stare until his head slowly bobbed up and down in understanding.
When I released my hold on him, he took a step backward. "Cool, cool. So, I'll meet you back at the truck at two?" After I gave him a curt nod, he pivoted and stalked off.
"What do you think?" At the sound of Hailey's voice, I turned to face her. She was standing off to the side, looking awfully pleased with herself. When my gaze landed on the display, I knew why.
Where I usually just plonked the jams on the table, she'd arranged them in neatly stacked pyramids with her fresh rolls sitting in the middle. I felt my mouth stretch into a grin as I stalked toward her. Planting my hands on my hips, I scanned over the table before capturing her gaze with mine. "I think you should accompany me on these market trips more often."
"You're only looking for cheap labor." She let out a chuckle; her eyes wrinkling in the corners and a playful glint shining in those green depths.
"Busted."
Her smile was wide when she pointed her index and middle finger at her eyes before aiming them my way. "I'm on to you."
I'd much rather have you on top of me or under me.I bit back the words before they slipped off my tongue. Completely oblivious to the turn my thoughts had taken, Hailey started to unpack another crate.
Scratching the scruff on my chin I stared at her and yet again wondered how the hell I was going to make it through the day without kissing her stupid.
