Page 53 of Always Mine

“Yeah, they’re going to get torn up and tossed in his grits anyway.” My gaze flies to Paxton, whose eyes are big and his cheeks flushed. “Sorry, I don’t know where that came from.”

I do. It’s from years of watching me eat this exact breakfast in this exact place.

Milly refills my coffee and says something I don’t catch before leaving. If I wasn’t too busy staring at Paxton maybe I’d have caught her words.

Releasing a shaky breath, I look down at my plate, snagging a piece of sausage and stuffing it into my mouth. Damn, I didn’t even ask for silverware either. Paxton is ruining my ability to focus.

“You want Paxton’s silverware?” This time it’s Bryan who notices what I’m looking for. At least he doesn’t sound sarcastic. He’s pretty monotone, almost like he’s trying to help in his own way. This whole thing is strange.

“God, you Prescott boys,” Lily grumbles, getting up and going to the front where the bin of silverware is before coming back. “Here you go.”

“I still say he could have used Paxton’s. It’s not like they haven’t done worse.”

I choke on the sausage, seeing my life flash before my eyes. Luckily, Lily smacks my back hard enough for it to go flopping back onto my plate.

What have I done to deserve this?

“Okay, Bryan, I need your help at the truck,” Paxton snaps, not doing a good job at all containing his anger. I don’t miss the way his eyes briefly flash to mine, concern lining them before he shakes his head. “We’ll be right back.”

“Damn, I’m going to miss the scolding,” Lily pouts as Paxton pulls Bryan outside.

“He should be scolding you, too. You’re just as much a part of the problem,” Miles says matter-of-factly.

“I don’t know what you mean. I’m an angel. Right, Wyatt?”

“Sure. Thanks for grabbing this for me,” I say, unraveling the silverware and diving into my food, eating at warp speed so I can get the hell out of here.

“So, any Halloween plans?” Lily questions a few moments later.

“Let him eat, Lily,” Paxton grumbles, pushing Bryan to the inside of the booth this time. He sits, leg brushing mine in the process, taking me off guard, and I choke on my mouthful… again.

Could this be any more mortifying?

I’m spluttering up clumps of grits and Paxton reacts, leaning over me to smack my back from his sitting position instead of standing like any normal person would do. So now we’re touching… in so many places, practically chest to chest like we’re doing some weird bro-hug thing as he beats the shit out of my back.

“You okay?” he questions, grabbing the napkin Lily is trying to hand me before wiping my face for me with tender, caring hands. Meanwhile, I’m sucking in lungfuls of air, trying to get my fit under control, but all I can smell and see is Paxton. My senses are completely overtaken by him.

I’m staring at his face only inches from mine, the closest he’s been to me in years. His bottom lip is tucked between his teeth, eyebrows crinkled in concentration, and when he looks up, those blue eyes clash with mine, making breathing even more difficult than it already was. He freezes, one hand resting on my back while the other is resting on my jaw. If it wasn’t for the napkin we’d be skin to skin.

I look from his eyes, lazily following a path down his cheek and mouth before dipping to his throat. His Adam’s apple bobs, and I can just about make out his pulse pounding in his neck.Fuck me. I can practically taste the salty flavor of his skin from years of devouring that very spot.

Jesus.

My tongue snakes out to wet my bottom lip while my mind wanders to stolen barn kisses and countless late-night hideouts… Oh, the things we used to do to each other. My body is reacting, and I’m curious if he’s feeling it too. I peer up and almost gasp when the surprised eyes I saw moments ago are now replaced with molten desire. His jaw is tense, and I realize the hand resting on my back is now fisted around my flannel.

I’m lost. We both are. We’re so lost in our thoughts that we don’t realize people are talking, and that we’re at the center of everyone’s prying eyes.

“Wy.” That husky drawl would typically drop me to my knees, but the nickname is enough to snap me out of it.

I jerk back, hand coming up and slamming against his chest to push him away. Only I’m not really paying attention, and I misjudge where I’m hitting, nailing his healing shoulder.

He groans, jolting slightly and flopping back against the booth as he holds the spot I assaulted.

“Shit. I’m sorry. Are you okay?” I mutter, standing even though I don’t know why.

Forcing a pained smile, he looks at me again. “It’s all good.”

“I didn’t mean to do that. I—”Panicked.

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