Page 70 of My Favorite Hero

“Yes,” he said, pleading. “Let go.”

I stepped back with a shake of my head. I’d barely touched him.

“Remember this.”

He didn’t say anything until I got in my truck. He stood by the door of the warehouse and flipped me the finger.

“Fuck you, asshole!” he yelled and slammed the door behind him.

I chuckled, deciding I might pay another visit to the furniture store in the near future. Chat with Linda. Ask to see Chris.

I wondered if he would turn and run when he saw me.

I did love a chase.

The thought of it made me laugh all the way home.

CASEY

I had just finished my shower and was having coffee when Jesse walked into the kitchen. He headed to the counter, poured himself a cup of coffee, and sat across from me. I looked behind me, then at him.

“Walk on in and make yourself at home, Thorne.”

He smirked into his coffee. “I own the place,” he reminded me.

“When are you putting the locks on the door?”

“I decided not to put one on your side.”

“I see. So, I can’t come there anytime, but you can waltz in here whenever you want?”

“Pretty much. You never know when the need might strike.” He kept his expression serious as he uttered those words.

I started to laugh. “You are absurd.”

He joined me, his eyes crinkling in humor. I liked it when he smiled and laughed. He was like a different person.

“I’ll grab them today when we’re out. Besides, I knew you were here. You weren’t waiting for me in bed.”

I took a sip of coffee, not speaking. When I had woken up, he was gone. I was clutching his pillow, on his side of the bed, as if seeking him in my sleep. The temptation to lie there and wait for him was strong, but I wasn’t sure how he would feel about that, so I got up and came to my part of the house.

“I didn’t want to hold you up when you got back. Where did you go anyway?”

“An early errand,” he said, revealing nothing. “You almost ready?”

“I just need to get my shoes on.” I looked down. “Unless you think I should change?”

“Nope. Don’t change a single thing.”

His offhand remark made my chest warm.

He listened to country music as we drove to Swindon, the windows rolled down, the breeze nice on my face. He didn’t talk at all, and I stayed quiet. At the grocery store, he grabbed a cart, shaking his head when I reached for one.

“I’m not getting much,” he said. “You use the bottom part. I can use the little top section.”

“Okay,” I agreed easily.

In the store, he let me lead the way, looking in interest as I perused the meat section, adding a couple of roasts to the cart, along with some chicken and a few other cuts of meat. In the vegetable section, I added extra onions to my haul.