Page 33 of The Ex Puck Bunny
“Grady is going to follow you home to make sure you get there safely.” He shoots him a look that I can’t quite read. It’s almost like a father on prom night giving his daughter’s date a glare of warning. It’s the kind that says,If you hurt her, it’ll break my mother’s heart to have a son in prison for life. Derek isn’t messing around after everything that happened with Trey.
Or I’m imagining things. The effects of the hot co-spresso are wearing off. I yawn, reminding me of the car ride home with Grady and how something shifted between us.
My skin prickles. “I cannot wait for Deborah to come back to keep you in line so you’re not barking orders at everyone.”
Thankfully, my parents don’t have security cameras otherwise there would be evidence that we kissed in front of their house . . . or maybe there has been something between us all along, waiting to be woken up.
Bunny rouses and looks around, eyes blinking like a little spring chick. She reaches for Grady to carry her to the car. The pass-off is a bit awkward, but the instant she’s in his arms, her eyes dip closed again.
In an exchange of hissing whispers, he insists I drive his truck, which means I have to transfer the car seat. It’s a damp spring night and the heater in the Silverado works a lot faster than in the Dodge, warming us up, so that’s a plus.
A few minutes later, we’re in the driveway on Silver Queen Street. Bunny is still asleep when I shift to park and cut the engine.
Grady slots the Dodge into the carport where it has sat for years. He dangles the keys for me to take. “Smoother ride, am I right?”
“Yeah. Bunny is fast asleep. Thanks for the loaner.”
“Want me to carry her inside?” he asks.
“Aren’t you pleased as punch that she likes you?” My tone is wry.
“What can I say? She has good taste. Now, if only to win the affection of her mama.”
I nearly choke. “Why would you want to do that?”
He winces as if recalling Derek’s nuclear missile glare of warning. “I don’t have a death wish, but . . .”
We both shift as if thinking about what happened here inthe rain and how if we moved in the other direction, we could have a collision.
I bite the inside of my lip and my breath falters.
His gaze goes heavy.
We both move incrementally closer.
“But . . .” I echo in a whisper, lifting onto my toes.
The night is dry and clear, but it’s like thunder claps and lightning strikes as we crash together. Our mouths meet and the last thought I have is how pleasant his clean, soapy, masculine scent is. Not imposing but present. Steady. Like he is.
Grady’s fingers tangle into my hair. Mine smooth up his chest before I lace them around his neck. He’s bigger, taller, and more toned than I expected. Not like I thought about him, much.
Only every spare moment since he’s been back in Cobbiton as I’ve tried to convince myself to hate him.
The kiss is frantic like we’ve both been thirsting and found an oasis in the desert. We fall into sync, our inhales and exhales intensifying with each passing second.
My hands slide up his chest. His move along my sides. And the kiss deepens, expands, broadens toward horizons I never thought possible with something so simple as two people making out in a driveway.
My thoughts flicker as I move in and out of awareness. My knees are wobbly and my breath turns uneven.
Maybe a kiss isn’t simple. Could be that I’ve had it all wrong. Perhaps it’s extraordinary to share a kiss with someone special. A person I connect with, trust, and like.
However, that can’t be right.
Letting my guard down will only turn into a disaster.
Or, like this kiss, it could be perfect.
Thankfully, my thoughts recede and I dive back into thekiss, giving to Grady and matching the intensity. His heart pounds against mine as warmth radiates between us.
