Chapter 27 #2
I floor it, and soon, we’re hugging curves, driving eighty miles per hour to town. The power under my hands, combined with the mean growl of the engine, puts a smile on my face. The only regret I have is not being able to show my father.
He’d have been as impressed as me, especially considering the significance of this model in muscle car history. The thought nearly takes hold of me, and I push the sadness away.
“Everything okay?” Easton asks, reaching over and squeezing my shoulder.
He sees me, and I appreciate how he notices me when most don’t.
“Yeah. I was thinking about my dad. He’d have loved this car. Though I think he would’ve wanted to drive it.”
“I’d have let him.”
The thought warms my heart, considering I know how protective he is of his vehicles. Easton’s eyes scan over the mountains. They’re not as big and impressive as Grand Teton, but they are still beautiful. I steal glances as he removes his jacket and tosses it in the back seat.
“That should be illegal.”
“Hmm?”
“You, dressed like that. No wonder you have a fan club.”
He shakes his head.
“To think, until two weeks ago, I didn’t know or care who Easton Calloway was.”
“And now?”
I lick my lips. “I kinda don’t want to share you with the world anymore.”
He gives me a sly grin. “Relatable.”
When we roll into town, people stare.
I park at the grocery store and glance at him. “You coming?”
“Sure,” he tells me, and we get out. “What do you need?”
“It’s not what I need; it’s what we need,” I whisper, walking to the pharmacy section in the back. I stand in front of the limited choices of condoms with my arms crossed. “What size?”
Easton’s glasses cover his eyes, but I notice the ghost of a smile on his lips.
This amuses him.
“What would you guess?” He stands confidently.
I grab the extra-large ones, ribbed for her pleasure.
“Megapack,” I say. “Think we can blow through thirty?”
“In a night?” he quips with a half grin.
We walk to the front. His hand rests on my hip as we wait at the end of the line.
“Self-checkout isn’t an option?” he whispers.
“No one would be in your business if it were,” I tell him over my shoulder as I set the box on the conveyor belt.
“Well, hello, Alexis,” Mrs. Ballard, the clerk, says. Then, she glances down at the massive box of condoms and scans them. Her brows lift. “This all?”
“Oh, one more thing,” I say, grabbing a few candy bars. “In case I get hungry.”
When she gives the total, Easton steps forward, sliding his card. He gives her a smile and a nod, and I think I see her have heart palpitations. As I look around the small space, I realize all eyes are on us. We are center stage right now.
“We don’t need a bag,” I say, and she hands me my goods and the receipt.
“Have a nice day,” she offers.
“Thanks. I think I might,” I tell her with a wink, tossing the box in the air as Easton follows me to the car.
We get inside and he glances my way. “You almost gave that woman a heart attack.”
“No, Easton, you did.” I place the key in the ignition and crank the engine.
“You realize there was a man with a camera across the street.”
I grin. “Just giving them all something to talk about. They can report on that. Everyone in Valentine will know before lunch that I bought a box of extra-large condoms and two candy bars.”
“And tomorrow, the world will know,” he says.
“Are you embarrassed?” I ask, glancing at him before I reverse.
“Fuck no.” He shakes his head like he’s offended.
We drive the short distance and park in front of the coffee shop. We order two iced mochas while, once again, every single person stares at Easton. Then, we take a stroll to Main Street Books. Easton interlocks his fingers with mine and smiles at me.
“I like it here,” he admits as we pass a beauty parlor and a real estate office. “It has charm.”
“It’s home. I miss it when I’m away. But I miss the city too.”
“I get that,” he tells me, pushing open the door to the bookstore.
The bell rings above, and moments later, Hayden Shaw, the owner’s son, greets us. He’s several years older than me, and he’s engaged to Kinsley Valentine. He moved back to town last year and proposed to her on New Year’s Eve.
“Hey, Alexis. You’re popular around here these days,” he says.
Easton flips his glasses on his head and Hayden smiles at him.
“Hayden Shaw,” he says, holding out his hand.
“Easton Calloway.”
They give each other a firm handshake.
“It’s Lexi,” I correct as Easton places his hand on my shoulder, rubbing his thumb across my back. I love having him close. “Call me Alexis again, and I will kick your ass, Shaw,” I threaten.
Hayden chuckles. “Right. Apologies, Lexi . What brings you two in here today?”
“Do you have any Kama Sutra books in stock?” I ask.
Easton chuckles and shakes his head.
Hayden walks past me, leads us down a long aisle, then points at the shelf. “Here ya go.”
“Thanks,” I say, examining the small selection.
