Page 33 of Rocky Mountain Devil

It wasn’t a sight to be rushed over. Rafe savoured every second as he stood in the doorway and admired her.

Her pale blue top mirrored her eyes perfectly, the short-sleeved blouse curving against her body before tucking neatly into the skirt’s waistband. Shades of sky and water were layered over each other, the material stopping at her knees and leaving her lower legs bare, toes visible through the straps of her sandals.

When he finally made it back up to her face, her lips had curled into a smile.

“You look edible,” he announced.

Laurel’s cheeks flushed pink. “Thanks.” She twirled, the skirt flaring briefly before she landed then stepped toward him. “Is this okay for whatever you’ve got planned for later?”

He’d intended to answer her, really he had, but he’d reached around her to offer a quick hug, and the instant his hands made contact with her torso, his ability to think vanished. “So soft.”

“Rafe.” She pressed her palms to the sides of his face. “Focus for a minute. Do I need to bring something to change into after supper?”

He attempted to restore his brain to its rightful position. “You’re perfect the way you are.”

“Of course I am, but do I need to bring an extra jacket or something?”

“Nope.” He tucked an arm around her and guided her toward the door. “Let’s get rolling. The sooner we get there, the sooner dinner will be over—not that I have any objections to your mother’s cooking.”

He guided Laurel to the driver’s side of the truck, lifting her to the seat then waiting for her to slide into the middle.

She was grinning pretty damn hard when he joined her and put the truck in gear.

“What?”

Laurel all but shone as she faced him. “Now I know forsurewe’re dating.”

He thought it through for a moment. “Nope. Clueless.

A soft snicker escaped her. “I’ve gotten in and out of this truck thousands of times, and it’s always been me opening the door and climbing in on the other side.”

“You’ve moved up in the world, Sitko.” He draped an arm around her shoulders and tucked her tightly against him. “Better get used to it.”

It felt pretty amazing to have her cuddled up at his side as another warm fall day came to an end. He figured they’d be at her parents’ for about an hour, maybe a little more, and then she was his for the rest of the night.

Laurel made a noise, poking him briefly in the side to get his attention. “Warning. My dad showed up at the library this afternoon. He was grilling me about you.”

“What’d you tell him?”

“That I didn’t expect him to have to show up at the principal’s office to bail me out anytime soon.”

Oh, the memories that triggered. “Man, we nearly wore tracks in the floor back in the day. I’m surprised your dad didn’t forbid you to hang out with me.”

“He wouldn’t dare. He and mom have always been adamant we had to make our own decisions and deal with the consequences.” She shook her head firmly. “If I want to date you, that’s my choice, not theirs.”

Discomfort hit as he considered Jeff’s warning that Laurel wouldn’t appreciate being considered a possession. It had been Rafe’s go-to response…stupid and yet automatic.

He pushed aside that thread of concern for now. “I meant more when we were in school.”

She leaned against him, tentatively resting her hand on his thigh. “Maybe they hoped you’d be a good example for me.”

A burst of laughter escaped. “Yeah, right.”

“I’m serious. Don’t act like you were always the instigator. I was far too rambunctious and flighty back then. You helped center me, more than you realized.”

“That’s not the way I remember it, but if you want to give me a halo, swing it over my way. It’s sure to get caught on one of my horns.”

Her body quivered, and her shoulders shook. As he pulled to a stop in front of the Sitko house, all the signs were there of Laurel having a giggle-breakdown.