Page 57 of Carry Me Home
Maybe that was enough. I would make it enough. I had to.
Jack wasat the kitchen table when I got home, a steaming mug of chamomile tea waiting for me. He set aside the book he was reading and smiled sleepily when I plopped into a chair across from him.
I pulled the mug closer to myself, wrapping my hands around the warmth. I always got a little chilly when the sun went down, even in summer. “Thank you.”
“You’re welcome.” He yawned and stretched. His shirt rode up, exposing a couple inches of muscled torso and a trail of sparse hair that disappeared into the waistband of his jeans. I tried not to stare. I didn’t succeed. “How was it with the girls? Did you have a good time?”
“Yeah. It was great,” I said around a yawn of my own. “I should warn you, though. That night in November? The snowstorm? Essie knows you didn’t go straight home.”
He chuckled and rubbed his belly, then tugged his shirt back down. That shouldn’t have been sexy, but it was. “Oh, I’m aware. My phone has been buzzing nonstop since you closed the bar.”
“Sorry. Chloe let it slip and I couldn’t…” My voice trailed off and I shrugged.
“You couldn’t lie.” He laughed again. “Don’t worry about it. I don’t care if she knows. The only reason I cared back then was because I didn’t want her to come get me. I wanted to stay with you.”
I didn’t know what to say when he was sweet like that. I took slow sips of tea so I wouldn’t have to say anything.
“So what are you going to do with your weekend now that you don’t have to work?” he asked.
“Hang out with Maya, of course.” I covered another yawn with my hand.
“Sleep in tomorrow. I’ll handle breakfast.”
I shook my head. “You’re officially off the clock. If I have weekends off, so do you.”
He blinked, his forehead furrowing. “I hadn’t thought of that. Maya asked if we could go for a ride tomorrow afternoon. I said yes.”
He didn’t look especially pleased about it, either. I eyed him over the rim of my mug. “I’ll take her.” He still didn’t look happy. I squinted. “Do you want to come with us? It’s totally fine if you want to make other plans?—”
He cut me off. “I want to go riding with you. That would be great.”
“Okay. And I’ll make breakfast tomorrow.”
That not-very-happy look was on his face again. “I’ll make breakfast. You should sleep in.”
“You’re up just as late as me,” I pointed out. “It’s your day off.Youshould sleep in.”
“I’ll sleep in Sunday.” When I opened my mouth to argue, he leaned across the table and pressed his thumb against my lips, silencing me. “Let me be clear. If I see you out here before eight-thirty, I’m carrying your sweet ass back to bed and trust me, Iwillfind a way to keep you there. Nod if you understand me.”
My eyes darted over his face.Oh. He was serious. I nodded.
“Good girl,” he said approvingly. He scraped back the chair and pushed to his feet, collecting our empty mugs as he went. “Sweet dreams, Ace.”
All right, so there was one thing I knew I wanted.
It was such a damn shame I couldn’t have it.
21
JACK
Brax
Essie says I get to punch you in the stomach.
Jack
Wouldn’t it make more sense for Essie to punch Janie in the stomach?
