Someone worthy of his loyalty.
I tug at the hem of my jean shorts and pretend to curtsy at my tire-changing performance. He’s staring at me hard, as though contemplating something.
The second I straighten back up, I know exactly what he was debating.
To kiss me or not to kiss me.
The heels of Reece’s hands push into my ribcage as he pushes me against the car.
My breath comes out in a whoosh as I collide with the hot metal of Horny, but Reece captures the gasp with his mouth. I forget all about my sweat, all about the fact that my hands are grimy, and that he was hardly a gentleman in making me change the tire myself.
My hands are greedy on his shoulders, the back of his head, his waist, and his hands are equally greedy, touching me everywhere.
His mouth tastes like the mint of his gum, his lips a little bit salty from the sweat.
The kiss turns fast and hungry, and also somehow a little bit sweet for all its spontaneity.
We both ignore the honk of a passing car. Then another honk. It’s finally the long, irritated honk of a semi that reminds us that the side of a highway isn’t the smartest place to make out.
“What was that?” I ask, slightly out of breath.
His gaze drops to my swollen mouth, flicking briefly over my body, before returning to my eyes.
“You want me.”
I blink. “That’s what you have to say? You kissed me.”
“You kissed me back.”
I touch the corner of my stubble-grazed mouth and scowl at him. “So? What are you going to do about it?”
Reece tiredly runs a hand over his face. “Hell if I kn
ow, Lucy. Hell if I know.”
Chapter 23
LUCY, EIGHTEEN, REECE, NINETEEN
“Hold on!” Lucy called, scooping another bite of chocolate pudding from the little cup, and with the spoon still in her mouth she opened the front door.
She blinked. “Reece! Um, you’re knocking now?”
He smiled and shoved his hands in his pockets, looking sheepish. “Door was locked. Not used to that this time of day. Forgot my key.”
“Ah,” she said, gesturing him inside. “Yeah, I lock it when I’m home alone. Rapists and murderers and whatnot.”
“And yet, you opened it without knowing it was me,” he said, following her into the kitchen.
She pointed her spoon at him before dipping it back into the chocolate pudding. “You bring up a good point. I’ll write that on my list of Life Tips for College.”
“If you need a list to tell you not to open the door to strangers, I’m having second thoughts about letting you leave in three months.”
She gave him a sunny grin as she finished the pudding cup and tossed it in the trash. Then she hoisted herself onto the kitchen island. “Lucky for me, you don’t get a say.”
“Obviously. Because if I did, I’d have you enrolled at the community college down the street where I can rescue you from the trouble you’re destined for.”
She reached out to kick him, and he pushed her foot aside. “You looking for Craig?” she asked. “He said he was going to run some errands, which I’m pretty sure means he’s hooking up with one of his high school girl toys.”