Page 80 of Hold the Line

I stretched one arm over my head, the other hand cupping his jaw. “How am I supposed to go to work now? I’m ready for a nap.”

He nuzzled his nose against mine. “You’ll manage, sleepy girl. I have no doubt.” Then he sighed. “I’m gonna need you to get up so I can change your sheets before I go shower.”

I winced at the stickiness under my back. “We’ll change them together.” I brushed my lips against his. “I liked that, by the way. Next time, I’d love it if you let me turn over so I can watch you come.”

One brow winged. “You wanna see that?”

“I do.” I stretched my thumb to trace his bottom lip. “I like you, Deacon, and I trust you. That means anything you want to try, I’m in. I have things I want you to do to me too.”

His head cocked. “You gonna share what those things are?”

Grinning, I shook my head. “Not when we both have to get out of this bed.”

“But later?” Biting my lip, I nodded, and he groaned. “Yeah, we have to get up, or it’s never going to happen.”

If I didn’t love my job so much, I might’ve said screw the muffins, but alas, I had to be responsible. I had a feeling Deacon wouldn’t have played hooky with me anyway.

We got dressed separately but walked out together, stopping at Deacon’s truck. I was walking, and he had a long drive to his current jobsite, so this was where we parted.

I leaned into him, taking in his golden scruff, amber eyes, and long, pale lashes. My stomach swooped. “God, Deacon, I have such a crush on you,” I blurted.

He gave me a bemused look. “What’s that feel like?”

I tried to think of how to put it into words. There weren’t really any that were accurate enough, so I went for the closest thing. “When I look at you, I feel like I’m on the first drop of a roller coaster. Anticipation, excitement, like I’m about to fly.”

“Hmmm.” He dropped his hand to my backside, giving me a squeeze. “Gotta say, I think I have a crush on you too.”

I grinned wide. “Good. Keep it that way.”

His eyes slid back and forth between mine, and he grew serious. “You have nothing to worry about in that regard, sugar. Not a damn thing.”

Swoop.

Chapter Thirty-four

Deacon

Roadworkwasn’tmytruecalling, but after years of seeing the same walls every damn day, I didn’t mind all the driving. I hadn’t been to a lot of places, but I was pretty sure there was nowhere prettier than Wyoming. Even where there was nothing but golden grass and rocks jutting out of the earth at random, it never failed to blow me away.

I’d been moved to a new crew, doing road inspection and maintenance on the route to Casper. Chris’s crew was out toward Cheyenne, so we weren’t sharing lunch breaks for the time being. Instead, I sat in my truck, ate my sandwich, and listened to a podcast Phoebe had recommended. She’d gotten me as hooked on true crime as she was, so I was catching up on all the episodes she’d already listened to.

A phone call came through, interrupting. That would have annoyed me, but it was worse seeing the name on the screen.Richie.

He’d sent me a couple texts over the last month or so. I’d been able to beg off seeing him, but this was my brother. He wouldn’t be deterred forever.

I picked up before the call cut off.

“Hey.”

“Hey yourself,” he greeted. “Thought maybe you got locked back up you went so damn radio silent.”

“Don’t have much to say, Rich. I’m working a lot, sleeping when I’m not.”

His chuckle was raspy from all the chain-smoking he did. “Aren’t you out of prison? Why the hell are you living like a monk, man? It’s not like you have Hailey under your feet anymore.”

“I’m not looking for trouble. I work, sleep, and don't find trouble. And you know I never minded having Hailey around.”

“Yeah, you never did.” He whistles through the line. “She’s got a nice family now, and you’re young and free. Why don’t we meet up in Laramie? I know you weren’t into the last girl I brought you, but Jennifer’s got plenty of friends—”

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