Page 253 of Hate Mates

My heart does a stupid flip-flop in my chest, and I’m drawn to him like a moth to a flame.

I kiss both Mom and Dad’s cheeks. “I’m going to help them.”

The line of people at the bar clamoring to get someone’s attention to put in an order only seems to have grown since we came out. And more importantly, it gives me a reason to be close to him again.

After so long apart, even the few feet separating us feels like too far.

I slip behind the bar and immediately get to work, snagging several beers for someone. Cash in hand, I head to the register to put it in, and a hard, hot body sidles up behind me.

That familiar scent of crisp water and warm, spicy bourbon hits me before his lips meet my cheek. “You don’t have to help.”

I nod, sliding a twenty into the cash drawer, then nudging it closed with my hip. “I know, but I want to.”

But damn if I’m going to let him know how much I need to be close to him right now.

Will already has so much power over me.

He holds myheart.

My future belongs to him and rests in his calloused and capable hands.

I can see forever in his eyes again.

Yet…it isn’t certain.

It can’t be.

What he’s been doing, theplanthat came between us and shattered the trust we once shared, hasn’t come to an end yet. It all relies on things going well with the pickup of the shipment and the delivery to that motherfucker who threw down those threats against us tonight.

If things go badly…

Will turns me to face him, and despite the noise and people surrounding us, everything else melts away. All but the two of us.

He sweeps his thumbs over my cheeks. “Don’t worry, Trouble. We survived the tempest, and I won’t ever allow anything to rock the boat again.”

His words fill my chest with a flicker of hope.

Because I hear the sincerity in them.

And I can see it in his gaze.

Trust him and this.

I loop my arms around his neck and tug him close to kiss him, relishing the ability to do it again. “Only smooth sailing from now on.”

---