Page 47 of Love Her

Chapter 21

Connor

All day Lis has been lighthearted and sassy. Laughing freely and playful in her teasing. She shocked me with the competitiveness she showed at mini golf and the sneakiness with the pineapple. I won’t dare tell her that I’d eat pineapple or anchovies if she preferred them. Maybe that makes me a sucker, but I feel a need to make her smile. Something tells me she hasn’t done too much of that in her life.

Her posture changed at about the ten-mile marker before town. That left thumbnail is back between her teeth and she’s moving around quite a bit in her seat. My thoughts jump from worry for her and frustration that this woman feels uncomfortable in a town she’s known her entire life. That the people she has grown up with judge her so harshly. I find it difficult to reconcile the woman I’ve spent the day with to the version she has said the town sees her as.

We ordered the pizza about twenty minutes ago, but it seems the rest of town is also ordering food to go. The wait is at least an hour but that’s fine with me. The longer it takes, the more time I have with my girl.

My girl.

I roll that around in my mind for a minute. No feeling of dread. No sweaty palms. It feels right. Strange how only a few weeks ago, I was nursing a black eye because of a woman’s jealous boyfriend and now I’m wondering if it’s strange to think of this woman as my girl. My lady? There must be something to call her other than girl because Felicity Thorne is not a girl.

“What are we doing here? The pizza will be delivered at your place.”

Her question catches me off guard as I drive through the gravel parking lot and around to my apartment. Killing the engine, I turn my attention to my passenger as she looks out the window, a look of confusion on her face.

“I live here.”

“What do you mean? You live at Country Road?” Her voice squeaks as she spits out her questions.

“Not in the bar but an apartment. That door there. I’ll warn you; it isn’t big by any means but it’s free. The rental market in Lexington is shit, and I’m not sure I’m ready to buy something.”

“Do we have to go through the bar? I don’t think—” The look on her face is nothing short of complete horror.

Shaking my head, I unbuckle my seat belt and lean across the seat, gripping her chin between my forefinger and thumb. “We’re going right in that door to my apartment. We’ll kick off our shoes, find out what movies are new this weekend and wait for our pizza. Okay?”

Nodding, she offers me a small smile. I miss the fuller version that lights up her eyes, but I have a feeling until we’re behind that door she won’t relax. Rushing her out of the cab and to the door, I turn the key in the lock and hold the door open. Ducking under my arm she enters my temporary home and as expected, relaxes.

Stepping behind her and wrapping my arm across her chest, I hold her close to me. “If you don’t want to be here, I can take you home.”

Turning, she wraps her arms around my waist and rests her cheek on my chest. Breathing in her scent, I don’t speak and let her hold on to me, drawing comfort in my heartbeat.

“I’m sorry. I know I’m being dramatic but the idea of walking into that bar and possibly seeing people who hate me . . . it’s just a lot.”

“You don’t have to explain yourself to me. I want you to know you’re always welcome in there. Unless you punch one of the bartenders. It’s really the only way to get kicked out.”

Eyes wide, she looks up at me. “Who got punched? You?”

“Yeah. Long story for another time. Now, kick off your shoes, settle into the couch, and take control of the remote. I know having that piece of power always makes me feel better.”

Lis stares at me, her lips twisting around and slipping between her teeth. It’s clear something is on her mind. Instead of shedding light on what she’s thinking, she moves to the couch and goes about removing her shoes and placing them beneath the table. When I follow suit, she pulls her feet up and tucks them beneath her.

“You don’t have to pay any rent?”

“Nope. Taylor was using it for storage but when I decided to come here and work for him, he offered it up. When I was in Fayhill, I lived in a small duplex but at least the bedroom had a door.”

“It could be worse; the bathroom could not have a door.”

“Valid point.” Reaching down to the table for the remote, I extend it to her but instead of taking it, she surprises me by leaning forward and placing her lips on mine. Her kiss is tentative and slow. It reminds me of how we should be taking things.

Except, the more time I spend with Lis the more I want to be around her. The more I like her.

Grabbing her around the waist, I pull her to my lap, her legs straddling either side of my lap. My hands slide through her hair, gripping her head and pulling her mouth to mine. I take control of the kiss, nipping at her plump bottom lip. She must like that because she rotates her hips and releases a small groan. Or perhaps that was me. Either way, Lis has me hard and ready to explode with just a single move.

Moving my lips from her mouth to her neck, she tilts her head back giving me full access. I take what’s offered and suck and lick my way up to her ear, pulling the lobe between my teeth. Returning my attention back to her neck, I find her sweet spot. The little hollow below her ear has her grinding in my lap.

Pulling the bottom of her T-shirt, I tug at the waistband of her jeans and run my hands across her skin. It’s soft and I imagine kissing every inch of her. Laying her across my bed as I worship her from head to toe and back, paying close attention to the apex between her thighs.

---