Page 66 of Hiss and Make Up
He gave her a devilish grin. “Mine?”
“Nice try.”
“You’re no fun.”
“I’m loads of fun. But you’re not finding that out tonight.”
His eyebrow perked up at that and all the promise it held, although she doubted he was in any condition to carry through on his eagerness. She leaned over and kissed him. Short and sweet. On the mouth. Like it was the most natural thing in the world. When she pulled her head back, she smiled at him, unable to hide her joy.
He tilted his head to study her face.
“All this country air is agreeing with you.”
“Nope. I’ve got city roots now.”
“You’ve still got bayou water in your veins, and you know it.”
She wasn’t going to argue this with him. Especially when she knew part of his argument was right. This place would always be part of her. She just didn’t belong here anymore.
“Which room?”
“Fine,” he said with a sigh. “Denise’s old room. There’s still a twin bed in there. Want me to tuck you in later?”
“Sure.” When his mouth fell open in surprise, she added, “All you have to do is stay awake.”
He narrowed his eyes, a hint of a smile playing on his lips. “Challenge accepted.”
16
Marc opened his eyes to the sound of a cell phone ringing. He sat up and circled his neck, loosening his stiff muscles. He must have fallen asleep on the couch and missed the end of the game.
Crap. He’d forgotten to set an alarm, so he’d have to wing it on the air today. When he checked the time on his phone, he realized it wasn’t his cell ringing. Then he discovered he was on the couch with a blanket and the pillow from his bed.
Sierra.
After a few confused moments of looking for her car outside, he remembered he’d told her she could sleep in Denise’s room. Not his first choice.
When he’d found her at Denise’s house—well, when she’d found him and hit him in the head—he’d been disappointed and frustrated. No, he’d been pissed at her. Mostly because he was worried, and her plan was just about the dumbest thing he’d ever heard. Not to mention dangerous.
But sitting with her during the game, working side by side, felt so natural. Denise had been right about him and what he was looking for in a relationship. She’d been wrong about him never finding it.
Sierra was his comfy pair of sneakers. They’d been there all along. He’d just misplaced them for a few years.
All he wanted was to lie around the house today until he built up the courage to tell Sierra…what? That he was in love with her? That he’d always loved her? Something like that. He’d figure it out.
But he had to go to work first. It took some convincing, but his brain finally accepted that he wouldn’t lose her again if he left for a few hours.
He walked down the hall and heard Sierra talking to someone. It must have been her phone ringing.
“Fine. I’m here to get the reward money, then I’m coming home. Is that the answer you wanted?”
Marc froze short of the doorway as the room went silent.
Sierra had been telling him all along that she wanted the money. He’d planned to pay her anyway for helping him all weekend when she should have been out looking for a second job. But that had been the last thing on his mind.
Apparently, it was at the forefront of Sierra’s. Driving him around, sitting with him last night, the other night in the shop—it was all about that reward money.
His chest tightened as he stood there waiting. Waiting for what, he didn’t know. A pain settled in his stomach, but he couldn’t force himself to move.
