Page 95 of Captivating Anika

“I can call a taxi, you know. Besides, you’re going to meet up with your chief at The Irish, are you telling me you won’t be having a couple of drinks yourself?”

“I won’t drink.”

This time I turn my head so I can look him straight in the eye when I lift an eyebrow. He’s trying not to smile, but I can tell he’s amused.

“You know you’re cute when you’re pissy, right?”

He hooks me behind my neck and, before I can stop him, kisses me hard.

“Now I have to do my lips again,” I sputter, trying not to let on how that kiss affected me.

It’s embarrassing what a pushover I’ve become when that man only looks at me a certain way. He totally has my number.

“If you make your mouth all slick and glossy again, you should probably wait until I’m gone. I’ll have no choice but to kiss you again.”

He doesn’t move, just stands there, looking at me with a weird expression on his face.

“What?”

He shakes his head.

“You…a month ago I was miserable, not sure what my future would look like, and trying to figure out a way back into your life. I told myself I’d be happy, even if we’d never be anything more than friends.” He runs a hand over his short hair. “I was delusional. Look at you, there’s no way that would ever have been enough. I can’t be in the same room with you without wanting to touch you, kiss you, lose myself in you. I don’t ever want to wake up from this dream I’m living.”

Then he leans in to press a kiss to my forehead and backs out of the bathroom.

I’m completely choked up and don’t trust myself to speak without swallowing a few times first.

“You can’t be sweet to me right before I’m supposed to meet up with the girls,” I call after him. “I’m gonna be a mess all night.”

I swear I hear his chuckle as he heads downstairs.

That man, he literally steals my breath. The way he talks to me, the way he treats me. It almost feels too good to be true.

Earlier today, he came with me to the funeral home. I’d briefly seen the funeral director yesterday afternoon, to get some of the basic stuff organized. But there were decisions that needed to be made, and I felt too overwhelmed to tackle them all at once.

This morning, with Hog’s hand on the small of my back, I was able to finalize all the arrangements for Kim’s funeral on Monday. I feel once we’ve been able to celebrate her life and say our goodbyes, things may finally settle down.

When I get downstairs five minutes later, Hog is already gone and the pups are curled up on the couch.

“You boys be good. We won’t be too long, okay?”

Oh Lord, I’m becoming one of those crazy animal parents who talks to their pets. As if they understand what I’m saying.

Still, I lean over the back of the couch and kiss both their heads, which they don’t even seem to notice, they’re sleeping so hard.

Then I grab my keys and my purse, and head out the door, where I notice Hog left the Suburban for me to drive. Probably because the pickup still smells like fertilizer a bit.

See? That’s what I mean, he’s always looking out for me.

When I get to the Just Peachy Produce stand along Main Street, it looks like they’re already loading produce in the back of a pickup truck.

“Am I too late?”

I’d hoped to pick up a couple of pints of strawberries for Monique and some for us.

“No, what is it you were looking for?”

“Strawberries.”

---