Page 113 of To Catch a Latte Thick as Thieves

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“Get your phone ready,” Jared ordered as he maneuvered through the heavy traffic coursing into St. Louis.

“I’m trying,” Cat said as she fumbled with her phone trying to open the app.

“It’s going to be to the right of us,” Jared warned her.

“I’m going to roll down the window so I can get a better shot,” Cat replied. “Can you keep an eye on Lucy?”

“Sure,” Jared reached behind him to rest his big hand on the puppy’s head.

“There it is!” Cat squealed in delight. “Can you see it?”

“I could miss that?” Jared asked. “Take the picture.”

“Oh, yeah.” Cat lifted her phone and snapped a series of photos. “Wow, isn’t it remarkable? I can’t believe I’m looking at the St. Louis Arch.”

“Try to get some photos when we go over the bridge,” Jared advised. “That’ll be your best chance.”

Cat lifted her phone and as they crossed the mighty Mississippi, she took several shots. The August wind was hot in her face, and she watched in fascination as the sun lit up the massive silver arch. The river was crowded with boats and shimmered in the sun like a well-worn suit.

Her heart raced as she thought of all of the travelers who had passed before her through the grand gateway to the West. It still felt like a dream to her. The excitement she awoke with each morning hadn’t ebbed. She’d been afraid homesickness would kick in as soon as she’d left Massachusetts, but that hadn’t happened.

She didn’t know how much Jared had to do with her state of well-being. She didn’t want to know. He’d soon be back on his ranch, and she’d be facing her adventure alone again. Would homesickness catch up to her then? No idea.

What she did know was that the man beside her was a devastatingly good smoocher. Just thinking about his kiss made her toes curl against the floorboard.

She’d thought she could have an affair with him. She’d thought it could be something swift and sweet, but now she wasn’t so sure. Sweet yes, but swift was doubtful.

Jared wasn’t like anyone she’d ever known. And sleeping with him would be the greatest test of her newfound independence. It would be so easy to lose herself in him, even easier than it had been with the big dumb jerk. Could she be with Jared and walk away? Or would she become the pathetic, clinging vine she’d been before? There was only one way to know for sure.

“Cat,” Jared interrupted her thoughts. “Are you planning on coming back in some time today? You’re letting all of the air-conditioning out.”

“Sorry.” Cat pulled her head back in and turned to face Jared. “I got lost in thought.”

“What about?” Jared asked as he released Lucy.

“Last night.”

“What about it?” His intense blue gaze flashed to her, and Cat glanced down at her lap.

“I just wanted to apologize for waking you up.” Cat fidgeted with her phone. “It won’t happen again.”

“You’re right it won’t.” Jared reached across the seat and brushed the windswept hair from her cheek. “I got carried away with you last night. I don’t intend to make that mistake again.”

“Why?”

“What do you mean ‘why’?” He frowned at her.

“I mean,” Cat paused to clear her throat, “why don’t we just...you know?”

“You know?” Jared’s frown deepened. “No, I don’t know. Enlighten me.”

Cat expelled a nervous breath, plunging ahead before she lost her nerve. “Why don’t we hook up?”

“Hook up?” Jared hollered. “Are you kidding me right now?”