The instant my head came up, he tagged me around the back of the neck and pulled me to him.
Then he kissed me.
This was a new one.
I had very limited experience kissing. In fact, the kisses I’d shared with Chace more than doubled the kisses I’d had my whole life. I liked them all (Chace’s, that was).
Including this one.
His mouth moved over mine then opened slightly so I followed suit. Then his tongue slid in, not a thrust, not an invasion but a lazy stroke.
My belly melted, my blood heated and I nearly lost my coffee.
He broke his mouth from mine but only moved about a millimeter away.
“Mornin’,” he whispered, his deep blue eyes looking into mine.
“Morning, Chace,” I whispered back and watched his eyes smile.
His hand took it’s time sliding from my neck, taking my hair with it in a way that felt like he was enjoying running it through his fingers.
Then he sat back in his seat and his eyes moved to the library.
I took an unsteady breath and took a sip of my coffee.
Another hazelnut latte. It didn’t occur to me yesterday but it occurred to me then that he had to have asked Sunny or Shambles what my usual was and got it for me.
A nice thing to do.
Having this thought, my eyes moved to the library too. I’d gotten smart and parked on the street but on the side opposite the library, about a house down. I’d also kept the heat pumping. But before this, I laid out the stash.
“I take it, you’re here, no sign of him yet,” Chace noted, eyes to the library, lifting his cup to his mouth and taking a sip after he was done talking.
“Nope,” I replied and watched him take a sip.
It wasn’t that I hadn’t noticed. I way had. But having had those lips on mine and now sitting in my truck with him so close and no drama happening, it hit me in a way it never had before how attractive his lips were. The bottom one full, little sexy ridges in it, the top one well formed, more ridges, a perfect match.
It also hit me how square and strong his jaw was and that I’d never seen it, not once, with stubble on it. Not even a hint.
But I bet he’d look good with stubble.
Then again he’d look good with anything.
It further hit me that he had very cut cheekbones. So cut, they hollowed out his cheeks. Since he had a perfect, straight, strong nose, blond hair and blue eyes, that jaw, those lips, his cheekbones and those hollows adjusted his Man Category. Without them, he’d be the cute boy next door.
With them, he was the rugged, rural mountain town cop who’d seen it all, wasn’t impressed by much and didn’t take any shit.
It seemed strange, yet hot, that he dressed well, had a nice SUV, never had stubble, obviously took care of his body but yet his thick, dark blond hair hinted at unruly. It was swept back from his face in a natural way that didn’t suggest usage of product. I’d seen, on occasion, when there was wind and I’d noticed him outside, that locks of his hair would fall on his forehead. Or when I’d happened to see him running and he was sweating, I’d seen his hair plastered there. But usually, it looked nice, neat, taken care of.
But there were bits of it that curled around his ears and his strong neck. Unruly bits that curled in as well as out. A hint of wild. A hint of unkempt. Just that barest hint he needed a haircut but in a way, if I was asked, I’d get down on my knees and beg him not to do it. In a way that those unruly curls made me want to reach out, take hold of one and tug.
My belly melted again.
Chace’s head turned to me
“Got bad news.”
I blinked at his words that took me out of my very pleasant thoughts.