Page 80 of Erik's Salvation
“Hey.” She swallowed, trying to get her bearings. “You look…”
He stepped forward and curved an arm around her waist. “Handsome? Strong? Like a warrior?”
“All three.”
“Hm.” He leaned down and kissed her, and God, those lips catapulted her somewhere else. She had no idea where. She didn’t care. As long as he was there with her, that was the only place she wanted to be.
He slid his tongue between her lips, and she hummed. His kisses, his taste, his earthy pine scent…it had all become so achingly familiar to her now.
When his head rose, she groaned. She wanted more. She wanted every part of this man to be hers.
He chuckled. “We’re going to be late, Angel.”
Argh. Anything else, and she’d miss it. Throw her bag down and drag him to the bedroom. But she wanted to have dinner with his parents and siblings. She wanted to spend time with this man’s family, weave herself into his life so they could intertwine and build one together.
“You’re right,” she grumbled.
He laughed again. And God, she loved that. He didn’t laugh often, but it was a beautiful sound. One she wanted to play over and over again in her head.
Once they were driving, he reached over and wrapped his fingers around her thigh. Touching each other seemed to be something neither of them could resist. “How was your day?”
“Really good, actually. I went into the office and did some paperwork for a house that’s about to sell.”
“On a Saturday afternoon?”
She lifted a shoulder. “I love my job, and sales haven’t been great, so I’m happy to work whenever I have to.”
His brows flickered. “A few weeks ago, I saw some job advertisements on your counter…”
She cringed. She hadn’t realized he’d seen them. And his statement just now wasn’t really a question, but it kind of was. “I’ve been applying for second jobs. When I renovated my house, sales were great, so I put all my savings into it. Since then, things have been a bit tougher.”
A bit? Ha, that was an understatement.
At his silence, she lifted a shoulder, feeling awkward about the topic. “I’m managing.”
If the narrowing of his eyes was anything to go by, he didn’t like that answer. But it was the best she could do without lying.
“If you need money, Angel—”
“Don’tfinish that sentence. I’ll be okay. Really.” Taking money from the man she’d only just started dating? Nope. Absolutely not. She’d stood on her own two feet her entire life, and that was not changing now.
His fingers tightened on the wheel. “Fine. But you’ll let me know if you need help, won’t you?”
Sure. Once she was homeless and insulin-less…then her ego might be so fractured she could reach out. “Yes.”
His jaw clenched as if he’d heard her thoughts. “How’s your blood sugar today?”
Thank God, a change of topic. “Always hanging on by a thread,” she joked. “I’m fine. And I brought my diabetes bag, so I won’t be passing out on your family.”
He tightened his fingers around her thigh. “I still think Reuben should be upping your health insurance to cover a monitor and pump.”
“Unfortunately, that’s only one part of the equation. Some people actually have two insurance companies, and they still have to pay thousands of dollars for pumps.” To say she thought little of companies that didn’t cover the cost of vital equipment would be a big fat understatement.
She set her hand on top of his. “I’ve managed to keep myself alive this long without those things.” Another narrowing of his eyes. All right, time for a second change in topic. “Have you seen your family much since moving back to town?”
“Weekly dinners. We usually do Sunday, but my brother Nate, who’s a SEAL, is leaving tomorrow. He’s been here on leave since the fundraising ball.”
“Oh, I’m sorry. Everyone must be sad to see him go.”
