Page 69 of Hogging the Hunk
Turning my face to the sky, I smiled so hard I thought I might burst into a million pieces. Returning my eyes to her affectionate gaze, I realized how absolutely lucky I was. Of all the women in the world, I’d convinced the best one of all to love me.
“There’s something I’ve been wanting to do for a really, really long time.” Beckett ran her thumb across my jawline and her innocent smile vanished. Her expression glinted with mischief.
It was my turn to play naïve. “What might that be?”
“This.”
Standing on her tiptoes, she drew me down to her, and we met in the middle as our lips collided. The effect on me was instantaneous. What had been burning slowly as an untapped ember of passion finally had what it needed to roar to life. Between the two of us was an eagerness to make up for lost time. Logic tried to remind me to be sensible, that there would be time later to catch up. Relationships were like marathons, and weren’t won in a frantic sprint.
I shoved that voice of reason into a closet and slammed the door.
Beckett’s hands traced the muscles of my back, and I caught my fingers in her hair. All of my senses were alive and firing on all cylinders. The floral scent of her hair, the feel of her silky lips, the gratified sound of her groan… it all culminated in a moment that could only be described as magical.
Kissing Beckett was everything I dreamed it would be. I couldn’t say that I hadn’t wished it had happened earlier, though waiting had heightened the experience. This wasn’t a cheap, greedy kiss to satisfy myself. This was two souls communicating on the lips of a man and woman. We had found our bravery in one of the most perilous, powerful human experiences—love.
The flash of lights from a sheriff’s car barely slowed us down. I was so enraptured with Beckett that I wouldn’t have cared if we were on a stage with a football stadium full of people watching. Beckett had more decency than me. Retracting her lips from mine, she squinted into the headlights, though I was glad she didn’t push away. Every other part of us was still tangled together snugger than a twist tie on a bread bag.
“Beckett, is that you?” Clint’s booming voice carried through the darkness. Apparently we’d been kissing for a while—there wasn’t a trace of sunset left and the entire sky was blanketed with twinkling stars. Each of them seemed to shine approvingly for us.
“Yes, Clint. It’s me.”
“Is this guy bothering you?” Clint shined his flashlight at my face.
He was giving me a hard time, all in good fun, though if I hadn’t known him and his parents from day one in Button Blossom, he would have been intimidating. He was as big and burly as me, though a few years younger. Heightened on the kiss-induced adrenaline, I was confident I could have taken him.
Beckett looked to me, her eyes catching the light. They sparkled as she schemed. “Oh, yeah. He keeps telling me he loves me.”
The passenger door of Clint’s car opened and Trixie stepped out. “He looks like he’s a good kisser, too.”
Trixie grinned, Beckett giggled, and my face turned scarlet. Maybe I wasn’t made for public kissing.
Beckett answered, “He was just showing me his skills.”
“Finally,” Trixie muttered.
“Sir, what do you have to say for yourself?” Clint said, feigning sternness as he spread his stance and rested his hands on his belt. “Do I need to take you in for questioning?”
“I don’t think that’s necessary.” Gazing ardently at Beckett, I stroked a wisp of hair off her face. “I’ll confess right here and now how much I love her to anyone who asks.”
Beckett’s expression was a fusion of smiles and tears. With hands on either side of my face, she kissed me again. “I love you, too.”
“Aww,” Trixie said, wiping a tear from her lashes. “It’s about time you two woke up to the truth. Apparently it took a tornado for that to happen, huh?”
“It certainly was a catalyst,” I agreed.
“Come on, honey,” Clint said, opening the door for Trixie and helping her back inside. “Let’s go. These fine people don’t need our help.”
Selfishly, I’d only been thinking about Beckett, Ellie, and myself following the tornado. Coming out of my self-absorbed stupor, I asked Clint, “Was anyone hurt by the tornado? Could you use some help with cleaning up? I haven’t gotten any phone calls from anyone needing help with their livestock.”
Clint shut Trixie’s door. “Nope. Not a single urgent call came into the station, either, other than to report power outages or smashed cars. Sounds like the twister didn’t actually touch down. It looks like the biggest damage was to Beckett’s ex’s billboard. Think he’ll be upset it’s been ripped down?”
“I have a feeling he won’t be back to check.” Beckett chuckled. “His ego’s what took the biggest blow.”
Trixie rolled down the window. “I feel like there’s a story I’m gonna get out of you on girls’ night. Next Tuesday, be prepared.”
“I’ll tell you all about it,” Beckett promised. “You’ll be begging me to shut up.”
“Unlikely!” Trixie twiddled her fingers as Clint drove away, leaving Beckett and me alone.