Page 333 of Small Town Firsts
I grunted as I tried to make the carrier fit between the seats. The cat let out a sound between a growl and a meow at the violent rocking. I couldn’t say I blamed him.
“If you’re this bad at fitting everything, you just made my decision a lot easier. Give me that.” She tugged the carrier away from me and climbed out of the passenger side.
What decision was she talking about?
She opened the back door and set the carrier on the floor in the back before returning to the front.
“Maybe you should drive,” I heard myself suggesting as I reluctantly slid behind the wheel and shut the door. “I’ll sit back there with the cat.”
“Do you have some fantasy about being driven around by a lowly peon? Sorry. I don’t drive beige grandpa cars.”
“Grandpa? I’ll have you know this car has plenty of horsepower.”
“Horsepower only gets you so far.” She clicked her belt into place. “You need to know how to use it.”
I put on my own seatbelt. “Trust me, I’ve never had any complaints.”
“Oh, I’m sure. I bet the society types you take out to socially approved events get a thrill from your...torque.”
“Not sure if you’ve forgotten, but I told you it’s been awhile for me.” I put the car in drive and reversed out of the space too fast. It was nearing sunset, and the sun was like a spotlight through the trees as I drove away from the shelter.
“Been awhile for a relationship is one thing. Surely you date. Maybe have the occasional long lunch?—”
“Don’t.” My voice whipped out.
“I didn’t mean that,” she said after a moment, sounding chagrined. “I was just going to make a rude nooner comment, but not about that. I wouldn’t.”
“Why wouldn’t you? You think I’m just like my father, don’t you?”
“I do believe you aren’t married.”
I let out a frustrated noise and signaled to get onto the highway. “That’s all that you see that separates us?”
“No. I doubt your father would do all you’ve done for those sweet cats.” She shot me a quick glance. “Or look at them the way you do when you think no one is paying attention.”
I swallowed uncomfortably. “I’m no hero. I don’t help to get praise.”
“No, and that’s why you deserve it.”
I merged onto the highway and grabbed my sunglasses, sliding them on. “I thought we were talking about my dating life.”
“Why would we talk about that? I can’t see any reason.” Slowly, she crossed and recrossed her legs. “Can you?”
“It’s a point of fact.”
“And not my concern, unless you’ve forgotten your unbreakable rules regarding employees.”
I tightened my fingers around the wheel. “I have a photo on my phone that indicates my rules can bend.”
“You mean onmyphone.”
Ah, dammit, it was on her phone. I’d wanted to keep the picture, so I could stare at it when I was alone. So I could imagine what it would be like to live like that all the time. To just think of the pleasure of the moment. To take what I craved and give back so much more in return.
“And yes, your rules can bend. But you never make the choice freely. You’re always led by the woman cursing you for unknown reasons with a sex hex.”
“Probably just for the amusement of seeing me at your mercy.”
“Oh, Mr. Shaw,” her voice dropped to a purr, “if I had you at my mercy, I guarantee neither of us would be laughing.”
