When TJ doesn’t respond right away, I cut him with a look. He’s got his lips pressed together and his eyes closed. He cracks one eye open and glances at me with a wolfish grin. “Don’t mind me, I’ve got a great mental picture going. There’s bubbles, and you in a bikini, and me laying you down on the hood of my truck, and—”
I reach over and swat at him, laughing. “TJ! You’re the worst.”
He catches my hand and kisses my palm. “You put the thought in my head, sweetheart.”
I try to pout, but I can’t help but smile.
TJ kisses my hand again. “To be fair, you’re always in my head.” He pulls my hand over and places it on his chest. “But more importantly, you’re always here, in my heart.”
I feel like I’m floating on a happy little cloud of love dust. The best part of my relationship with TJ is that we can be both fun and playful and serious and thoughtful with each other. I have never once worried that he’s only into me for my looks.
I turn into the car wash parking lot, and my heart starts beating faster. “Alright, what do I do?”
“I promise this is not going to be as bad as you think. I’m right here to walk you through it.” TJ directs me where to drive, and I get through the touch screen prompts without issue. There’s a car in front of us, so we have to wait.
“Of course,” I grumble. “We have to draw this out. As soon as it’s warmer, we’re going to the zoo. It’s only fair.”
TJ grabs my hand and runs his thumb over my knuckles. He doesn’t tell me to chill. He doesn’t make fun of me for my temper. He just sits with me. He’s exactly what I need.
I sigh and rest my head back against the headrest, turning so I’m facing him. “You really are the best, you know that?”
“I do,” he says easily, grinning.
I huff out a laugh. “And always so modest.”
“Nah.” He turns serious. “I’d better be the best when it comes to you. You deserve nothing less.”
I shake my head. “How is it possible that you are smoother than any main character in any book I’ve ever written? Or read, for that matter?”
He shrugs. “Because I was made for you.”
I smirk. “There you go again, basically writing romance novel lines for me.” I lean across the console and kiss him as the car in front of us pulls out and the garage doors open. The lights are blinking and the arrows are flashing, telling me to move forward.
“It’s my turn.”
“You’ve got this. Ease forward, lining up your tire with the track,” TJ coaches.
I do what he says, and I feel my tires lock in place.
“Now put it into neutral,” he instructs. “And take your foot off the brake.”
“Okay. That’s done. Now what?” I’m gripping the wheel for dear life, but TJ reaches over and gently pries my hands off it.
“You don’t want to accidentally get us off track. That’s all.” He keeps my hands in his as the water starts spraying all around us. The truck moves forward on its own, and I look around.
“Really? That’s it?”
“That’s it. You did it.” He brings my hands to his mouth and kisses every finger. “I’m proud of you, Lu.”
I beam. “So now we wait for it to be done?”
He nods.
“Dang.” I free one of my hands from his and tap my chin, arching my brows with feigned innocence. “I should have brought my cross-stitch hoop. Got any ideas about how we can pass the time?”
As the water and soap foam around us, TJ deftly unhooks my seat belt and lifts me into his lap. “I’m sure we can figure something out.”
He covers my mouth with his, and it’s official. Car washes are my new favorite thing.
