Page 121 of When It's Us
I glance behind me to make sure the twins aren’t within seeing distance and lean up on my toes, intending to press a quick kiss to his lips.
But he’s got other ideas, and he drags me against him, flicking a glance behind me. Finding the coast clear, he swipes his tongue into my mouth, deepening the kiss and making me moan.
Once he’s finished, he grins down at me. “What are you up to today?”
“We’re heading to meet up with Wren at Finn and Hudson’s. He and Paige are gonna hang with the boys while us girls go shopping.”
“Yeah? That sounds like fun.”
“Getting a lot done in there?” I ask, tipping my head toward the house.
“Yep. You wanna check it out?” His expression is boyishly hopeful, and it makes telling him I don’t have time really freaking hard.
“Rain check?” I ask, shielding my eyes from the sun. It’s behind him, giving his already sun-tanned skin a warm glow. “I’m running late.”
He nods, dusting his hands together with a smile. “Of course.”
I lean up and press a chaste kiss to his lips and he groans against my lips.
He makes a grab for my ass, but I sidestep with a laugh as the boys and Hales come out the door, single file, chattering together.
Hutch’s calloused hand engulfs mine. He gives it a squeeze, and when I turn my head, I meet his quiet, steady gaze. Something warm and light fills my chest, something a lot like hope.
I’m not prepared for this sudden rush of emotion tightening in my chest. The way he helped with Jordan’s splinter at the lake still plays on a loop in my mind. I could’ve handled it myself, but he stepped in without hesitation—steady and calm, perfect with Jordan.
When that migraine knocked me flat, he just…showed up. With food for the boys, meds in hand for me, like it was nothing. Like it was normal to swoop in and take care of people who aren’t even his.
It was a mistake letting him get so close—because I’m probably, most definitely already in love with him.
And that’s going to make leaving so much harder.
Clearing my throat, I paste on a smile. “Well, I’ll see ya, Bigfoot.”
His grin stretches wide, and he winks, those dimples flashing. “See ya, California.”
Haley grins and looks at me over her shoulder. “This is Josie’s place. She opened it years ago after she finished school.”
“Jasper’s Josie?” I ask, stepping inside and holding the door open behind me for Finn and Wren.
Haley nods, already drifting toward a table of rings and delicate gold necklaces.
Finn leans in. “You should talk to her about taking over her social media. This place stays pretty busy, but you would bring it to the next level for her. Both the bar and the B&B have really taken off since you’ve been handling all that for us.”
It’s nice to know that. And this place is cute. I would really love to help her out if she needs it.
“I had no idea this place was hers. I saw it the day after I got here. It’s really cute.”
“Oh, yeah,” Hales says, picking up a pair of earrings and holding them up to my ears. “Josie’s smart as hell. She studied fashion merchandising in college. I think the original plan was New York or maybe L.A.”
I watch as she puts the earrings up to Wren next. “What happened?”
“You know,” she says with a shrug. “Timber Forge pulled her back in.”
“What do you mean, ‘pulled her back in’?”
Haley looks up from the earrings. “Technically, she finished her degree. But instead of heading to a big city and climbing the fashion ladder, she married her hunky, tattooed husband and opened this place. Realized she didn’t have to have it all figured out at twenty-one.”
I smile, taking it all in. “Well, she figured something out. This place is amazing.”
