“Not yet. But we will. Sit tight.” Roman hangs up.
Valen’s already picking my sweatshirt off the floor and walking to me. He tugs it over my head while blood whooshes in my ears.
Have I ever been this angry?
“Are we safe here?” I ask.
“Roman said to stay here, so yes.” His gaze darts from one window to the next.
“Roman can?—”
The front door of the Chug opens, and I swallow so much air on a gasp that I choke.
Valen tugs me behind him while reaching for a weapon I hadn’t noticed at his back until now.
Keys jingle from a large brass ring, and I nearly sob in relief.
“Morning!” Blissy calls out. She’s here to open Blissful Beans & Leaves for the day. “Didn’t expect anyone here this—oh.” She stops, taking in the scene. “Oh my.” Blissy grins and fans her face.
My cheeks go nuclear because her words sound like a catcall.
“We were just?—”
“Working,” Valen supplies smoothly. “Clover was writing because she couldn’t sleep. I was keeping her company.”
“Uh-huh.” Blissy’s smile has me blushing in seven different shades of embarrassment. “So, you were…supervising?”
“Something like that,” Valen says, tugging on the back of his neck.
Blissy laughs. “Well, don’t let me interrupt. I’ll just be putting pots on if you need anything. Coffee’s on the house for our local celebrity and her…supervisor. But if you wouldn’t mind cracking a window or two, it’ll help get the sex out of the air.” She cackles, then disappears behind her cart, and I bury my face in my hands.
“She’s never going to let me live this down,” I groan.
“She doesn’t care,” Valen says.
“Everyone in town will know by the time we leave here.”
“So?” He shrugs. “Let them know. I’m good with everyone knowing you’re mine and I’m yours.”
I peek at him through my fingers. “Really?”
“Really.” He pulls my hands away and kisses me softly. “In fact, I want everyone to know.”
“You say that now. Wait until Chief and Agnes start planning our wedding.”
“Less work for us to do, right?”
I huff. “You have no idea what you’re getting into here.”
“This town loves you.” He takes my hand in his, and my heart stops for so long I’m lightheaded. It does it every time he reaches for me as though he’s done it his entire life. “Come on. We need to be ready when Roman gets here.”
I allow him to tug me into his chest, where I linger for a moment, enjoying his warm embrace, and prepare myself for the battle that’s to come.
We’re still standing that way when Chase crashes into the Chug.
“There you are. Roman’s been trying to—” He stops, then stares at the blankets we haven’t put away yet. “Were you two—” He makes an obscene gesture with thrusting hips, and I die of mortification.
“Don’t,” Valen warns.
