Page 217 of Unexpected Hero

Well, I have plans to change that tonight.

I hope.

I’m strong-arming my way into his heart. I’ve come prepared with a battering ram of sorts. A secret weapon.

His lips are warm branding irons, sizzling their mark on me.

When he finally lets me up for air, his gaze prowls all over my face and neck before traveling down my body. His lips part into a wicked grin as he studies my dress.

He loves it when I wear these. But it’s what’s underneath it that has me as amped up as a coked-out squirrel on speed.

“My eyes are up here.”Playfully, I tilt his chin upward, drawing his gaze back to my face. “Hey there, handsome. Ain’t you frisky tonight?”

He keeps me close, locking his hands at my lower back. “Sorry for attacking you. I missed you so damn much.”

I give him a peck. “It’s only been five days.”

“That’s five days too many.”

It really was. But that’s on him.

“Don’t whine to me, mister. You could have come. Stella wants to meet you anyhow. She was pissed you bailed again. If she hadn’t seen you on a few video calls, she’d never believe you’re real.”

This was the third trip I’ve taken back home to visit Stella. And yes, I saw my mama too. Ugh. Mostly, I went for Stella. James was invited each time. Unsurprisingly, he refused to take leave from work.

It warms my insides to know he loves his job, but come on.

I know Climax isn’t a glorious vacation destination like Clearwater. However, it’s simply not normal to choose work over a week of Southern cookin’ and actual sweet tea instead of the garbage water they serve down here.

He presses little kisses along the curve of my neck. “You know I would’ve gone if I could take the time off.I’ll go with you on the next trip.”

I huff. “Sure. Heard that before.”

“This time is different.”

My hands skim the expanse of his shoulder up to his nape. “Oh? How so?”

He moves from one side of my neck to the other, kissing as he goes. If I were wearing panties, they’d be soaked.

“Because now we have Mia.”

My spine stiffens reflexively. With a deep breath, I force away the tension.

Of course, he notices my reaction and stops worshiping my neck to meet my eyes. “What’s wrong?”

“Babe, can we not talk about Mia tonight?”

For the last two weeks, her name has come up in practically every conversation.

Hell, even when we were talking on the phone while I was in Georgia, he brought her up at least three times. Telling me all about how smart she is. How funny she is. How fast she’s catching on.

He almost never talks about any other coworkers. Yet this new chick is always on his mind.

Stella says I should show up at his job one day unexpectedly to meet her. Make sure she knows he’s taken so she keeps her paws off him.

The only problem is... I still don’t know where he fucking works.

He knows everything about me.

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