Page 91 of Playing it Country

“Fine, I’m going.”

“That’s the spirit.”

Refraining from sticking my tongue out, I cross the space before pushing through the door and out onto the sidewalk. Taking a deep breath, I tilt my face toward the sky and send up a silent prayer that everything will work out the way it’s supposed to.

“Watcha doin’, Stud?”

It’s the sweetest voice I’ve ever heard—half-teasing, half-curious, and one hundred percent drives mecrazy.

Opening my eyes, I return her smile with one of my own. Hannah stands in front of her car a couple of spots down from The Poppy Seed with a beverage tray in her hand.

“What are you doing?” I ask.

Holding up the tray, she says, “I went to get something for us earlier but got called into the Tap and Table and ended up working the first shift. I meant to text you but I left my phone in the car,” she says guiltily. “This is my second attempt at snacks.”

“I was bummed you were gone when I woke up, and I had to cuddle with someone else,” I say teasingly even though I feel anything but. “Louise was more than happy to fill that role.”

She snorts. “I have no doubt. That damn cat is only nice to me when you’re not there. She kept tapping me with her paw, and after a while I gave up on sleep and came to grab breakfast and now we’re here.”

“I thought you’d be halfway to Colorado by now,” I say, my voice surprisingly neutral.

Placing the bag and tray on the hood of her car, she walks toward me until she’s only a breath away. Her smile is easy as she uses her hand to block the sun from her eyes.

“You’ve been snooping?”

“Are you leavin’?” I ask again. “Louise stepped on your laptop—turned it on and I saw the email welcoming you to the team.” I force myself to ask the question, and it takes twice as much effort to keep my face impassive.

“I did get the job,” she says as she takes a step toward me and wraps her arms around my neck. “And this morning, I politely declined.”

“You did?” My hands move to rest on her hips like they’ve done so many times already. It’s natural—we’re natural—and I want it like this always.

“You’re not a very good detective, are you?” she teases.

“Apparently not.”

She bites her bottom lip, her gaze locked on mine. “I realized that I’ve been running for a long time, Case. I’ve been searching for the next big adventure when all this time I’ve been waiting to find you.”

“Is that right?” I say as casually as I can because that’s an impossibly big revelation for just this morning.

“Every single day is an adventure with you, Case Thayer. Every day is something new and exciting and I love that. I love us and that you’ve never pushed me to be something I’m not. You embraced my crazy and my need for wide open spaces, but you still gave me this safe spot to land.”

“Can I get that on the record? I don’t think Mama is gonna believe I’m responsible for grounding anyone.” She grins as her fingers play with hair on the back of my head.

“I want to make a life with you, Case. I want to have fresh flowers in my bookstore that my boyfriend brings me just because. I want to do a boudoir shoot for Miss Thelma because she promised to bring the Moscow mules and I love her spirit, and if she wants to work it for the camera, who am I to stop her?”

“Are you sayin’ you’re gonna be Miss Thelma when you’re old?”

“I’m sayin’ it’s a distinct possibility.”

“I think I can live with that.”

“So you’re in this with me? Sneaking off to dark supply closets for quickies and malfunctioning vibrators and holding me through every thunderstorm for the rest of our lives?”

“You make it sound terrible.” I rub my nose against hers, but I can’t fight my smile. “Really awful even.”

“The worst,” she agrees.

“I want it.” I press a lingering kiss to her lips and then stare into her navy-blue eyes as I say, “I want it all and I want it for always.”

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