“Me too, sweetheart. I liked having you in a bed.”
I laugh once. “That’s your takeaway?”
“The shower was good too.”
I roll my eyes. Such a guy answer. However, both were pretty damn amazing. “I thought the hot tub was the crown jewel.”
“I think you just like being outside.”
That is definitely not the case, but I can see why he’d think that. “I’m not so sure the bugs are my favorite, but it was more familiar.”
He lifts our entwined hands and kisses the back of mine. “I think after this weekend, we’re very familiar in a variety of ways.”
There are no lies detected there. We were overly familiar. The sheer intimacy that was built in just a day is kind of crazy. It felt like we were a couple. Hell, we looked like it too. At dinner, someone came up to tell us how cute we were. Which we totally are.
“But now we’re going to go back to pretending we hate each other,” I say, and even I can hear the sadness there.
“Lark…”
“No, don’t say anything. I know all the millions of reasons why. We’ve listed them ad nauseam already. I’m just saying it’s the way it is.”
I can’t even be mad at it all, because it’s mostly my fault that we have to be so secretive. Sure, his family doesn’t particularly like mine, but it’s my brothers and father who are hell-bent on making the Stones pay for whatever they feel they’re owed.
The constant calling of the cops. The never-ending amount of shit talking they do to anyone who will listen.
The town is divided, and we’re the ones driving the wedge further.
“I get it,” he says with understanding. “I’m going to pull in here and get gas. We’re still far enough out of town that it’ll be fine.”
“Okay. I’ll get snacks.”
Tristan pulls into the gas station and finds a pump. We both jump out, and I get about halfway to the door when he calls, “Lark?”
“Yeah?”
“Get me a Kit Kat.”
I grin. “Sure thing, cowboy.”
I turn.
He whistles.
I turn my head to see him over my shoulder.
He winks.
I melt.
Damn, he’s so freaking irresistible when he does that. With flushed cheeks and a fire in my belly, I head inside. I grab the snacks to make the rest of the three-hour drive back to Infinity Ridge. Chocolate, soda, water, chips, and a protein bar because there should at least be a semi-healthy option.
Tristan is still pumping gas, and an overwhelming desire to kiss him hits me. I rush toward him, and he has just enough time to turn and catch me as I jump into his arms. I wrap my arms around his neck and kiss him deeply. He turns me, pushing my back against the cool truck door, and kisses me a little deeper.
He pulls back much too soon for me—but then, considering we’re at a gas station, I don’t know what I was hoping for—and grins.
“What was that for?”
I boop his nose. “For being you. For this weekend.”
