Page 22 of March’s Bad Boy: Ty

Before we can seal the deal with a kiss, Levi pulls up in his truck, and hops out, grinning. "Ready to map this place out?"

I stare at them both, overwhelmed, but undeniably hopeful. Glancing back at the storefront one more time, I throw my arms around Ty, squeezing tight.

"Thank you," I murmur against his shoulder.

Ty hugs me back, his strong arms enveloping me in a warmth that feels like home. When we finally pull apart, his eyes are shining with a tenderness that makes my heart skip a beat.

"Anything for you," he says softly, his thumb brushing over my cheek.

Taking a moment, I lean into his touch to savor the comfort of it.

"Alright, lovebirds," Levi teases. "Let’s get this show on the road."

We spend the next few hours mapping out the new space, brainstorming ideas for layout and design. By the time Levi heads out, we have a solid game plan and I'm starting to feel better.

Once back at the bookshop, I hug Ty again, pulling back to meet his gaze. "I don't know how I'll ever repay you."

His smirk is slow, teasing. "Oh, I've got some ideas."

I roll my eyes, laughing. "Of course you do."

He leans down and places a soft kiss on my lips.

"Close the bookstore early," he whispers against my lips. "I want to celebrate."

"What do you have in mind?" I ask, trying a little flirting.

"Ice cream. Then my place," he says.

I can agree with that.

Closing up early, I follow him hand-in-hand down to the ice cream shop. It may be March in Montana, but that has never stopped us from an ice cream run to celebrate anything from passing tests in school, new jobs, or even hitting savings goals. It's what has always motivated us.

The sun is just starting to set, painting the sky in soft shades of pink and orange. It’s a perfect moment in time that I want to remember.

Once at the ice cream shop, Ty orders for both of us without even asking what I want. Though he knows me well enough to get it right. A double scoop of dark chocolate for him, and a waffle cone piled high with coffee chocolate chunk for me.

As he pays, a man a little older than me asks for directions back to Whitefish. I give them to him, and he is on his way out when Ty walks up to me with both cones, handing me mine. We take our cones and sit at a table near the back, out of the way of the people coming into the store.

"What?" I finally ask, nudging him with my elbow. He looks at me, but I just smile. "You're jealous."

Ty scoffs. "I am not."

"Oh really? Then why did you glare at the guy I was talking to like he stole your dog?"

Ty grumbles. "Because he was looking at you like you're dessert."

Grinning wickedly, I tease, "And that's a problem because...?"

Ty leans closer, his voice low. "Because you're mine."

Heat flickers between us, something unspoken, but undeniable. His gaze drops to my lips, and my breath catches as anticipation coils in my stomach.

While we finish our ice cream, his heated eyes are on me the whole time. A shiver caresses me as I feel them running over every inch of my body.

Once back at his house, he kisses me again like he did at the bookstore. This time, there's no hesitation, no holding back. We lose ourselves in each other, in the way we fit together, the way every touch sets us on fire. The world outside doesn't exist. Just this moment, just him, just us.

And for the first time in a long time, I let myself fall completely, with no fear of hitting the ground.

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