Page 41 of Wildest Forever (Lovelock Bay #3)

Walking towards the stairs, I pause for a second outside his room and wonder if he is still in there.

I debate knocking but decide against it as I make my way down the stairs and that's when I see him.

Standing at the bottom, his whiskey eyes on me and a silly smile slips against my lips.

“Baby,” he rasps, and I give him the once over.

Eyes all hazy, hair pushed back away from his face and his little moustache cuddling his top lip.

I was really digging it.

He wears a white tee that clings around his muscly arms and light wash jeans, finished off with his boots.

“You look...” he pauses, his eyes dragging up and down my body. “You look so god damn beautiful, Sunflower.”

My cheeks blossom pink, matching the color of my makeup.

“You don't look too bad yourself, stud,” I mutter, and I shock myself by the little nickname that slips off my tongue.

A boyish grin passes his lips, and I duck my head as I slip off the bottom step and reach for my purse but he grabs it for me, holding it out for me to take.

I thank him and slip the strap up my arm.

My eyes cast to the living room and a wave of feelings cascade over me.

His fingers brush against mine.

“You okay?” he asks me, pulling me from my head and the tidal wave now laps against the shore.

I just nod.

I didn't want to be bearing all to him tonight, not when we were going out. I needed this more than he knew, I didn't want to bring myself or anyone else down for that matter.

“Let's go cowgirl,” his hand slips over mine as he softly tugs me towards the boarded up door and I follow. Closing and locking it up behind us, he leads me towards his truck. I miss the way my hand feels in his when he drops it. Opening my door, he steps back and lets me climb in.

Nerves swirl in my stomach but I have no idea why.

Maybe it's the pressure of tonight? Maybe I am expecting something more to come of this... maybe deep down I want tonight to be the night that I give myself to him. Mind. Body. Soul.

The sound of his door closing snaps me from my thoughts and I press a small smile onto my lips.

His hand reaches across and slips between my thighs as he gives my leg a gentle squeeze.

“I am looking forward to tonight,” he admits as he pushes the truck into drive as we pull down the dusty dirt track.

“Me too,” I admit, swallowing down the lump that presents itself there.

“I still will die on the hill that it's not as good as the Boot,” he chuckles softly and I roll my eyes.

“Po-tay-to, Po-tah-to,” I shrug my shoulder and look out the window.

The sky a mix of pink and violet as the evening draws in. A few stars scattered through the colors and the sky has always amazed me.

“How are the renovations to the Boot coming along?” I find myself asking, face still turned out of my window.

“Yeah okay, bit of a halt this week because of the issues we've had...”

I nod, face slowly turning to face him.

“How did Sunny take the news?” and I wince as the words leave my mouth.

“As expected.”

I nod, licking my lips.

“I have no idea if they were a thing as such, but they still had history and after it all they were friends, we all were,” he sighs, and I watch as his fingers tighten around the steering wheel.

“Any idea who killed him?” and the words leave me in a whoosh, the air suddenly feels thicker.

“Nope,” his tone is curt, and I roll my lips.

“I'm sorry,” I say after a beat or two, just as he turns his blinker on and we roll down the red dirt track.

“For?” he glances over to me, his eyes bouncing between mine.

“Bringing all this up, the last thing you want tonight is to relive this week,” I feel the heaviness settling into my chest. I didn't want to talk about my feelings and yet here I am trying to coax his out of him.

He gives me a lopsided smile, his arm back across the center of the truck as he scoops my hand into his and pulls it ever so softly over his side, his lips dusting across the back of my hand and I swear he is trailing the number eight.

“Sunflower,” he murmurs against my skin, his lips feather soft.

I blink at him, letting my body turn in his direction and rest my head on the truck seat.

“Never apologize, you can always ask me anything and I will tell you the truth.” A kiss to the back of my hand has my skin tingling. “But for tonight, can we just enjoy spending time together with no talk of work?” his brow lifts as we pull into a parking space.

“Of course,” A wide grin spreads across my top set of teeth and he gives me a flirty wink.

Tension crackles between us and I know how much I want this night to end a certain way, but I need to know that he is on board with it too.

“Ready?” he asks as he cuts the engine and lowers my hand gently into his lap and I drag it back across, fingers linking.

“Think so,” I whisper and reach for my purse that has fallen into the footwell of the truck.

I twist around and look out the window, my eyes pinching to see if I can make out any of the trucks.

Rivera Trucks line up to my left in the distance and my lips tug into a smile.

“They'll always show up for you,” Pacey's voice breaks through and I turn to look at him, eyes all adoring as I soak up every minute of this moment.

“I am beginning to realize that,” I whisper, my eyes suddenly becoming glassy.

He scoffs a gentle laugh as he leans across the middle, elbow resting on the arm rest, his left hand reaches forward to cup my face and my heart races beneath my skin.

The coolness of his wedding band on my flushed cheeks feels nice against the warmth.