“I know what you’re doing,” Easton says, leaning against one of the shelves.
I trail my finger across the titles. “And?”
“You’re feeding the beast. Pregnancy rumors will spread next.”
“That’s going to happen anyway,” I admit, pulling a few from the shelves. “What other reasons do people have to get married so quickly?”
He dips down, kissing me. “You’re right. But you’re fanning the fire.”
“Let it burn,” I tell him. “I think these should do.”
“Beginner, intermediate, and advanced Kama books. Anything else?” he asks.
I nod. “Actually, yes. I want to browse the romance books.”
“Lead the way,” he says, following me across the store, carrying all three sex books in his hands.
When I was younger, I’d save my allowance to buy books I probably shouldn’t have read. I always found Kinsley in here too.
Easton gives me space, watching me as my eyes scan the bright-colored covers that draw attention. I pull a few from the shelves, read each back cover, and slide them back in place.
Easton pulls the ones I picked up and adds them to the stack in his arms. “Any others?”
“What if I wanted them all?” I say, my hand running from the top of the shelf to the bottom.
“Done,” he says.
“No, no, I’m kidding, Easton. You’ll never see me again if you buy these books. Seriously.”
I pluck a few others and add them to the growing stack he’s holding in his arms. “Anything you want?”
“Just you,” he mutters.
“You’ve got me,” I tell him.
“For one year,” he whispers.
When our eyes meet, I can almost imagine the life we could share.
I try to push the thoughts away, but they take hold, digging roots deep into my soul.
My dad always told me when I found the man I was supposed to be with, I’d know.
I thought that man was Beau. But as I look at Easton, the feeling is different.
It’s intense, beautiful, dangerous, overwhelming … and I want to be irrational with him.
I swallow down the lump in my throat and take a mental snapshot of him like that—tattoos on display, holding a stack of sex and romance books. I understand why so many have turned him into a thirst trap. It’s too easy.
I smile, hoping I never forget this image of him, exactly like this, with the sunlight shining through the store’s front windows, his eyes softly watching me.
“What?” he asks.
“About the year thing? That’s still to be determined.”
He reaches forward and places the back of his hand on my head. “No fever. Sure you’re not sick?”
I roll my eyes. “I’ll take it back then.”
He wraps his free arm around me. “We’ll see what happens.”
After Easton pays, we make it to the car. He carries my bag of books with one hand and slides his other in the pocket of my jeans, holding me against him. I can’t help but glance at him.
“The eye-fucking, Alexis ,” he says, but it comes out like a low growl.
He’s the master at keeping his head on straight. But I can see behind his glasses that he’s side-eyeing me.
I burst into laughter, tucking my hand into his back pocket. “For show.”
“Bullshit,” he mutters, smirking, pressing his fingertips into my ass, and those butterflies tingle. “I know better now.”
I can’t hold back my smile as we walk the few blocks to the car.
Easton sets the books in the back seat and opens the passenger door for me. “I’m driving now.”
I hand him the keys with a laugh and get inside. “Only because I want you to have the experience.”
He grabs my hand and places a kiss on the knuckles. “I’m in charge here.”
“That’s what you think.” I give him a wink and grab the door handle, closing it.
He taps the roof before he runs around to the driver’s side. After cranking it, he gently revs the engine before we take off.
“Do you know where you’re going?” I ask.
“Yes,” he says, shifting the car into fourth gear, hauling ass.
I look up at the clouds and the blue sky, floating my hand out the window. Fifteen minutes later, he’s turning into my parents’ driveway.
“You know, if you file for divorce, you’ll have to deal with my mother,” I warn.
“ If. Nice word choice,” he says, parking and turning off the car. “And I’ll be happy to.”
As Easton opens my door and I step out, I hear my mother saying my name.
“Alexis?” my mother says again.
I give her a warm smile as my nerves get the best of me.
“Hey, Mom! Surprise!”
She walks to the edge of the porch. The shock on her face is evident.
“I want you to meet someone, Mama. This is Easton Calloway. My boyfriend and the man I’m marrying,” I say with Calloway confidence.
He grabs my hand and interlocks his fingers with mine. My mother notices, and I think I see her smile.
“Well, you two come inside and catch us all up,” she says, leading the way.
“Us?”
“Your brothers and I were about to eat lunch.”
“They’re here?” I glance at the time on my phone. It’s almost one. I thought they ate lunch each day at eleven.
“Yeah,” she says. “They got caught up in the field today and arrived late. It’s lucky timing that you’re here.”
Easton glances my way. He knows my timing is awful, which can only mean one thing—this might be a total disaster.