My heart sank. He was upset, retreating from me because of a stupid message.
I rushed through my wash, changed into a tee, yoga pants, and sneakers, grabbed my cell, and ran out into the gray light of morning—
Man! I couldn’t believe I was up and doing what I hate so early in the morning—going running. But it was the only way I could catch up with War disappearing through the bushes.
My cell beeped with a text from Craig again. The urge to fling the device into the sea took hold when the truncated message flashed.
Charlotte, I accept you won’t give me another chance. Hell, I wouldn’t take me back, and I am sorry about everything. So. Do you think War…
Curious, I opened the message and snorted.
The ass! I’d forgotten he was a die-hard hockey fan.
Cell fisted, I hightailed it after War, sprinting across the damn massive yard, through the underbrush, nearly slipping on the decaying mulch there. Sticking my phone in the waist of my pants—because, duh!—I needed both hands, I scrambled carefully down the slopes of boulders edging the trees and leading to the beach, and then burst out onto the soft sands.
Damn. I huffed, glaring at him already halfway to the damp but firmer shoreline.
“War, wait up!” I yelled as he started a slow jog. I pushed hard, knowing I would be punished for my sins of not exercising come morning. With a burst of speed, I closed the distance between us, grabbing the back of his t-shirt and forcing him to stop.
“Charli, let go. I want to finish my run. I have the guys coming in a little while to work on the kitchen.”
“Then listen, and I’ll get out of your hair,” I snapped, craning my neck and glaring up into those gorgeous blues, currently narrowed. His fingers tightened on his water bottle.
“Look, Craig took me by surprise when he kissed me, I told you this. And if it was to cause trouble between us, well, he’s sure succeeding, isn’t he?” I glared pointedly at him. “I mean, here we are—” I shoved a finger into his chest and then mine. “Doing exactly that. And just so you know, I don’t give a crap about him! It’s you I want and fell for!”
Furious, I spun around and marched back for the house, the damn shifting sands not giving me the righteous exit I demanded. A hand grasped my upper arm, and War came around to my front, blocking my way. “What did you say?”
“I don’t give a crap about—”
“No, the last bit.”
Oh. “I’m hopelessly in love with you, you vexing man!”
“Vexing?” A smile started, brightening his deep blue eyes. “I take it, you’re still on your historical kick?”
Gah. He’d seen me readingPride and Prejudice. “Yes.”
Laughter broke free, causing my own smile to surface. With a loud whoop, he dropped his water and picked me up, bringing me eye-level, and he kissed me hard. “You drive me crazy, you know that?”
“Yes. So, no hissy fit about Craig?”
“I don’t throw hissy fits, baby.” He kissed me tenderly this time before setting me on my feet.
I blinked, then hastily retrieved my fallen cell—waistbands,sooonot a good storage place—opened the message, and put the phone in his hand. “Here. Read what he truly wants.”
His narrowed eyes lowered, then a snort escaped him. “Glass seats? Not in my lifetime.” He handed my cell over. “Or any seats from me for my games.”
I finally blocked Craig. Because deleting his name didn’t keep the pest away.
“Okay, I’ll leave you to your run.”
“No.” He took my phone, pushed it into his sweats pocket, and holding my hand, he started a slow run across the damp, firmer sands, dragging me along.
“Wait, wait, what are you doing?” I demanded, trying to keep up since he refused to let me go.
“We’re going for a run.”
“Oh, no, we’re not!”
