Page 127 of Only With You

He catches me checking him out because when he hands it over, an impish grin tilts up on his face.

I perk an eyebrow, pretty much telling him I have no shame, because I don’t. He’s hot. He knows it, I know it, and there’s no point in pretending.

I take the hoodie from his hand, because who am I to argue? “Thanks, but just so you know, you’ll never get this back.”

“I know where you live.”

“Congratulations. You’re still not getting it back.” I give him a half shrug as I drag it over my head and inconspicuously inhale the earthy scent of his cologne.

When I lift my gaze, his eyes dip down to my legs and linger there for a moment before they coast back up.

“Okay, but I better always see you wearing it.”

“That won’t be a problem.” I tuck my hands in the pocket and give him my sweetest smile.

He rolls his eyes, but I don’t miss the way his lips crack and a faint smile ghosts his face. “Get in my car.”

“Do you not want me to help?”

I have no idea what I’d be doing, but I’ll feel like crap for letting him be out in the cold while I’m comfortably sitting warm in his car.

“No.” He shakes his head and places a hand at the small of my back, ushering me to his car. He opens the passenger door, and once I’m inside, he bends down so that we’re at eye level. “Stay here and lock the door. I’m going to take a look, but I think we’re going to have to call a tow truck.”

I bashfully fiddle with the sleeves. “I’m sorry. I should have done that to begin with.”

“Don’t apologise. I would have come regardless and you shouldn’t be alone.”

“But—”

“Julianna.” Landon grips my chin, angling my head upward. His expression darkens and his eyes harden. “I swear, if you apologise one more time, I’m going to bend you over right here and spank you. And I fucking mean it.”

My breath catches, my face burns, and a rush shoots down my spine at the image that plays in my head.

“Now, wait here and lock the door,” he gruffly says, letting go of my chin, and shutting the door.

I do as he says as he walks away. I’m not sure how much time passes, but the entire time he’s gone, all I can think about is his threat and how much I really want him to do it.

I’m brought out of my thoughts when he knocks on the glass of the driver’s side. I unlock the door and he climbs inside with his phone pressed to his ear.

“All right,” he says, then sets his phone on top of the console. “I called the tow truck. They’ll be here soon.”

36

JULIANNA

I look outside my window.The only thing around us is trees upon trees and the narrow two-way row.

“Hey.” Landon’s deep voice draws my focus to him. “Why don’t I drop you off, and I’ll come back and wait for the tow truck?”

It’s crazy to believe how far we’ve come. Landon, of all people, willingly left his friends to help me out. He could have easily told me to call a tow truck, but he didn’t.

With no hesitation, Landon came and took care of it all.

“No, that’s all right. I’ll be okay.”

He gives me a look. “You don’t always have to put up a front. I can drop you off. I really don’t mind.”

“I’m not putting up a front…” I trail off when he bears an unimpressed look. “So maybe I am, but it’s not a big deal. It’s just a little lie. Don’t act like you never have before.”

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