Page 123 of Truck Stop Tempest

I thought I’d have to fight Rocky for a turn, but the little lady killer stood in wait, and when I reached him, he said, “Get on. I’ll push you.”

As I wiggled my butt into the seat, he warned, “Be careful. It goes really high.”

Oh, Lord. He was already protective like his father and uncles.

“I’ll be careful.”

Rocky gave me a shove. I barely moved. He pushed again, putting his full weight into the motion. I helped with a leg pump.

“Stand back, Rockster,” Tito’s gruff voice commanded. The swing jerked to a halt. “This girl’s gonna fly.” Tito pulled me back, then gave a hard shove. My body jetted toward the lake, then up toward the blue sky.

My stomach fell on the backswing, and when Tito pushed again, my insides fluttered and laughter erupted from my gut. Tito stepped aside and stood, arms crossed, watching me with his gorgeous smirk. Rocky stood at his side, mimicking the pose. The two of them were talking, but I couldn’t hear their words through the whooshes of air.

It wasn’t until Tango joined us that I stopped pumping my legs so I could slow enough to stop. My entire body buzzed. My head swam. My stomach seemed to float. Tito stepped to my side and helped me stop completely. I wasn’t ready to get off yet.

“My turn! My turn!” Rocky hopped on the balls of his feet.

Tango hoisted the little boy atop his shoulders in one swift move. “Lunch first, little man.” He shot me a wink. “Happy you’re back, Tuuli. Everyone’s inside. Come and eat.”

“Nope.” Tito threw an arm around my waist and hoisted me off the swing, not letting my feet touch the ground. “Bunny and I have a date.”

“We do?”

“We do.”

The world spun and I landed over his shoulder with an embarrassing “Oomph.”

“Tell everyone we said goodbye,” he shouted.

Tango only laughed.

Rocky yelled, “Bye Toodaloo!”

“Tito. Wait—”

His large hand landed hard on my rump, silencing any protest.

“Ow!” I laughed, stretching my arm to slap him back, his hard muscle offering no give.

We reached the car. Tito crouched to lower me to my feet. Before I could gain my bearings, warm hands cupped my jaw, tilting my face to the perfect angle for a lip-lock, giving me a taste of the mouth I’d missed so much.

Tito was all muscle, tongue, and heavenly noises, walking me backward until my butt hit the Mustang, never once relenting, using every available body part to work me into a frenzy.

The sun beat down on our fused bodies, warming my skin, but sweet Lord, my insides were molten. The air we shared, ripe with the aroma of fresh cut grass, pine trees, and sweaty sunbaked skin, only added fuel to my fire.

Days of driving had made me weary. One touch from my Grim and every stiff muscle sparked with new energy. My soul buzzed with joy and hope, every cell in my body felt bubbly and free.

Oh, thank you, Jesus. I was free.

We were free. Free from her tormentors. Free of my demons. Free to move on, start fresh. Start building our life together.

We rode the elevator hand in hand, anticipation a living, breathing entity, plucking my nerves with spindly fingers. Tuuli hadn’t been to the penthouse since I’d made it mine. Aside from my office, I’d only bought furniture for the bedroom, hoping that someday she would call the space her home, too, and then we could decorate together, a touch of Tuuli here, a hint of me there. I couldn’t wait.

We stepped inside, my palms sweaty.

“No furniture?” she asked, toeing off her shoes.

Not yet, little beast. “I’ll get around to it. Hungry?”

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