Page 28 of How You See Me (You and Me Duology #2)

Josie

I ’ve been lying awake since Hayes showed me how a real man delivers a goodnight kiss. He lit every inch of me on fire, then . . . fell asleep.

It’s completely unfair. How is he not coming out of his skin like I am?

His hot, sexy body—literally hot, he’s a human furnace under the blanket—makes me crave him even more.

But I’m sweating in places I didn’t know could sweat.

Sitting up, I peel off my T-shirt, and stretch out on top of the covers.

I’d lose this bra too if Hayes and I were in a different place in our situationship.

If the idea of us wasn’t mere hours old.

Still, after seeing him let go at the waterfall, holding him through his flashback, and feeling his tender care after my freakout, I would have internally combusted if we hadn’t crossed the line he drew.

I’m about to escape to the bathroom and splash cold water on my face when Hayes’s arm slings around me, strong and heavy.

He’s still asleep, probably dreaming I’m just another pillow, and hugs me tight against his chest. Bare skin to bare skin.

His knees tuck behind mine, fitting us together perfectly.

I’d probably have some sort of uncontrollable emotion over our first time spooning if I didn’t feel so safe. Like I belong tangled up and overheating in Hayes’s arms.

It's not long before my body goes lax and I drift off to sleep along with him.

◆◆◆

For the fourth morning in a row, the scent of breakfast cooking lures me awake. I stretch and kick off the blankets, enjoying the cool air on my skin—until a throat clears.

Hayes.

I bolt upright, my hair falling in messy waves over my bare shoulders, mostly covering the bra I almost forgot was showing.

“Morning,” he greets from the window, holding a mug in one hand and phone in the other. He’s shirtless, golden in the morning light, and breathtaking.

“Morning. How long have you been awake?”

“Long enough to hear five long Tim stories.”

“Yikes. What time is it?”

“Eight-thirty. Lorna is keeping a plate warm for you if you’re hungry. ”

“That’s nice of her. One day, I’ll wake up first and make you breakfast.”

“You’ll have to beat the sun to do that. I like to work out at first light.”

“Ugh. Maybe I’ll aim for post-workout, then.”

He sets his mug and phone down and lowers to the edge of the bed, just out of reach. “How’d you sleep?”

“Okay. You?”

“Best I’ve slept in weeks.”

“Hmm.” I can’t help the sly grin. “Wonder what’s different?” I also wonder if he knows he snuggled me against him like a teddy bear. Did he wake up while our legs and arms were intertwined? Is that why he’s being so distant? Is he regretting it?

“For one, the mattress is super soft unlike the van seat. It was also dark and quiet in here. And I let out all my energy on the late-night run.”

“That’s it?”

“That’s all I can think of.”

I chuck a pillow at him, but he catches it in mid-air. “Oh! How could I forget? Most importantly, I had you in my arms to keep the nightmares away.”

The playfulness drains out of me. “You have those too?”

“Too? You have nightmares?”

I nod, picking at a loose curl. I’d been thinking about his flashback when I said it, hating how he had another horrible side effect from his service to deal with. But since losing my parents, I’ve had my fair share of fear-filled, sleepless nights.

“Sometimes. It’s been better lately but living alone with my memories doesn’t help. You know what I mean.”

His eyes darken in a way that makes my chest ache. He knows all too well.

“I do,” he says quietly. “Oh. I wanted to show you.” He fishes a reddish rock from his pocket. “Think Ava will like it?”

“Ava’s your baby sister? I don’t think you’ve mentioned her name before.” He’s trusting me a little more with his secrets, and it means so much.

He nods. “She wants smooth rocks from every location so she can paint them.”

I smile, remembering all the little drawings in my pantry back home. “I love that. That’s how I started. I’d paint and color and doodle on everything I could get my hands on.”

“Apparently, it’s a hard habit to break.”

“You saw them?”

“They were impossible to miss.”

“I’ve been doing that since I was a kid. My mom loved them.” Her face pops into my thoughts, but I don’t cry. I’m getting better at that. “When she’d find a new one, she’d stop whatever she was doing to ask me about it. I’d make up the most outlandish stories.”

“That’s beautiful. The ones I saw were interesting. I bet they have amazing stories.”

He couldn’t have said anything more meaningful. Ryder thought they were stupid and usually tossed whatever I had the audacity to defile with my marker into the trash. “Have I told you how sweet you are?”

“Not today.” He grins, lifting the tension. It’s all the encouragement I need to climb into his lap. I don’t care that I’m half-dressed or that we’re moving crazy fast. All I know is I need him closer.

