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It feels so good, I’m tempted to close my eyes and let my head rest against the back of the seat. “I’m glad you had a good time.”
No one inquired about our relationship. I’m not naive enough to think it’s not coming at some point, but everyone accepted us with open arms. It was as though Collins had been my plus-one for years.
Collins watches me from her seat, so I turn my head and find a thoughtful look on her face.
“What’s up?” I look back at the road.
She shakes her head. “Nothing.”
“Tell me.” I take her hand, and she intertwines our fingers.
“It’s too soon. It would be weird.”
I chuckle. “Now you have to tell me.”
She sighs. “Do you remember how I told you that I’ve felt like Echo Lake was home since I arrived here with Caleb?”
“Yeah.”
“Tonight, I feel like I found a deeper meaning of home. I feel like I belong somewhere that’s not just a place anymore, somewhere that’s here.” She places her hand over her heart.
I swear my heart damn near beats out of my chest. I bring our joined hands to my lips and kiss her knuckles. “I know what you mean.”
I’ve fallen hard and fast for this woman, and it’s scary as fuck. Not so scary that I want to run away, though. Just scary enough that I don’t want to fuck this up because I’d never be able to live with myself if I failed her.
FORTY-FOUR
Collins
Today is the first time we’re grocery shopping together, and it has me giddy for some reason. Probably because it’s a real couple thing to do together. But Ansel spends a lot of time at my place, so I want to make sure I have things he likes to eat. I also have to pick up some ingredients because I’m making him a recipe I love—Southern-style gumbo.
We walk into Halloran’s Market hand-in-hand until he grabs a cart. I can already feel people looking our way, but I pay it no mind. Soon enough, everyone will move on to something else worth gossiping about.
He flips his hat backward and pushes the cart toward the fruits and veggies. I pause for a moment to take him in because Ansel Mercer wearing a backward Red Sox hat is apparently my catnip. He always looks hot, there’s no denying that. But right now, in his jeans and his hoodie with a backward baseball cap, he looks delectable.
And suddenly I’m a woman starved.
He looks over his shoulder at me. “You coming?”
I blink out of my stupor and walk toward him, imagining all the things I want to do to him when we get back to my place. Every single one of them is NC-17.
Ansel reaches into the back pocket of his jeans for the grocery list. It’s something that shouldn’t be sexy, but it is when he does it.
“All right, looks like we need some celery, onion, and green peppers,” he says, looking at the list. “I wouldn’t mind grabbing some fruit while we’re here. What kind of apples do you like?”
“I’m not fussy. Whichever kind you want.”
He cocks his head to the side, a grin tilting one corner of his lips. “Why are you looking at me like that?”
“Honestly?”
He nods.
I step into him, bringing my mouth to his ear. “I’m thinking about how hot you look right now with that hat on backward and how horny it’s making me.”
When I back away, he snakes his tongue out and licks his lips with heavy eyelids. He looks around quickly. “You sure we need to shop right now? Maybe we come back.”
I laugh and move to take the cart from him, but he stops me.
