As I stared out at the water, my belly flipped.Only if they’re your babies,I thought.
“What about you?”I asked, changing the direction of the conversation.“You wanna leave Embers Ridge?”
“Nope,” he told me with certainty.“Plan to open a furniture store with Wolfe later this year.”
“Yeah?”
“Yep.We already got it all mapped out.”
For a few minutes, we stared at one another, sparks bouncing back and forth between us.I had always felt them, but I knew it wasn’t the same for Lynx.He was the type of boy who didn’t have one girlfriend.He had several, and never anything serious.
“Why’re you here, Reagan?”
I shrugged again.“I was worried about you.”
That seemed to confuse him.
At some point during that conversation, we had moved closer, until my thigh was pressed up against Lynx’s.We sat on that tailgate, under the stars and the full moon, while country music filtered out from the cab of Lynx’s truck.It had been the best night of my life.And then, when Lynx had kissed me…
Throwing the blankets off my legs, I bolted out of bed.I couldn’t lie there and think about him forever.I needed to get a move on.Not that it would take me long to get ready to meet him for breakfast, but I needed something to do to keep my mind occupied.A shower was a good start.
Two hours later,I was pulling into the diner.I noticed Lynx’s big blue Chevy was already there, and the flurry of butterflies erupted in my belly.I hated those damn butterflies.They irked the shit out of me.Why couldn’t they keep themselves contained around him?
Climbing out, I kept my eyes trained on the gravel, which was the very reason I didn’t notice Lynx climb out of his truck and head my way.Before I could reach the door handle, a big hand shot out around me, opening it for me.I was mesmerized by the ink that covered his arm, the back of his hand, his knuckles.
“Mornin’,” he crooned softly against my ear.
Goose bumps prickled my skin and I fought off the shiver that threatened to race down my spine.
This was such a bad idea.I should be at home, tucked into bed, dreaming about…
Yeah.Okay.So that didn’t help.
Lynx Caine seemed to be invading my thoughts.Asleep, awake, it didn’t matter.
“Mornin’,” I mumbled, stepping inside as he held the door.“Thanks.”
A warm hand gently pressed against my lower back, and I inadvertently sucked in a shocked breath, hoping like hell Lynx hadn’t noticed.I peered over at him, trying to keep my face shielded by my hair.It didn’t help.He noticed and he was smiling.
Jerk.
When he pulled out my chair, I tried not to even think about it.I'd spent so long in a relationship with a man who put himself first, I wasn’t used to someone opening doors or pulling out chairs.It shouldn’t surprise me.That’s the way Lynx was.He could charm the underpants right off a nun.
“Sleep well?”
I jerked my eyes up to his.“Yes.Actually,” I lied effortlessly.
When it came to Lynx Caine, a lie wasn’t a bad thing.
It was self-preservation.
ChapterNine
Lynx
“What can I get y’all?”Donna asked when she approached the table.
I peered up at the diner’s owner and grinned.Recognition dawned on the older woman’s face and a rare smile tilted her thin lips.
