Chapter 23 Sunny
SUNNY
Linc and I stayed wrapped around each other for over thirty minutes. We didn’t talk, but simply held on, needing the closeness. Finally, he broke the silence.
“Are you scared to leave, Sunny? Afraid of what will happen once we go back to the world outside this little nook?”
“Yes,” I admitted. “I am.”
He tilted up my chin, meeting my eyes. “Nothing bad, Sunny. I promise. We’ll find our way together. I promise. You ready to be brave with me?”
“All right.”
He smirked. “Good. Because my ass is numb and frozen, and it might take a while to get out of here anyway.”
That made my lips twitch.
“My legs don’t have any feeling either,” he admitted, barely holding back his amusement.
I began to chuckle.
“This walk of shame is going to look like a drunken stumble.”
Then we both laughed, the sound freeing and loud. It felt good to let go and enjoy the moment. I pushed off his chest and stood, giggling when I realized how unsteady I was. Linc followed, grimacing as he stood, grasping at the rocks around us. “Holy shit,” he mumbled. “Pins and needles.”
We spent a few moments shaking out our arms and legs.
He yanked up his pants, buckling his belt and tucking in his shirt.
He was still a mess, covered in grass, dirt, his hair windblown and wild, soot across his face.
But his expression was peaceful. Content.
It startled me to realize it was the first time I had ever seen him look at ease since he came back into my life.
The look of wariness and worry was gone from his expression.
He regarded me, his eyes wide. “Wow—I did a number on you.”
I looked down. My shorts were in shreds on my legs, my shirt barely covering my chest. He held out his jacket. “Put this back on.”
I slid into the jacket, trying not to giggle as he buttoned it up. I looked down at the ground. “What do you want to do with those?” I indicated the pile of mangled metal. They were already destroyed, but I knew he didn’t want to leave them here.
He ran a hand through his hair. “Not sure.”
I bent and gathered them up, stuffing them back into the envelope Linc handed me. “Let me take care of it, Linc. You destroyed them. Now let it go.”
He hesitated, his hand already reaching out for the envelope. I met his gaze—mine sure and steady, telling him to trust me. Give me this task and let me share the burden.
His hand fell and he nodded. “Do what you think is best.”
“I will.” I already knew what I would do with them.
There was a loose floorboard in the hallway at the house on the hill.
I would bury them under the floorboard, and when the house disappeared, so would they.
He would never have to think about them again.
I stuffed the envelope into the pocket of his suit jacket. “Thank you for trusting me.”
His smile was warm, his lips cool as he pressed them to mine. “Always. Thank you for being here with me.”
“Always,” I repeated.
He straightened, indicating I should stay where I was, and I tried not to laugh again as he peered around the corner, disappearing, then his hand appearing. “Coast is clear, Sunny. Let’s go.”
I grabbed his hand, and he pulled me around the corner and we hurried toward his car.
He pushed me into the back seat, then grabbed his bag from the trunk and joined me.
He dug around, handing me a pair of sweats and a shirt, finding a set for himself.
We changed, and he grunted as he bundled his suit into a ball.
“So much for that one.” Then he glanced my way, his expression warm. “So worth it.”
I giggled. “Odd we’re in our favorite spot and we’re putting clothes on. It used to be the opposite.”
He smirked. “God, I lived for those moments you’d let me stick my hand under your shirt. Your tits fascinated me.” He leered at me. “They still do.”
“If it wasn’t light out and this wasn’t a public parking lot, I might let you cop a feel again, Linc.”
He winked. “I might anyway.”
A car pulled into the parking lot, and we both laughed.
“Damn,” he muttered. “Cockblocked.” Then for the first time, he noticed Abby’s SUV. “What is that doing there?”
“It was closer and faster than the bakery van.”
“I’m buying you a car.”
“I don’t think so.”
“As your husband, it’s my right to buy you anything I damn well want.”
“You’re not my husband, Linc.”
“Not yet,” he agreed. “But that is going to change.”
“Oh really?”
He nodded, his voice firm when he spoke. “Soon.”
With a grin, I opened the door and stepped out, heading over to Abby’s vehicle. Linc stepped out of the car, watching me.
“If that’s your idea of a proposal, Mr. Webber, you are sadly lacking. I will have to say no to your tempting offer at the moment.”
He leaned on his door, a wide grin on his face. “If that tempted you, just wait. You won’t be able to resist.”
