His face darkens, so I lean in and rub a hand over his chiseled thigh. “I’m sorry. Didn’t mean to kill the mood.”
He looks up quickly, moves in, and kisses me. “You couldneverkill the mood, baby.”
Once we’re finished, I offer to do the dishes for him, but he refuses and gets up to help. “You know it’s a little distracting with you standing here naked beside me?”
He chuckles, sponging a plate. “You’realwaysdistracting, Briar. Even when you’re just driving forty in a twenty-five.”
I burst out laughing. “Oh my God! You did not!” Splashing my hands in the water, I toss suds at him. They land on his face and chest, and before I know what’s happening, I’m on the floor beneath him.
He tickles me and kisses me all over with a new type of tenderness. Not the way he kissed me last night or this morning. The way you kiss someone when you mean it. The way you kiss a girlfriend.
And that feeling stirs my heart and causes tears to pool in my eyes.
Gareth is a whirlwind that came out of nowhere and changed my life forever.
We fall asleep in each other’s arms, Gareth’s enormous body covering me like a security blanket. And when I think about the trailer, about Mom and all the mayhem in my life, it feels so far away. Like it belongs to someone else.
I belongherenow.
8
BRIAR
For the first time ever,I’m glowing as I step into the truck stop for my shift. That glow vanishes when Tony steps up to me, shaking his head. “You’re fired, Briar.”
My heart nearly stops. “Um, did I just hear you right? Because I’m pretty sure you just told me thatI, your best employee by far, am fired?”
Tony is a rugged guy, and nothing ever fazes him. But right now, he’s sweating and looks like someone has a knife to his back.
“You are—er,weremy best employee, Briar. But…I’ve got to let you go.”
“Bullshit!” I snap, my voice drawing the attention of all the men in here. Visions of electrical bills, water bills, rent, and school tuition, pile up in my head like a load of bricks. “Ineedthis job, Tony! You’ve got no cause to fire me!”
Out of nowhere, Tony snatches me by the arm and hauls me into the back. For a second, I’m sure he’s going to slam me up against the wall. But he doesn’t. He stops, takes a breath, and looks at me with a vulnerability I’ve never seen.
“You’re right, Briar. I have no reason to fire you.”
“Well then, what the hell?”
Again, he shakes his head, wiping his brow with the back of his sleeve. “I don’t know what you’ve gotten yourself into, but you’re in some seriously deep shit.”
My ears drum as my pulse starts to race. “What are you talking about, Tony?”
“The police captain came to see me today.” My stomach sinks.Felch. “He told me if I didn’t let you gotoday, he’d have the health department shut me down. Said they owe him a favor.”
“He can’t do that—”
“Yes he can, Briar,” Tony snaps. He’s fidgeting with his watch, really showing his nerves. “Small town like this? He can do whatever he wants.”
I open my mouth to argue, but there’s no point. What am I supposed to say? I can’t argue with Tony. Not when his life’s work is on the line. It may just be a simple truck stop on the side of the road, but it’s his, and he built it up from nothing. If his choice is between the truck stop and me, well…then there’s really no choice.
“Okay,” I reply. “I get it. It’s not your fault.”
“I…I’m sorry, Briar.”
“Tony.” I take him by the hand. “It’s not your fault.”
He nods, but I can see the pain in his eyes. He’s always been good to me. This is hurting him as much as it hurts me. But before things can get any more emotional, I give him a pat on the arm and walk outside.
