Page 20

She gasped and turned off the faucets, facing me with a grin. “You are? Oh, Hudson?—”

“But under one condition, for now, maybe more conditions later.”

“Name it. Anything.”

I faced her and tugged at the t-shirt at her waist. “You don’t wear anything Carson gave you or anything with his name on it while we’re together.”

She dropped her eyes, fingers fiddling with the hem of the shirt. “This old thing—er, guess that is a little weird for you. Do you think we should let Carson in on our plan?”

“He has Emme. Shouldn’t matter.” It probably would matter and require a lengthy discussion with him.

“But isn’t there some kind of bro code between you seven about not dating each other’s exes?”

She’s right. There had been, thanks to the twins. When Lawson and Dawson were in school, they’d fought over the same girl. We’d all established a rule right then about it.

“I’ll have a talk with him and let him know about you and me.” When she started to protest, I put my hands up. “He’ll be fine. Leave it to me.”

“If you’re sure, then this could work. Either that or it’ll cause more trouble.” She snorted and rolled her eyes.

“Like I said earlier, you are trouble, woman.”

She stared at me for a moment like I saw the real Lacey. Then she reached up and pressed a kiss to my cheek.

“And you like it. I’ll bet you lived a totally boring life before I came back to town.” She hummed to herself as she finished up washing the dishes and I dried.

I kept the smile to myself about what a spark she lit in my life. I didn’t know where this was headed, but I wasn’t about to waste my shot to get to her.

“Well, I need to return to the station and close out my shift. I’ll be back to tackle that porch painting with you before lunch, though. Ready to walk me out, head held high, hand in hand, and smile at anyone looking?”

“Yep. Give me one minute.” She rushed down the hall to her room, then exited a moment later wearing a yellow sundress. My pulse skyrocketed. The bright fabric fell just to her knees and held on only by thin spaghetti straps on her shoulders. Every inch of her creamy skin, for now, belonged to me.

She was the sun, born of light, and I was the moon. I’d follow her, set and rise on her. And soon make her mine.

“Nice dress,” I breathed, and held out my hand for her.

“I figured something bright would catch attention. Have to make this look good.” She shrugged it off like it was nothing. But that dress meant something.

Hand in hand, together we took the plunge and stepped outside. She gave quite a performance, practically skipping beside me, waving hello to a neighbor out jogging. She also yelled, “Hey there!” to another. And yet another dragged out their trashcan to the curb and waved back at us.

Little did she know I had my own performance to give. One I’d only been fantasizing about until now.

“Beautiful day,” she remarked at the truck, lifting her chin to the sky, soaking in the sun on her face. I reached up and pressed a lock of hair behind her ear. My hand cupped her neck, my thumb landing on her racing pulse. Breathlessly, she said, “Wow, you’re really selling this.”

“Not a hard sell when the only beautiful thing I see is you,” I growled, and leaned in. Her breath hitched, but she didn’t pull away when my lips landed on hers. Soft. Sensual.

And I was just warming up.

I deepened it a little. Enough for her lips to part on a sigh and for mine to press firmer. No rush. No pressure.

Her hand curled around my wrist, steadying herself. Her tongue tasted like sunshine and sweetened coffee and something I’d been craving for far too long.

When I finally pulled back, her lashes fluttered open, and she blinked at me, lips slightly parted, pink and breathless.

“Well,” she said, voice husky, cheeks flushed, “if we’re trying to convince the town, that was a solid start.”

I cocked a brow. “Solid?”

“Seven out of ten. Maybe nine.”