For a heartbeat, she didn’t move. She just stared at the broad, calloused hand in front of her—followed it up with his thick wrist dusted with a few dark wisps of hair, along the hard slope of his forearm where he’d shoved up his sleeves, over the curve of his biceps and up, up, up until she met those amused steel-gray eyes that seemed to see straight into her thoughts.
Her mind flashed to all the deliciously naughty ways those powerful hands had felt against her much softer body, and heat surged through her in a dizzying wave.
Rush’s mouth curved into a knowing grin, sealing her fate.
She didn’t even hesitate.
“I’m ready,” she said, her voice stronger now. She grabbed her jacket, slipped her hand into his, and stood.
The entire bar seemed to let out a collective exhale.
“Have fun with Sheriff Sexy!” Amber shouted from across the pub.
Laughter and raucous cheers erupted, replacing the tension with good-natured teasing. Someone whistled. Cap tipped his head toward them in approval, and the rookies raised their beers, not entirely sure of the occasion but happy to be a part of it anyway.
Rush stopped abruptly.
“Oof.” Lily grunted as she walked into what felt like a brick wall.
He turned around, and for a moment, she wasn’t sure how he would react, knowing how much he disliked public attention.
Instead, a slow, wicked grin crept across his face, and he lifted his chin toward Amber.
“We intend to, ma’am.”
A fresh wave of laughter broke out behind them as he slung his arm around Lily’s shoulders, tugging her close to the heat of his body.
And just like that, they walked out into the snow like a couple.
Chapter Twenty-One
“Oh my God.Did that really just happen?”
Lily closed her eyes and leaned back against the brick wall just outside the entrance of the pub, her breath puffing into the cold night air. Snow drifted down in lazy spirals, dusting her red curls and catching in her lashes like glitter. Her sexy mouth curved in a grin, and for the first time since he’d walked into the pub and seen her, the tension was gone from her face, replaced by laughter.
Fierce satisfaction settled in his chest at that look. The tight, pinched expression she’d worn while staring down that smug asshole ex of hers was gone, replaced by the smile he hadn’t stopped thinking about in a month. Rush leaned a shoulder against the wall and didn’t even try to hide the way he stared.
Her cheeks were flushed a deep, rosy pink. Her hair was down tonight, those soft wild curls spilling over the shoulders of her coat, a far cry from the tight, efficient little bun she’d worn the last time he saw her. The wool hugged her close, but he’d caught sight of the dark-green dress underneath from inside the pub. Sleek, clinging to her curves, and skimming over her waist and thighs in a way that made it hard to tear his eyes away.
A snowflake landed on her bottom lip, the pillowy, perfect pink mouth he’d kissed. Tasted. Bitten. He couldn’t look away. Her tongue peeked out and swept across it absently. Lust slammed into him, brutal and sharp, making every muscle in his body tense.
She looked relaxed. Radiant. Beautiful.
And he wanted her so badly it physically hurt.
“You okay?” he asked, his voice rougher than he intended.
She opened her eyes and smiled. “Yeah. I mean—no. But I will be. That was humiliating.”
“You didn’t look humiliated. You were holding your own.”
“Until you rescued me? Again?” Lily added ruefully.
Rush studied her, trying to pull himself back in. Her breath was coming in shallow little puffs, and he knew her well enough now to recognize the signs. “Shit. I shouldn’t have brought you out here in the cold. Do you have your inhaler?”
“Yes,” she gasped, already searching her purse. “I’m fine.”
“You say that every time you can’t breathe,” he said dryly.
