Page 33 of Same Thing
“It’s a present. He’s always brought me luck. Now he can ride around with you and bring you luck. Liam and Gary, adventure pals.”
He stopped behind a car at a red light, and turned to her, took the little bear from her.
“And that’s my favorite smile so far,” she murmured, unable to look away from the expression on his face.
“I’ll take good care of him,” he promised, setting him in the cupholder. “Thank you.”
“Mmm hmm,” she said, nodding her head. “My pleasure.”
And then that man stunned her into stillness when he leaned over and slid his hand around the back of her neck and pressed his lips to hers. He just stayed there, hand gently on the nape of her neck, lips formed just perfectly onto hers. He eased back and opened his eyes, and she, Nory Hunter, realized she hadn’t even closed her eyes. Like a weirdo.
“I’m going to give you more presents,” she uttered.
She witnessed a smile on his lips right before he kissed her again, and this time, she was ready. Her heart was pounding,and her ears were ringing, and the lyrics to Hallelujah were playing in her mind, and her entire body was shaking, and this was her favorite moment ever. That man knew how to kiss, good gah.
Honk!
“Aaah!” she yelped, startled by the impatient driver behind them. The light had turned green.
“You good?” Liam asked around a chuckle.
She just sat there grinning like a lunatic. “I want to do that more.”
He laughed and reached over the console, slid his huge hand around hers and just held it like this was the most natural thing in the world. Like they were a normal couple growing crushes on each other. Like everything that had happened over the day was unimportant, and sitting here with his strong warm hand around hers, she felt it. That other stuff didn’t matter.
She didn’t have to be embarrassed, or scared, or down on herself. Liam was still here, and he liked her. He really liked her. She could tell.
“What else do you want to know?” he rumbled.
“Oh! Uhh, what kind of cake do you like best.”
“White cake, chocolate frosting.”
“Noted. What kind of cereal?”
“Oh, it’s rapid-fire questions then?”
“Yep.”
“Fine but you have to answer the questions too.”
“Red velvet cake, extra cream cheese frosting. I don’t like cereal though. I like those breakfast sandwiches we had the other day. That’s my new favorite breakfast.”
“Noted,” he said, using her word. “No cereal for me. Sugar is awful for my animal. It’ll make me sick in excess,” he said as he pulled into the Dairy Queen drive through.
“I love sugar,” she admitted as she squinted to try and see what seasonal flavors they had for the Blizzards this month.
“Favorite Blizzard?” he asked. “Butterfinger all day, but sometimes they have this drumstick one that is so freaking good. Favorite animal?”
“Rabbit. They’re delicious.”
“Aww, poor bunnies! I regret that question. My favorite is a cow.”
“Also delicious.”
He ordered her sweet treat, and she continued. “Favorite type of worm?”
“Earth…worm?” he answered.