Page 9 of Back in the Country
“Uh-huh,” she says, and I bump her with my shoulder.
The steps to her porch creak gently under our weight, and a whole host of memories slam into me. It feels like a lifetime ago that I walked her home.
“Thanks for gettin’ me home, Way.”
I nod and walk toward her until her back bumps the closed door.
“I missed you.” Again, she doesn’t say anything, so I change tactics. “What were you and Hank talking about all cozy before dinner?”
“Worried?” My nostrils flair. She’s baiting me and I can’t help my reaction.
“No,” I grit out. Caging her with my body, I force her to look up at me.
“You’re actin’ like you’re worried, Way.” Her free hand presses against my chest, and I exhale shakily.
“I just…” My eyes are closed as I try desperately to act like a grown-ass man.
“I found a recipe I want to try. Just like I send you songs, I send Hank recipes.” Her expression is cheeky, and I’m rock fucking hard. I press myself against her so she canfeelwhat she’s doing to me.
She gasps, and it’s the first real reaction I’ve gotten from her since she showed up in the barn.
“Better only be recipes,” I growl in the space between us. In exactly no time at all, Marlee has completely destroyed my well-thought-out plan to make her mine.
“Youarejealous.” She feigns shock. Dragging one hand down her side, I flatten my palm to the small of her back and jerk her against me.
“So what if I am?” My voice is strained, and I’m two seconds away from sayingfuck itand carrying her inside so she can scream my name.
“I think it’s kinda hot.”
“Yeah?” My lips are a breath away from hers when the blare of a horn and a whistle break the spell around us.
“Woohoo! Get a room!”
Case and Otto catcall from Otto’s truck as they rip out of the driveway. You can bet your ass I’m telling Mama they were speeding by the house, if only to get them back for ruining this moment.
Marlee tilts her head back and laughs, but she doesn’t release her hand fisted in my shirt. “I swear they are perpetual five-year-olds.”
I grunt as the intensity of the moment dissipates.
“Wanna come inside?” Biting her lip, Marlee twists her hand tighter into the fabric and arches her body into mine until her breasts are sandwiched between us. My hips jerk, and I bite back a curse before giving us some much-needed space.
She hasn’t even been home for twenty-four hours, and I’m actin’ like a damn fool.
“I better not.” She doesn’t even pout. Instead, she grins like the Cheshire cat and eyes me up and down.
“Too bad.”
Growling, I place a lingering kiss on her cheek. “I’ll pick you up tomorrow at six. Wear a dress.”
“You always been this bossy?” she smarts as I start down the porch steps.
“G’night, Marlee.”
“Night, Way.”
I turn to see her open the door and wave quickly before closing and locking it behind her. Today was a damn near perfect day, and tomorrow promises to be even better.
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