Page 18 of Jayce

I order the chipotle fried shrimp wrap and onion rings. Jayce gets the fried shrimp po’boy.

Goosebumps form on my skin and I shiver. He takes his coat off and drapes it over my shoulders. Normally, I’d shove it back at him. Why should he suffer instead of me? But it’s like I’m standing in a refrigerator.

“If you want to wait outside, we can take our food to go. I know where there are picnic tables under live oaks.”

I nod. Jayce hands me the keys to his truck. “Thank you.”

He waits for our order while I step out into the muggy heat.

Darn it all. He’s sexy when he walks toward me. His eyes hone in on mine. I know the wink is coming, and that I should look away because the simple gesture ignites my loins every time. I must be a glutton for punishment because I don’t look away, and he doesn’t fail to disappoint me.

I wait for him to open the door. My feminist side protests, but the gooey side of me enjoys his chivalry. Once we are both sitting in the truck, he hands me our dinner so he can drive.

I didn’t plan on relinquishing the bag when I got out of the vehicle, but he gave me no choice.

I still wore his jacket. No longer freezing, I slip out of it and try handing it to him. “Would you mind hanging it on the hanger in the backseat?”

By the time I finish, Jayce already has everything pulled out of the bag.

I stop and admire him in his crisp white button up sitting on the bench, waiting for me. I get lost imagining unfastening each button one at a time.

Watching him shed his clothes before his shift last night added more fuel to my broken vagina. The distance kept me from getting a clear view of his assets, though.

I don’t know how long I stood there staring before I shook myself out of the lust induced stupor.

Jayce stares back with an ear-splitting grin across his face. Clearly certain where my head had gone to.

I slip onto the bench across from him with unknown shades of red highlighting my skin..

“I ordered your books last night.”

I raise my gaze. Is he serious? “You didn’t have to. I could have given you copies.”

“If I have to wait around for you to bring me a copy, I have a feeling it might be a long wait.”

I hold my head up high. “For your information, I packed both of them for you when we were at my apartment.”

He pops a fry into his mouth. I could slap the smirk from his face. “But you didn’t give them to me.”

He’s right. I had no intention of voluntarily handing them over. But I don’t want him to know that.

Chapter 14

Jayce

We had to stop at the Best Buy in Houma for a Firestick. Agreeing to learn about these “sweet butts” on this show Shay apparently enjoys means I get to bring her to my home.

The built-in bookshelves I designed for my house never made sense to my taste and style until Shay told me she was a writer.

If she writes, she probably reads. I didn’t go into her bedroom at her apartment, so I can only hope she has a book collection to fill the empty shelves.

I park my truck in the parking lot where I keep my vehicle before escorting her to the one-story colonial house I call home.

Shay’s slip of the tongue regarding her feelings about kids relieves me. I didn’t build a house with as many bedrooms as most in the herd build.

Do I want children?

Yes.

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