Page 72 of Cavern of Silence
She softly laughs.
I kiss her then say, "Let's try something. I'm going to say thank you, and you reply, you're welcome."
She bites her lip.
I kiss her again. "Thank you for getting us here."
She blows out a breath and quietly replies, "You're welcome."
"See, now that worked really well."
Her lips turn up. "Thank you for being nice to me."
I steal her lips again. "This is nothing. I'll show you my congenialities later tonight."
She laces her fingers in my hair, glides her tongue in my mouth, and stirs every ounce of life in me. And I have to remind myself we're in a convenience store.
"We better go, baby." I peck her one last time and guide her outside.
"Oh no!" Julieta quietly exclaims.
Crap. Not again.
What did Hunter do now?
That's not fair. It isn't his fault.
Vanessa hyperventilates, her eyes dilate, and she clutches her heart.
Hunter puts his hand on her shoulder, and she retreats further.
"Hunter!" I growl so he doesn't touch her.
He cringes, looking helpless, and I feel for him because I know it all too well. He steps back and puts his hands in front of his chest.
Julieta slides between Vanessa and Hunter. "Vanessa, come sit with me." She opens the back door and guides her in.
"Julieta get out," Hunter barks.
"No," she quietly says. "Give her a break."
"Julieta—"
"Hunter, get in the front," I demand. "We aren't far from Tinker's."
Vanessa is bent over with her head between her knees. Julieta rubs her back, looks at Hunter, and gently states, "It's only for a few minutes."
He finally gets in the front, and I drive quickly to Tinker's. When we arrive, Vanessa is in a full-blown panic attack, and Julieta leads her out on the deck.
Hunter tries to follow, but I step between him and the door.
"Don't go out there. Let Julieta help her."
His face falls. "I don't know what I'm doing wrong."
"You aren't doing anything wrong. Let her breathe through it and talk to Julieta. She responds well to her. We need to discuss things with Tinker anyway."
"Have a beer." Tinker has two bottles in his hands, and we each take one.
