Page 42 of Missing Pieces

Chapter Nineteen

The next day at work I cannot keep the smile off my face. I spent the rest of last night playing with Poe and cuddling on the couch with him. It also felt wonderful to sleep next to a warm body. I don’t give two shits that it was a dog because it was my dog and the best cuddle buddy I could ever ask for.

Besides practically stealing my dog back, Easton managed to stop at a pet store and buy food, bowls, toys, treats, and a bed. Everything I could need to have Poe back in my life, that man did. And I still can’t figure out why. I don’t understand what is so special about me. I am just some girl who practically ran away from her life because she couldn’t stand up to her husband. Then got stuck in a small town because she didn’t even have money to get herself out. I’m kind of a poor excuse for a human being at this point.

I switch back to thinking about my dog because I thought that was what was keeping the smile on my face. Well and that absolutely dreamy, toe-curling, kiss that still has me wanting more.

“What has got you beamin’ a smile so big you practically need sunglasses to look at you? Seriously your smile can probably be seen from space!” Ivy jolts my thoughts back to reality.

I tone down the smile, barely. “I got Poe back!”

She looks at me and folds her arms across her chest. “How in the world did you get your dog all the way from Chicago? I know you couldn’t have driven there overnight and you were with me all weekend. So spill it, sugar.”

“Easton was in Milwaukee and he stopped in Chicago so—”

“Wait a second,” she interrupts, her hands in the air in front of me. “Easton brought you your dog?”

I nod my head. “He made his sister pretend to be me and she convinced the daycare Poe was at to give Poe to him. He—“

“He stole your dog!” she shouts, once again interrupting me. She shakes her head, a smile blooming on her face. “That man has it bad for you.”

A blush creeps up my cheeks. “Yeah, well…I know that now and—“

“Oh my god, you finally slept with him!” This time she practically screams and the handful of people in the diner turn to look at us. I am just happy the Sergeants left.

“I didn’t sleep with him!” I whisper-shout. “But he kissed me. And—“

“Oh honey, you got it bad too.”

“I do not have it bad,” I defend myself. Although I am not entirely sure that is true.

“Mmm hmm. You just keep tellin’ yourself that. But that smile tells me a lot more than you think.” Someone walks in the diner and she moves to go seat them. Turning her head back to me she says, “I’ll start planning y’all’s weddin’ soon.”

I’m tempted to throw a towel at her because I have no intention of marrying anyone soon, or ever, for that matter. I go back to stacking coffee cups to keep myself busy. The door chimes again but I keep working because I assume Ivy will seat them. I grab a handful of dirty towels and turn around to take them to the hamper and run right into a very hard chest.

“Hey.”

“Hi.”

“I feel like we’ve done this before.”

“Maybe,” I mutter, suddenly very aware of the fact that his hands have wrapped around my waist and are grabbing my butt.

“This part might be a little different though.”

I look at him in confusion just before his hot mouth lands on mine. I stiffen at first because I am pretty sure everyone in this diner is staring at us. But I relax into his arms as his small hello kiss quickly turns into an “oh my god I want to rip our clothes off kiss.” I forget about the people in the diner and throw the towels on the floor and wrap my arms around his neck, my hands finding their way into his hair, pulling his mouth closer to mine. He emits a small groan that has my whole body turning to mush. But it all ends too soon as he pulls himself away from my mouth.

“Yeah, that was a lot different.” The side of his mouth lifting into a crooked grin.

The sound of a few throats clearing takes over the diner and I now remember exactly where I am. I let my head fall into his chest to hide my embarrassment and he bellows loud, warm laughter moving his arms up my back to comfort me.

“I told you, y’all got it bad.” Ivy laughs as she grabs the towels I threw on the floor and walks away.

I scrunch my face up at her and stick my tongue out even though I know she can’t see me. Easton smiles down at me a look in his eyes I don’t know how to take. One of his hands comes to my face cupping my cheek the other still firmly planted on my back. “So are you okay with going out with me tonight?”

I smile. “Are you actually asking me? I’m surprised you aren’t telling me, ‘I’ll pick you up at eight.’”

He puts on the pant-dropping grin that I love so much. “Seven.”