Page 37 of Home Changes
She blinked up at him. “It’s the sugar.”
He laughed and shook his head. “No. It’s you.” He dropped for a kiss again. The sweetness of her wasn’t artificial, it was real, and it was addictive as hell. When he drew away, she sighed and leaned against his chest. “Are you sure? I know I want this, but are you sure?”
He tightened his arms around her. “You have baggage, and well, so do I. I’ve got a dad whosometimes forgets his own name and a house that smells like antiseptic and wet dog. My life isn’t perfect either, but I still want this with you.”
Allison tipped her head up and looked at him. “I do, too.”
They stayed like that, wrapped in each other’s arms, warm and certain, the silence stretching easily between them. Finally, Allison cleared her throat.
“Well,” she said, “if we’re trying this, you should know that you signed up to help me lift five more bags of flour.”
Seth groaned, but he was smiling. “That’s a lot of dough, Sanderson.”
“You don’t scare easy, Hansen. Do you?”
“Nope,” he said.
Allison huffed a laugh, brushing a streak of flour off her cheek with the back of her hand. “Remember, you offered, big guy. I didn’t force you.”
“Remind me of that when I can’t feel my back in the morning,” he teased and released her after a quick kiss. He walked over to the flour and hefted it without any problem before taking it over and setting the bag down gently near the mixer.
She handed him a scoop and opened another bin. “If you’re looking for sympathy, you’re not gonnafind it in here. Try Edna. She believes Bigfoot eats hunters and sympathy for breakfast.”
Seth chuckled and took the scoop from her, brushing his fingers over hers for half a second longer than necessary. “So, we’re still good for Saturday?”
“Of course,” she said, glancing at him from under her lashes. “Unless you’re planning to cancel on me for another hot date with your dad and Delbert.”
“Nope. You’re top of the list,” he said, his voice quieter now. “I’ve been looking forward to it.”
Allison gave him a soft smile, then turned back to organizing pie tins on the counter. “Good. Me, too.”
For a moment, the only sounds were the soft hum of the refrigerator and the occasional clink of metal against metal. The quiet wrapped around them, but it wasn’t awkward. It was comfortable. Settled.
Seth stepped closer, dusting his hands on a dish towel before reaching over and straightening one of the pie pans. She turned slightly, her face inches from his. Her eyes widened just a little, but she didn’t step away.
Seth hesitated, just for a beat, then leaned in and pressed a kiss to her lips.
It was gentle. Not rushed. Not possessive. Just enough.
He felt her intake of breath. Then the softest hint of her leaning into him, her mouth parting willingly for him. He pulled her against him. His need overtaking gentleness. He searched her mouth with a passion he didn’t try to curtail. He wanted this woman. He needed her in a way he couldn’t express with words. So, instead, he used his tongue, teeth, and hands to let her know how much the connection between them meant to him. He lifted away quickly, and before she could speak, before he allowed her thoughts to catch up with the moment, he smiled. “See you tomorrow,” he murmured, brushing a thumb over her cheek where a little flour lingered.
He spun and went out the back door with a casual wave. Not his best move, but if he didn’t get out of there, they’d end up on the floor with flour bags as a mattress. Not necessarily desirable or sanitary, for that matter. As he hit the bottom of the steps, he heard her call out, “Did not see that one coming! I like the surprise attack.”
“Good, I’ll keep you guessing,” Seth called back and headed to the general store. He’d sit with Delbert and his dad for a while.
The porch boardscreaked softly as Seth leaned back in the old wooden rocker, the one Chester had built before Seth was even born. It groaned under his weight, but it held, just like it always had. Gomer stretched out on the rug beside him, muzzle resting on his paws, his breathing slow and even. The breeze carried the scent of sage and dry earth, and the stars above scattered across the inky sky like someone had spilled a box of silver dust.
He sipped from the chipped enamel mug in his hands, black coffee still hot enough to keep him company. It had been a long day. A full one. A heavy one.
Kate had thrown him for a loop. Seeing her again after all those years, in a vet clinic of all places, right here in Hollister, felt like one of life’s strange little full circles. She hadn’t changed much. Still sharp, still quick to smile, and still dead honest. The way she’d looked at him when she mentioned the job at the Marshall ranch … yeah, she knew exactly what she was offering.
And then Frank Marshall stopping him? That wasn’t a coincidence. That was orchestration or at least confluence.
He scratched the back of his neck, thinking about the conversation. It hadn’t been pushy, just … interested. Respectful. But underneath the small talk and easy tone, Seth knew Frank Marshall was sizing him up. Calculating. That offer might be a lifeline or a snare. He hadn’t decided which yet. The snare would be his need to take care of Chester. He wasn’t going to ditch that responsibility. He couldn’t.
Still, none of that had rattled him half as much as Allison had.
He smiled, slow and involuntary, the memory of her mouth under his still buzzing through his veins.
