Page 49 of Chasing Home
“I haven’t eaten much all day, and Wade had me chasin’ bulls all day.”
“I don’t care what you eat or why you eat it, Johnny. I just know I’d have wasted most of it if you got it for me.”
The clarification wasn’t needed, but it’s damn nice to know she’s thinking about my feelings.
“Poppy told me you weren’t a vegetarian. That’s how I knew—” I jut my chin at the unwrapped burger in her hands. “There’s a possibility she lied to me just to make things awkward for me, though, so if you actually are against eating meat, feel free to toss it. There’s a veggie burger in the bag, too, just in case.”
“You asked Poppy if I was a vegetarian?”
I shrug. “Yeah. The last thing I needed was to ruin my shot with you because I assumed you eat something you don’t.”
“But you still got a backup option.”
I set my hands in my lap, my still-wrapped burger warming my fingers. Swiping my tongue over my lips to wet them, I try to wrangle my words together. She’s already looking at me when I turn my head toward her.
“I’ve got manners in spades, Aurora. Spent a lot of time thinkin’ about how I’d treat a woman I was this interested in. One thing you’ll never have to worry about with me is being treated less than you deserve. And buying a veggie burger as a fail-safe is nowhere close to what I’ve got up my sleeve when it comes to you. Am I bein’ clear here?”
Her throat stretches and strains with a thick swallow. Our gaze holds. “Yeah, you’re crystal clear.”
I take a risk and move my hand to the top of her knee, keeping my touch soft, testing. When she doesn’t jerk her leg away, I give it one single squeeze before removing my touch and starting to remove the foil around my burger.
She watches me take the first bite, those deep blue eyes focused on my mouth as I chew before falling to her own food. I watch her just as seriously, curious for her every reaction to the taste of it.
And when she sinks her teeth into the thick bun and mix of all my favourite toppings before getting to the burger patty, I grow rock-solid in my Wranglers. Her moan is deep and thick. It tugs at my gut and nearly draws up one of my own.
I shove my mouth full of dry fries before I can let one loose.
16
AURORA
I wasn’t surprised that the diner food was really, really good. I’ve been there more than a few times since I’ve come to Cherry Peak, and it’s never disappointed me. It’s been so long since I’ve had a real home-cooked meal, though, so maybe I’ve just forgotten what something less greasy tastes like.
My fingers curl tighter around my Styrofoam milkshake cup before I drop it and Johnny’s into the garbage can. They hit the bottom of the bag with a plop as I turn and take in a steadying breath. The ragingly loud noises outside are a reminder that Johnny is still here. My next inhale is stuttered.
I’m content with having him here. After we ate, I realized I didn’t want him to leave yet. I was relieved when he went out to his truck and hauled a tool box from the bed of it before starting to demolish my porch if it meant we got some more time together.
And demolish is putting it lightly.
I go to the front window and gawk at the instant view of him balancing a crowbar in one hand and rotted wood slats in the other. Each broken piece is tossed onto the growing pile in the yard. I’ve only been inside for two minutes, and it’s already nearly doubled in size.
He doesn’t need to be doing this for me. I’d never have asked anyone for their help with this place. It’s not mine to begin with, and soon enough, it’ll go back to sitting on the street empty, waiting for another renter to stumble by. But it would be nice not to worry about falling through the steps on my way to work every day . . .
A fist bouncing off the front window has me flinching before refocusing on the man now staring at me. Johnny smirks knowingly and rests his hands on his narrow hips, his head cocked.
His voice carries through the screen door. “You’re not allowed to hide in there all night, darlin’!”
“I’m not hiding! And it’s only been two minutes.”
He laughs, and intent on proving him wrong, I swing open the door and step outside. My eyes bug at the full state of the porch and the broken railings that now cover my yard. I’m grateful we decided to have dinner a bit earlier than I’d usually have it on my own. We’d have gotten a noise complaint from the neighbours if he started this at night.
“You work quick,” I tell him.
“When I want to. There’s a time and place for all kinds of speeds,” he replies smoothly, coming to stand at the bottom of the stairs.
The sexual innuendo isn’t lost on me, and I can’t help but play into it a bit, enjoying knowing I can do that with him. “I haven’t had a lot of experience with that, actually. Fast is usually my speed of choice.”
One hand slides into his pocket as his smirk stretches wider, bordering into smile territory. “Always?”