“I’m glad you liked it. It’s my favorite of theirs.”
“For guests, I was thinking of doing something for an afternoon snack. Dinner, except for maybe special occasions, probably doesn’t make sense, but some afternoon snacks with local products might keep my guests happy. I could maybe whip something up with that cider.”
“And a great way to make good with other businesses in town.”
“Yes,” I said with a sweet smile, “that occurred to me too.”
Hank’s small laugh at my pretend innocence warmed me all over. The air felt charged with electricity, and I wasn’t sure where to go with it. Well, I mean, I knew where I wanted to go with it, but I also knew that would totally and completely derail my plans. Getting distracted by a guy was my usual downfall. There was no reason in the world to mention that the manager—the guy who screwed me over completely—had also been my Daddy. And what he’d done was a very un-Daddy-like thing to do.
“Your guests are gonna be damn lucky to get your cooking.” He shook his head. “Still think it’s bullshit that guy stole from you. But karma’s a bitch.”
It was like Hank could already read my mind.Jasper, stop it.
“It is. But it’s out of my hands. I refused his bribe because I didn’t want his dirty money. I walked away with clean hands and revenge fantasies from Sissy. Believe me when I say that woman was bloodthirsty. Too bad neither of us is a writer because she could lay them out.”
We ate the rest of our dessert in a quiet, easy silence.
When the plates were empty, I didn’t know what to do next. Normally, I’d be climbing him like a tree, trying to get him back inside and into my bed. But that wasn’t the plan anymore.
I wasn’t going to fall in love. Or lust.
I wasn’t going to get wrapped up in a man.
And if I gave in to what Iwanted, I knew exactly where that would go. I was going to stay hands-off and unattached…but oh my god, Hank was so damn sexy. I wasn’t sure I’d even make it twenty-four hours. Eighteen, maybe. With prayer and a little more luck than I’d ever had.
Hank solved part of my problem when he took my empty plate out of my hand and set them on the porch, though out of the way of our feet. He settled back right next to me again. It could’ve been my imagination, or maybe wishful thinking, but it felt like he was even closer than before.
“You’re lucky your porch faces away from town,” Hank said conversationally. “No light pollution.”
“Is that a problem at your place?”
“Yeah. Mine faces toward town, which makes it harder to see the constellations.”
“Really? I only know one.”
“Let me guess. The Big Dipper?”
“Ha! Of course it’s the Big Dipper. I think we all learned that in fourth grade, and it’s literally the only thing I remember or know about astronomy.”
“I had to take a science elective in college. The only thing that fit my schedule was astronomy. I still don’t know shit about astronomy, but I remember a couple of constellations.”
“You mean…besides the Big Dipper?”
“Yeah, besides that one.”
He slid his arm around my shoulders—casual—then lifted it just enough to point at a star off to the left.
“See that bright one, surrounded by the smaller clustered ones?”
With his hand guiding mine, I followed his line of sight.
“Yeah.”
I tried to keep my breathlessness to myself, but I was way too aware of the press of his thigh against mine. Of the weight of his arm on my shoulders. Of the heat from his body. Of the scent of honey and berries still on his breath. Of how freaking good his skin felt when it brushed mine.
When I’d thrown on another pair of cutoffs earlier, I hadn’t factored in what it would feel like to get this close to him. As it turned out, it felt incredible.
“What constellation is that?” I asked, voice quieter.
