Her lips pursed in amusement as she held my gaze. “You know, for someone who apparently owns his own house…” Andi said with a teasing edge to her voice as her body eased back down onto her side, “...you sure do spend a lot of time sleeping over at your momma’s place.” She propped herself up on one elbow with her cheek resting in her hand, giving me the perfect view of that smile I sought out daily.
I let out a low laugh, mirroring her relaxed form and letting my gaze roam over her in a way that was equal parts mischievous and hungry. “Maybe I like it here.”
Her eyes darkened then, just slightly, as her lips curled upward—slow and sultry. “Maybe I likeyouhere.”
I hummed my approval and reached for her, sliding my arm around her waist and pulling her closer. “Maybe…” I murmured as her body molded to mine, instantly making me hard again, “...I’d like you at my house, too.”
She mimicked my hum, but before she could respond with words, the bedroom door flung open—hard enough to bounce against the wall with a loudbang. Luke’s smug face appeared in the doorway, his grin wide and completely infuriating.
“Mornin’, lovebirds,” he said cheerfully, like he hadn’t just scared the hell out of both of us.
“What the—what thefuck,Luke?” I tucked Andi into me, shielding her instinctively.
He leaned lazily against the doorframe, clearly reveling in my panic, and shrugged. “Mom knocks, I don’t. Y’all look real cozy, but the horses are out and I need a hand.” Before I could stop him, he snatched my jeans from the floor and tossed them at me. “Get dressed, bro, you’re slacking.” Then, with a final smirk, he swaggered away.
I yanked on my jeans fast—ready to wring Luke’s damn neck but also knowing he wouldn’t be lying about the horses. With yesterday’s shirt slung over my shoulder and my boots in hand, I made it halfway to the door before stopping dead and crossing the room back to Andi in three long strides. We’d already had one ruined kiss thanks to a horse breaking loose, and I’d be damned if I’d let anything steal this one, too. My free hand pressed into the mattress as I bent down and caught her mouth with mine—deep and desperate, like I’d been starving for the taste of her all damn night…and all morning.
Andi sighed into my kiss, her fingers curling into my bare shoulders as if she had no intention of letting go and then laughing against my mouth when I didn’t—or couldn’t. Eventually I did though, kissing her slower—sweet where I’d been hungry—and pressed my forehead to hers for a beat as I pulled away, reluctant to leave. “Guess I’d better go wrangle some horses before Luke comes back and really throws a fit.”
Her quiet laugh brushed warm against my skin as she cupped my face in her hands, stroking her thumbs against my jaw like she knew exactly what she was doing to me. “Get going, cowboy. I’ll see you when you’re done.”
Something that felt a lot like unbridled happiness had the corners of my mouth curving upward as I forced myself to straighten before stalking backwards from the room. Her eyes never left me as she sat there in that bed we’d shared, wrapped up in the tangled mess of sheets and stealing the last bit of my composure.
And I knew right then, in the quiet aftermath of chaos and almosts, that I didn’t need time for this feeling to simmer.
I was completely and irreversibly gone for her.
Chapter Thirty
Andi
Dear Diary,
Dear Mom and Dad,
It’s hard to believe how much has changed since you’ve been gone. I know I’ve made some choices that probably broke your hearts. Trust me, they broke mine, too. I let a horrible excuse for a human being take pieces of me I’m not sure I’ll ever fully get back. I let him twist love into fear, and I lost myself for a long time. I wasn’t sure I’d ever find my way back.
But then Tarnation happened. And Zane.
He’s…something else.
Dad, you’d like him. He’s got that same roll-up-your-sleeves grit you always had. And Mom, you’d love the way he takes care of his family…the way he takes care of me.
I still have bad days. Triggers that sneak up on me when I least expect it. But Zane’s been right there to catch me. To hold me. To put me back together when I feel like I’m falling apart.
Mom, do you remember that night in the motel? When I stared at the map and had no clue what to do or where to go? I thought you were sending me to Heaven, Texas. I thoughtthatwas your sign, but I never made it there. And now I can’t help but wonder…
Was this your plan all along?
My cell phone rang just as I cut my engine in front of the Rusty Spur.
“Hello?”
“Afternoon, Andi. This is Willy, from Willy’s Garage.”
I smiled at his unneeded explanation because in all my time here in Tarnation, I’d yet to meet another Willy or hear of another garage.
The sun warmed my shoulder and arm as I propped my elbow on the open window, switching my phone to the other ear as a light breeze teased strands of hair into my face.
