Page 144 of Pinch of Love
I let out a sigh and shook my head, bringing Maya in for a hug. “Pink daisies.”
Maya clung to me. “Oh, Cash. Sometimes, the signs are so vivid and pointed that it makes it even harder to believe. I’m sorry I left. I finally understand that I am worthy, and I’m not going to be afraid any longer. If I hurt you, I’m sorry in advance, and if you hurt me, I’m coming for you.”
I chuckled as she unhooked her arms from my waist.
“I almost said this last week,” she explained softly, “but I want to say it now.”
I held up my hand. “Don’t.”
“Don’t what?”
I wanted to say it first. I swept her back into my arms and ran my mouth along her exposed neck. “Maya Bailey, from the moment I met you, my world was turned upside down. I love you more than you’ll ever know.”
She stomped her foot and giggled as my mouth found hers. Tasting her laughter was the best feeling in the world.
“I love you too, Cash Knox,” she said in between our kisses, “but I can’t handle this any longer.”
Maya took a step back and twirled around to see the disaster of a house I’d been living in.
“I didn’t expect you to come here. You’ve seen how amazingly clean my houses usually are.”
She snickered, and a snort popped out. “Give me thirty minutes, and I’ll have this place whipped into shape.”
“I got it.” I stopped her. “Seriously. I can think of other things we could spend our time doing.”
But Maya didn’t listen. She turned into a whirlwind of activity, picking up magazines to recycle and gathering cups and paper plates, while I grabbed a broom and started to sweep the kitchen floor.
When she’d finally slowed down enough, I reached out for her wrist and tugged her toward me.
“You remind me of a pixie on speed.”
Her brows rose. “You’ve met a lot of pixies in your day?”
“We can do the rest tomorrow,” I growled, moving my lips to hers.
“Fine,” she muttered with her lips pressed to mine. “Then take me to bed, and don’t expect me to rise early.”
Chapter Thirty-Seven
Maya
Our kisses filled my soul and told me I’d finally been right about love. I was supposed to feel something, and whenever I looked at Cash, boy, did I feel something. We’d basically spent the last two weeks of October making out, making our way to bed, and making up excuses as to why we’d turned down every single invite around town.
But today’s invitation couldn’t be ignored. Cash’s parents were having an autumn soiree—Cash’s mom’s wording, not mine—and for whatever reason, we were expected to be there.
I had a sneaking suspicion it had to do with Daisy and Hunter and the Sunshine Breakfast Club. Regardless, the setting was beautiful, and my sister Nina had arrived a few nights ago.
Rows of apple trees lined the property, and a beautiful red barn perched over the rolling hills set the beauty in its place. Large boxes near the barn were filled with pumpkins that we could choose from tonight to take home.
Several picnic benches had been lined under an archway of apple trees where white lights and red globes dangled. Several heat lamps had been sprinkled in between the tables and chairs to keep us all warm. There wasn’t a thing that Cash’s mom hadn’t thought of, and I was grateful I finally got to meet her a few mornings ago for coffee. It made tonight less strange.
“You want something to drink?” Cash asked.
I nodded. “Sure. I’ll take a cider with some kick.”
Cash winked at me as Nina wandered over. She wore a tan moleskin skirt and a beautiful, flowing orange top along with several dangly necklaces with all kinds of stones. Her dark hair’s waves had been swept back into a long braid with a scarf tied around the base.
“How do you do it?” I asked Nina.