Page 87 of My Favorite Hero

Chapter Twenty

CASEY

Iwoke up to an empty bed, the sheets cold to my touch. I could smell coffee, and I heard Thorne’s voice outside and Miller’s excited bark. I sat up, drawing my legs to my chest and looking around.

Thorne’s bedroom was simple. It was painted a creamy coffee color, the trim a bright white. The floors were the original hardwood, and he’d obviously had them stripped and redone, the gleam of the dark stain working well with the wall color.

His bed was heavy wood. Masculine. Simple white sheets and a plaid comforter with browns and greens mixed in were all he had on the bed. No extra pillows, no shams.

The rest of the furniture was the same. Simple, substantial—no adornments. His closet was open, his clothes neat and orderly. His en suite had a huge shower I enjoyed using. No bathtub.

And the room smelled like him. Clean, crisp, and pleasing. His scent was always warm in my nose, making me want to be closer to him.

I sighed, thinking how I kept waking up here. We weren’t following the rules. Either his or mine.

Yet, I didn’t want to stop.

Thorne was a surprisingly good listener. He rarely interrupted me, only making a few comments to prompt me or sympathize. He’d held my hand the whole time I’d told him about Lou and growing up. Stroked my leg in comfort, played with my hair. He had a thing for it, it seemed. I noticed how often he touched my hair, tucked it behind my ear, ran his hand over my head, and sifted his fingers through it when I was close.

I had a thing for him touching me.

“Hey,” his voice called from the door. “You’re awake.”

I looked over, my breath catching. He wore a tight T-shirt, molding to his chest and arms. A pair of long shorts. His feet were in sandals, his legs bare. He’d had a shower, his hair still damp. He smiled at me, holding a cup of coffee.

“Mine?” I asked, reaching for it.

He laughed. “Mine.” He came closer, handing me his mug. “But I’ll share.”

I took a sip, the brew hot and flavorful. “Hmm,” I hummed. “What have you been up to?”

“Making plans. Can you take the day off?”

“I think so.”

“Then drink the coffee and get ready.”

“Where are we going?”

He stood with a wink, then bent and pressed a kiss to my head. “You’ll see.”

I walked out the back door and stopped with a gasp.

“Lou’s car!”

I raced toward him, almost tripping over my feet to get closer. Thorne caught me, stopping me from falling as he laughed. “Whoa. Steady on, Pix.”

I ran my hand over the bright-blue paint.

“Where…” I babbled. “How?”

He smiled. “It was in the garage under the tarp. Lou left it to me in her will.”

I had seen the tarp when I’d gone into the garage but never thought to look under it. I had forgotten about Lou’s old Mustang. She’d often take me for rides in it, and we’d go for ice cream or exploring. We had so many adventures together.

“I thought we’d do that today.”

I looked up and realized I’d been talking out loud again.