Page 49 of Handy

“Mm-hmm,” I murmur, nipping at his earlobe. “Sleep at my place tonight?”

“Ledge, I’d sleep under a rock if that was where you were planning to sleep.”

My heart flips and I bury my face in the crook of his neck to hide my overwhelming smile. Yeah, this is different from anyone else before. This is more than just an infatuation built on the fantasy of what I think a man is hiding behind his sexy, brooding exterior. Griff has shown me his vulnerable, squishy underbelly,and it just makes me want to protect him that much more. I would burn down the world for this man, and as a park ranger I take fireveryseriously.

Is this love? It kind of feels like it.

Chapter 19

LEDGER

Steak and peppers sizzleloudly in the pan, filling the kitchen with a mouthwatering scent that makes my stomach rumble. I glance towards the front door reflexively, the crick in my neck telling me just how often I’ve been doing it over the last half hour. Sure, I could turn down the music so I’ll be able to hear Griff pull into the driveway, but I’m pretty sure it’s illegal to listen to Dua Lipa at anything less than eardrum shattering levels.

I shimmy to the beat and mouth along to the words while I stir the food. TP tugs on my jeans, and I look down to see her extending one greedy hand towards me, hoping for a little snack.

“Girl, have a little shame, please.” I tut, looking away from her to take a quick glance around the kitchen to make sure she hasn’t caused any damage while I’ve been distracted.

Maybe bringing her along was more stress than it was worth. I’ve been feeling guilty though about how much time I’m spending away from her now that I’m sleeping at Griff’s so often. If she weren’t such a drywall-eating terror, I would just ask Griffif he wouldn’t mind her coming over too when I stay the night, but our relationship is way too new for me to let my chonky baby girl eat his house. That’s the kind of thing you hope the guy doesn’t think about untilafteryou’ve tied the knot—kidnapping or marriage, I’m not picky at this point.

I boop TP affectionately on the nose and keep dancing, going from lip syncing to full-on scream-singing along with the next song. She winds between my legs until I set down the spatula and stoop to pick her up. I hold her like a baby, bouncing her to the music, and she holds her arms up like she’s on a roller coaster as I spin around, singing to her about levitating. I stop mid-verse when my eyes land on my hunky boyfriend standing a few feet away.

I was expecting his usual scowl at the surprise of coming home to a not-so-empty house, but that’s not what I get at all. His keys are dangling from his fingers and he’s still as a statue, just staring into the kitchen at me and TP. He looks stunned, like someone hit him upside the head with a frying pan and scrambled his brain, except his eyes look a little misty. Oh shit, is he about to cry? That’s probably a bad reaction, right?

I give TP a quick kiss on the snoot and drop her, putting on my best disarming smile.

“Surprise?” I say, and then realize he probably can’t hear me over the music.

I pat my pockets in search of my phone so I can stop the playlist, looking around the messy—totally my fault and I swear I’m going to clean up after dinner—kitchen until I spot it. I snatch it off the counter next to the stove and hit the pause button on my music app. When I look up again, Griff isrightthere, filling my whole field of vision, smelling like sawdust and sweat in the best way.

“Sorry, I—”

He cuts me off, grabbing my face in his warm, calloused hands and claiming my lips. I sink happily into the kiss, savoring the syrupy slow strokes of his tongue and the purring rumble vibrating in his chest.

Griff breaks the kiss and rests his forehead against mine, caressing along my jaw with his thumb. Up close, I can see the emotions burning in his eyes even clearer.

“I haven’t come home to chaos and noise like this in a long fucking time.” His voice is tight.

He swallows hard and kisses me roughly again. I hum happily against his lips and card my fingers through his hair to stroke his scalp. The smell of burning peppers forces me to break the kiss after another minute so our dinner isn’t ruined.

“This is about ready, but if you want to hop in the shower real quick, I can keep it warm in the oven for a few minutes.” I reach over to turn the music back on—at a more reasonable level this time.

“Alright, just give me five.” He kisses the side of my head and then disappears down the hall.

A happy, domestic feeling fills me at the sound of the shower running while I pull out silverware and clean up the kitchen. Is it too soon to tell Griff I want to marry him and have a dozen little bear cubs? Actually, scratch that—I don’t want kids, I’d rather get a dozen more baby raccoons. But I’m all for trying our damnedest for Griff to knock me up. I groan and adjust my swelling cock.

It’s only a few more minutes before the shower shuts off again, and not long after that, Griff is back in the kitchen, his work clothes traded for a fresh t-shirt and a pair of jeans, his hair damp and slicked back. I sniff in his direction and eye him in surprise.

“I know that smell. It’s Leather and Whiskey from Goose Soap Co. on Palm Island.”

“I figured it was time for some changes. My store-brand bodywash was fine, but this is a lot nicer. I actually really like this scent. I might be really annoyed if he discontinues it at some point.” His lips twitch in a shy smile like he’s making a big confession. “Here, let me get plates out.”

He opens the cupboard, and I notice immediately that his bodywash isn’t the only change he decided to make. All of his mugs have been replaced with ones that have a lot more personality—different shapes, funny sayings, one of them even has an impractical bird-shaped handle.

“What’s all this?”

“Like I said, making some changes.” Griff rubs the back of his neck. “I realized I was trying to protect myself from things hurting by building a life where nothing mattered to me. I’m done with that. It was lonely, and I don’t want to be lonely anymore.”

Oh my god, so much squish. I fling my arms around him and cover his face in kisses until he rumbles a laugh.

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