I wrap both arms and legs around him, startling him at first, but he gives in and accepts me wholly.

“I like you, Hayes Montgomery.”

“I like you, too, Josie Jones.” He drops a kiss to my shoulder, and I feel it down to my toes. “We should probably talk to Jordan. The guilt is eating at me.”

Straightening, I search his gorgeous caramel eyes. “I’m a grown woman and don’t need his permission to date someone.”

He nods in agreement but worry lingers in his features. “I’m not just anyone . Being with me makes things different on many levels.”

“Okay. We’ll talk with him soon. Don’t worry.”

“Can’t help it. Your uncontrollable is fear. Mine is worrying.”

He rises and sets me on the floor before I can dig into that comment more. His broody tendencies have heavy demons behind them, and I regret all the times I joked about his grumpiness.

“Get dressed. We have more miles to cover today, and all that skin is messing with my brain.”

“Which one?” I tease, wiggling a finger in the air at his head, then, his shorts .

“You already know the answer to that. Go, while I can still walk and talk at the same time.” He stops me from reaching for him by catching both wrists in one hand.

“You’re no fun.”

“So, I’ve been told.”

◆◆◆

While I nibble on a blueberry muffin, Tim takes Hayes to pick up the van. Apparently, Pete towed it to his shop, replaced the tire, and realigned something early this morning. It’s a long story with a lot of shop talk, and I tune out most of it.

When we’re back on the road, Hayes’s broody side resurges with a vengeance. I can’t tell if it’s from the cowboy hat perched stubbornly on his head or my relentless road trip games. Either way, he’s one conversation starter away from jumping out the window. I Spy might have been the last straw.

Maybe he just needs food, and I spot the perfect place to make peace.

“How about lunch?” I point at a local steakhouse as we roll past.

“Sure. I’m starving.”

“I picked up on that. You get even grumpier when you’re hungry.”

“Is that possible?” he asks, parking nearby.

“I didn’t think so, but you’re such an overachiever.”

“Funny,” he deadpans, but there’s a trace of amusement in his eyes. Mission accomplished .

After we order, I give him a break and thumb through the brochures I grabbed on the way in. There should be something fun to do around here, and I’m itching for another adventure. The last one was quite memorable.

I wait until he’s a few bites deep into his hamburger before poking at his patience again, proud of my restraint.

“Do you have any plans for today?” I ask him before crunching into a cucumber slice from my Cobb salad.

“Why don’t you tell me what you found, and I’ll tell you if I have any plans?”

“Meaning if I find something you don’t want to do, you’ll magically remember a plan .”

“Exactly.” He winks before taking another bite, and I’m suddenly squirmy in my chair.

This man does all kinds of things to me I couldn’t possibly explain with educated woman words. He reduces my vocabulary to that of a middle school girl. “Whatevs.”

I rattle off a few things I know he’ll veto, just to get under his skin—museum, antiquing (although, I secretly wished he’d take the bait on that one), heritage center, caverns, zoo, national historic site.

“Maybe we should just get back on the road.”

I continue reviewing the brochure, hoping a hidden gem will reveal itself, but every activity reads like a school field trip. I swallow my disappointment. “You might be right.”

The waiter refills our waters, reminding me to eat .

“Or,” Hayes says. “We could hit that antique shop you almost gave yourself whiplash over on the way out of town.”

My heart soars. Before I can worry about how he’ll react, I bolt out of my chair and throw myself into his space.

He welcomes me, not the least bit concerned of everyone watching, as I capture a kiss to show him how much that idea touches my heart.

His gaze stays locked on mine even after I pull away.

While reclaiming my seat, I catch a few judgmental glares from nearby tables and lift my chin. Yeah, I kissed that gorgeous man in public. Get over it .

Hayes clears his throat and fumbles his fork, failing to hide his flustered state. Who’s squirmy now, cowboy?

I sit a little straighter in my chair, knowing I did that. “How'd you find out about my antique obsession? Or did my neck-breaking give me away?”

“You told me at your apartment, remember? Yellow plates? I used my own investigative skills to fill in the rest.”

“Oh yeah? From what clues?”

“For one, your apartment is a museum of vintage furniture, and you fell in love with the van at first sight.” He sips his water, leveling me with a playful smirk. “I kept waiting for you to kiss it.”

A snort pops out, making me almost spit out my last bite of food. “I wanted to, but you already thought I was weird. Didn’t need to give you any more proof.”

“I never thought you were weird. ”

Dropping the fork, I fold my arms and lean on the table ready to challenge that statement. “What were all those looks you kept giving me?”

“What looks?”