Page 39 of Untamed

“I think he might,” Sawyer adds, laughing when she looks at him with the same shocked expression. “Just go, River. It’s fine. He’s clearly head over heels.”

“No!” she cries out, throwing her hands in the air. “Y’all have both lost your damn minds. No. I’m going to finish my date with Sawyer,” she says, lookin’ at him. “And then we will talk on Monday.”

River crosses her arms and looks at me. I can see the dare in her eyes.

Sawyer and I exchange a look. He shrugs his shoulders, as if saying it’s up to me now what I do. And I’ve always been a man of my word — no sense in changing that reputation now. And the way she’s lookin’ at me has me ready to burst in my damn jeans. She’s gotta stop giving me all that fire. Makes a man weak.

I bridge the gap between us and grab onto her hips, giving her a swift tug to the end of the bench. She squeals and tries to fight me, but I’m too fast and far stronger. She trips out onto her feet, and I take the opportunity to bend down and grab hold of her arm.

When I stand back up, she’s bent at the waist and thrown over my shoulder. Her little fists beat on my ass, but I ignore it.

“Was nice seein’ you, Sawyer.” I nod at him.

“See ya Monday,” he says, tipping his drink in my direction. “You owe me for this, by the way.”

“I figured.”

“I hate both of you,” River grumbles.

Everyone in the restaurant is lookin’ at us until I turn and meet their gazes. I just smile and give a wave as I carry her out of Rudy’s, sporting a hard-on that I can’t even be bothered to be ashamed about. Giving her ass a little pat once we’re outside, I carry her down Main Street until we come to my truck. Not a lot of people give us a second glance. I guess when you grow up in a small town, everyone kind of knows how crazy you can be. This is just another weekend for them.

The door creaks when I open the door, and I give her a little toss onto the seat. She is immediately in fighting mode, trying to slide out and past me.

“You’re gonna have to be faster than that, darlin’.” I grab onto her waist and trap her between me and the truck.

“God!” She groans and shoves my chest. “I hate you.”

“No, you don’t.” I grin down at her and lean in closer.

“I do.” Her wall is crumbling. “I really do, Hayes.”

She’s stopped fighting me for now, so I let my hands roam up her body, the dips and curves of her soft figure. Fuck, it feels good to touch her. I wonder if she’s as wet for me as I am hard for her. My fingers tangle in her hair, and I tug her head back to force her to look up at me.

“Let me kiss you, firefly.” My thumb runs across her lips, which part on a sigh.

“Hayes.” She searches my gaze, her eyes worried and hopeful at the same time. “Please don’t break my heart.”

“Never again,” I promise.

And then I kiss her.

Holy shit. He did it. He did pretty much exactly what Evie had suggested the other night, and my head is spinning. I should be furious with him for coming in like that to ruin my date and carry me out like I’m his property.

But if I’m being honest, it really turned me on. The way he ate me up with those gorgeous stormy eyes and threw me over his shoulder like a caveman. Shit, I was a goner. I didn’t even think twice about Sawyer once I was dragged out of that restaurant.

Halfway back to his house, I called out of work. It’s the first time I have ever called out, so they were pretty understanding, even though I know it’s going to be busy. But there was no other choice. There’s nowhere I would rather be than here with Hayes, trying to figure out where this is going.

“This is yours?” I gasp as I walk through the front of his house. I’ve never seen it, having passed up on the offer the last time I was here.

“Yep.”

I glance back at him, and he’s looking almost shy as he leans his back against the front door. The house is gorgeous on the inside. It reminds me so much of his parents’ home, just updated and a bit brighter. It’s got a farmhouse layout, with wide hallways and a huge living room that leads into the kitchen. It’s decorated with cozy colors and so many pictures of his family.

Running my hand along the fireplace mantle, I see something that stops me in my tracks. There’s a picture with a white wood frame, and it’s of us. We were probably in our senior year, and he’s kissing my cheek while I smile at the camera. And then a little farther down, there’s a picture of me and Addie cuddled up on the couch while we read. I touch it lightly, my heart cracking wide open for this man.

My walls have officially crumbled.

“Couldn’t let you go,” he says behind me, his voice low and rough. “You or Addie.”

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