I stopped, my cheeks on fire.
He stepped closer, reached out, and brushed his thumb along the edge of my jaw in a way that made me forget what air was for.
“You’re not pushing,” he said.“You’re wanted.”
My eyes stung, and I hated that.I hated how fast emotion came when I was already tired.“You’re sure?”I asked, softer now.“Because I don’t want to make things weird.”
His gaze held mine like he didn’t know how to look away.“It’s not weird,” he said.“It makes me happy.”
That single sentence hit me harder than it should’ve.
Happy.
Notfine.Notwhatever.Notsure, if you want.
Happy.
Pepper barked like he approved.Salt bumped Saint’s leg with his shoulder, like he was signing off on the decision too.
Saint glanced down at the dogs and gave Pepper a quick scratch behind the ears.“You guys ready for a ride?”
Pepper nearly levitated.
Salt’s nub wagged twice.
I let out a shaky laugh.“I guess that means yes.”
Saint opened the passenger-side door for me like it was the most natural thing in the world.The truck was warm inside, smelling faintly of coffee, leather, and manly like Saint.The dogs scrambled in first, with Pepper trying to claim the whole bench seat until Saint pointed a finger at him.“Make room for us,” he said calmly.
Pepper huffed but shifted to press up against my thigh like he was protecting me.
Salt settled next to Pepper, and then Saint climbed in.
I buckled my seatbelt and stared out the windshield.
Saint started the truck, and the engine rumbled steadily beneath us.
“Where are we going?”I asked.
He pulled out slowly, careful on the snowy street.“Just driving.”
“Just driving,” I echoed, and my voice sounded lighter already.
He glanced at me, one hand on the wheel, the other resting on his thigh.“You’ve been trapped in that bakery for weeks, Belle.You need to see something that isn’t icing and gingerbread.”
I swallowed around the lump in my throat.“I don’t know how to do that.”
“Good thing I do,” he murmured.
We drove through town at first, past store windows packed with wreaths and twinkling lights.The streets were quieter tonight, with most people home eating dinner or wrapping presents.
Then Saint turned out toward the edge of town, where the road opened up into darker stretches lined with bare trees and snow-covered fields.The truck tires crunched softly over salt and ice.The heater hummed.Pepper sighed and pressed his head against my hip like he’d decided this was the best day of his life.
Salt stayed upright, watching the road like he was on patrol.
“Your mom,” I said after a few minutes, because I couldn’t stop thinking about it.“She’s… a lot.”
Saint chuckled.“That’s a nice way to put it.”