His lips edge closer to mine and I find myself holding my breath as they slant across my mouth, his tongue slowly pushing past my lips and I melt into him, his grip tightening around my cheek and a soft moan passes my lips and I feel my face flame red.

I feel his smile press against his lips, our teeth inches from touching and I feel so embarrassed.

“Oh my god,” I whisper, dropping my head but he doesn't give me a second to hide, his fingers are gripping my chin and he tilts my face so I have no other choice but to look at him.

“Don't you dare hide yourself from me Sunflower, don't ever feel embarrassed about how your body reacts...” he trails off and I see a wicked glint flash across his whiskey eyes.

“Turned me on,” he rasps as his lips brush against mine and my stomach coils, heat blooms between my thighs and I know I needed to get out of this truck now before I am dry humping his lap.

I pull back and open my door, letting the warm summer breeze dance over my skin as I find myself dragging the same air into my lungs.

I hear his boots hit the ground, crunching across the gravel as he walks towards me.

“No running, baby,” his voice wraps around me like a cashmere blanket and all I want to do is snuggle into him and ask him to never let me go.

“I didn't mean to...” and his strong arms are tucking behind my back as he pulls me into him, our bodies close, our noses touching and his lips are gravitating towards mine.

“I want to kiss you again, but I know if I start now, I won't want to stop,” he whispers and brushes them across my lips ever so slightly, like a feather touch and my eyes flutter shut, my breath catching at the back of my throat and I have no idea how he can make this so sensual without doing anything to me.

What baffles me more is that I have no experience, but my body is reacting in a way like she knows what to do, what to expect and how to act.

His smile grows and his lips trail to my cheek where he places the softest kiss.

I smile back and that's when his fingers find mine, walking me into Randy's.

Walking into the familiar bar, memories flood me, and I promised I wouldn't get into my feelings tonight.

Pacey leads me to the large booth in the back and I see Riggs, Aspen, Tripp, Dixie and Austin sitting there. I had only met him a few times, but I knew of him, heck most of Montana probably knew about him.

Nerves tickle the base of my neck, but I ignore them, swatting them away as Pacey pulls me in front of him, kisses me on the cheek and then lets me slip into my seat.

“Hey,” I smile, my eyes bouncing between the Riveras and they all give me a smile, a wave or a hat tilt until Aspen knocks Riggs' off his head, shaking her head in a disapproving manner.

“Where are your friends?” Riggs asks, looking over my shoulder and I give a shrug.

“No idea, told them seven...” I pause for a moment and turn my wrist to face me, my delicate gold watch showing just past seven. “Still time.”

Riggs smiles, reaching for his beer bottle and bringing it to his lips.

“How's your week been?” Dixie asks me, her warm voice floating across the table as she sips on her coke.

“Bit up and down really, but seems everyone has had a bit of an off week.”

They all nod or hum in agreement.

“What do you want to drink baby?” and I watch as Riggs smiles, Aspen's eyes trail to Pacey as she sips her wine and Dixie and Tripp giggle to each other.

“What?” Pacey stands a little taller, clearly riled up by them.

Aspen looks to Riggs then back to Pacey.

“Just feels so weird... like... you both were so different back at the wedding... and now, well, it's clear as day.”

Pacey rolls his eyes and turns his back fully on his family.

“What would you like to drink?” his brows raise, and I twist my lips just as he places his hand on his hip.

Hushed voice echoes behind us and I know he is going to be getting wound up as the seconds pass.

“Wine,” I make a quick decision and instantly regret it but it's fine, I'll move onto something else after.

He nods and walks away, not looking back.

“Are we invisible?” Tripp grunts and Riggs lets out a deep, throaty laugh.

Aspen winks at me and I feel so out of the loop.

Dixie side eyes her and gives her a knowing nod.

“What?” I look between the four of them, “What is as clear as day?” I find myself lowering my voice even though he wouldn't be able to hear me. The bar is over the other side and there is music playing in the background.

“Pacey is head over heels in love with you.”

I scrunch my nose and shake my head from side to side, lifting my hat from my head and tossing it down beside me.

“No, you have that all wrong,” I giggle, and I am not sure whether it is nerves or what but now I have started, I can't stop.

“Oh, trust us, we know Pace and that boy has it baaaaad,” Aspen nods and Riggs follows with a heavy dip of his head.

My heart stutters in my chest and I know he said he was starting to fall but starting to fall and being head over heels... that's a big difference and quite a big statement to make.

All their eyes trail over my shoulder and Dixie's smile is wide like the cat who got the cream.

I finally allow my eyes to glance over where they're looking and that's when I see his eyes on me.

Soft and hazy, a small smile lifting the corner of his mouth and my heart bangs against my rib cage.

I twist around quickly, my chest rising and falling as I look at Aspen.

“Told you,” she winks playfully, “we know him all too well.”

And for some reason, them saying that has me feeling giddy like a schoolgirl with a crush.