Page 36 of Pinch of Love
My heart raced, and I shook my head frantically. “No. Don’t go.”
Grandma Millie twisted her lips into a contemplative expression, and for a brief moment, I believed she might actually stay.
Until the front door swung open and Cash stepped back inside.
On a normal day, I might notice just how good-looking he was in his tight jeans and open-front flannel shirt layered over a tee, but not right now.
Right now, I had bigger things to worry about, like how long I should wallow. When I should talk myself into going back to North Carolina to fight this head-on.
I squared my shoulders as a tiny wet tongue smacked my chin.
“She likes you,” Cash said, smiling.
“Okay, you two. Off I go,” Millie hummed as she patted my wrist and left in a flash.
Cash pointed over his shoulder. “Listen, I can take off if you want, or I can stay and lend an ear. Really, whatever.”
Cash's green eyes steadied on mine with an intensity that made my insides squeeze. He adjusted a leather band on his wrist and watched me, waiting for an answer I was slow to give.
“I don’t want to be a bother. Seriously, my problems aren’t your problems.”
“Well,” he joked, and I couldn’t help but laugh.
“Okay, so maybe sometimes my problems become your problems.” No matter how much I knew I should rip my gaze from his, I couldn’t. The erratic feelings running through me made no sense. On the one hand, I wanted him to run over to me and tell me everything was going to be fine, and on the other hand, I wanted him to give a quick nod and head out the door.
“So, should I stay? Or should I go?” he prompted.
He looked at his dog and smiled. “She really likes you.”
I grinned. “I’m a rather likable person on a normal day, but you haven’t really seen me on any normal days.”
Cash nodded and let out a deep breath. “Normal days are overrated.”
“I don’t know about that.” I handed him the lightweight pup with one hand, and Chewie licked one of Cash’s pink rubber gloves, which I just now noticed. “Pink is a good color on you.”
“I thought so.” Cash’s eyes studied me.
“Have you eaten dinner yet?” I asked, suddenly not wanting to be alone. “I know it’s kind of early.”
“All this rescuing has made me famished.”
I nodded, unsure of what I’d just done to myself. “I bet. Want a beer?”
“Thought you’d never ask.”
I wandered into the kitchen and opened the fridge. “I’m really sorry about the dumbwaiter and all.”
“Don’t be. You make my life really...”
I turned around, handing him a beer. “Really what?”
“Interesting.”
I chuckled. “Sorry about that. Most people like Buttercup Lake so things aren’t so interesting.”
His eyes stayed on mine. “I’m not one of them.”
I swallowed away the wave of excitement that rose from my belly.