“Okay, okay.”
“How did you survive without me keeping you safe?”
She smooths over her hair. “Barely.”
“Devil woman, bewitching me with your charms.”
She flutters her lashes. “And is it workin’?”
I gesture at the road. “You really gotta ask? I’m fixin’ to drive you all the way from Kentucky to Cali.”
Tally hums the chorus of ‘Heads Carolina, Tails California.’ “Fair point. But there’s one thing missing on this road trip.”
“Ever the passenger princess making demands,” I tease.
“Hell no! I ain’t no passenger princess. Usually, my standard rule is‘Keys or get the fuck out.’”
“Is that so?” I raise a brow.
“I don’t need a man to drive me around.” A flush creeps over her cheeks, deepened into crimson by the setting sun. “You’re the exception. F-for nostalgia’s sake!”
“You’re my exception, too. I never let another girltouch this truck, let alone ride in it. You’re my one and only passenger princess.”
She narrows her eyes at me. “I told you already: Flattery gets you nowhere.”
“Wrong. Flattery gets you everywhere. It got you in the shower with me.”
Her mouth opens and closes. She can’t pretend that didn’t happen.
“Let’s stop at that little gas station!” she says suddenly, pointing. “Cause gettin’ back to my original point, we’re missing snacks and drinks.”
I pull over, killing the engine by the only pump. “Good opportunity to fill up the tank, too. You wanna keep driving all night?”
“Do we have to decide now? Let’s see where the wind takes us. That’s the point of this trip. I gotta be in LA by next Friday, but until then I’m free.” With a shrug, she unbuckles her seatbelt, takes her bag and gets out.
I whistle. “Oh, hell naw! Stop right there, Trouble!”
I jump out and sprint after her. She squeals as I scoop her into a bridal carry.
“Let me down! I’m too heavy!” she protests and slaps my chest.
I scoff, marching back to the truck. “Perfect is what you are. I ain’t one of them stupid city boys who don’t appreciate you. I’m a grown man and I can hold all of you—body and soul. You deserve to be treated like a queen and that’s exactly what I’m fixin’ to do, whether you like it or not.”
Tally sucks in a sharp breath. “Fuck, that’s hot…”
I put her in the passenger seat, blocking the door with my body.
She giggles nervously, bright pink burning into her cheeks. “What’s gotteninto you?”
“Here’s one ofmyrules, Trouble: My wife ain’t opening her car door herself.”
“Ex-wife,” she sputters, barely getting the word out.
She flusters so easily when I call her my wife. I love it and tell myself that it means she cares at least a little.
“Wife,” I growl. “Now are you gonna let me open the damn car door for you?
She nods, her thighs clenching as if I told her to shut up and suck my cock—and she liked it. Nothing like a bit of good ol’ country manners to get a girl going.