I snorted. “Such ego.”
In three long strides, he was at my door, leaning into the SUV. He bent inside, his chest warm and hard against mine. “Challenge accepted, my Sunny-girl.”
Then he kissed me. Until I was dizzy. Until I would have agreed to anything he asked at that moment. His mouth was tender but demanding. Firm but gentle. Possessive and dangerous. When he eased back, we were both gasping for air. He smiled and traced my lips.
“See you at the bakery.”
LINC
Escaping the parking lot was easy. Making it through the bakery was a different story. Even though the only people in it were Michael and Abby.
When we walked in, Abby at first looked relieved, then her eyebrows shot up and her lips twitched, looking at the outfits Sunny and I wore.
My shirt and sweats hung off Sunny, showing all the love bites I had left on her neck.
Her hair was wild, her cheeks and neck pink from the scruff on my face.
She looked well and truly fucked and no doubt, so did I.
I certainly felt it. I was sure my ass was covered in bruises from the rocks.
Michael blinked, looked at Abby with a grin, and stood. “I, ah, should be going.”
I refused to feel ashamed, although I didn’t want Sunny embarrassed. But as usual, she surprised me.
“Oh, sit down, Michael. It’s not as if I didn’t see you making out with Abby this morning while you were supposed to be cleaning the supply room.”
He gaped at her. “I was helping her reach something on the shelf.”
Sunny snorted as she poured us each a cup of coffee and reached for a plate of cookies. “What was her mouth reaching for? Your tongue?”
I barked out a laugh and sat down, pulling Sunny to my lap. I wrapped my arm around her, holding her close. “Your mouth looks a bit swollen, Mike. Allergies acting up?”
Abby chuckled and pulled on Michael’s hand. “We’re all adults here, Michael. Relax.”
He shook his head and sat.
“Everything okay with the store?”
“Yes. Martha canceled everything. Business as usual again tomorrow.” He cleared his throat. “Thank you for, um, anything you did.”
I shook my head. “I did nothing but talk. I think our deputy mayor realized she had made an error.”
“Well, I still appreciate it.”
“No thanks needed.”
We sipped our coffee, and they chatted. Talked about the baking to be done for the weekend, plans for a barbecue maybe on Sunday—all normal, everyday things most people would take for granted. I loved listening to it. Being part of it.
I let the conversation drift away as I thought about what I’d said to Sunny earlier. I meant it. I was going to marry her—and soon. We had lost enough years, given up enough happiness already. I wanted my life with her to start now.
I simply had to figure out the how-to’s.
The touch of her hand on my cheek startled me, and my eyes flew open. I blinked, confused.
“Where are Abby and Michael?”
She smiled, stroking my hair. “They left about ten minutes ago. You fell asleep.”
“Holy shit.”
“You’re exhausted, Linc. Abby is going to have supper with Michael and his kids. We’re going upstairs, and we can have a shower. I’ll make you something to eat and you’re going to bed.”
“You’re coming with me.” It wasn’t a question.
She smiled softly. “Yes. I will come with you. I have a busy few days ahead of me.”
I stood, swinging her up in my arms and heading to the kitchen and the stairway.
“I’m gonna help.”
“Can you bake at all?”
“No, but I am an awesome quality control person. Nothing but perfection will leave the kitchen, Sunny. You have my word.”
She laid her head on my shoulder. “I would expect nothing less from you.”
I dropped a kiss to her head. “Good.”
Iwoke late into the night, Sunny tucked beside me, her head next to mine on my pillow. I watched her slumber, lost to her dreams. She looked peaceful and content, and a part of me hoped I was there with her.
Carefully, I slipped from the bed, making sure she was covered, then headed out to the kitchen, grabbing a drink of water and snagging a handful of the cookies from the jar on the counter.
I wandered to the window, staring out on the silent town.
For the first time in my life, I felt no anger or bitterness.
I felt nothing but the peace of the town at rest.
I glanced at the clock. It was two a.m., but given the fact that we had fallen asleep early in the evening, I knew I wouldn’t be going back to sleep anytime soon. My mind was awake and active now.
An idea I had been thinking about was taking hold, and the more I thought about it, the more I liked it.
I had been serious earlier when I told Sunny I would marry her—and quickly. I was determined to start our life together sooner rather than later.
Logistics was one of the problems we were going to have to address. I knew how she felt about her bakery. The people she cared about here. The simple life a small town allowed her.