I catch the girl behind the cutting counter stealing a glimpse of him more than once. A possessive streak I didn’t know I had slices up my middle. I wind my arm around his and rest my hand on his bicep. “The alabaster was a good choice, babe.”
A lazy grin sits on his lips. “Thanks.Babe.”
Regret instantly flushes my cheeks. That was a mistake. The words flew from my mouth like vomit. Now they’re out, and there’s nothing I can do but watch the damage unfold.
“Fabrics make me horny,” he says to the girl.
The flush deepens as it spreads. I squeeze his arm, hoping he takes the hint, but he just lays it on thicker and heavier.
“I dunno if I’m going to be able to wait to get it home. I may need to fuck you on top of the pile right in the parkin’ lot.”
It’s honestly hard to tell who’s more uncomfortable—me or her—when Jace pulls me against him and asks, “Do you have a back room or something we could use?”
The girl’s eyes widen. “Um … I’m not sure …”
“He’s kidding,” I assure her, but she averts her gaze when he starts humping me from behind.
“Excuse me. There are children present.” The stern voice floats in from behind us.
Jace chucks a look over his shoulder. “How do they think they got here?”
When I elbow him off, he steps to the side laughing. “We’re sorry.”
“No, we’re not.”
The old woman storms away in a huff.
The girl finishes cutting my fabrics and folds them into neat and manageable piles for me to bring to the register.
“Can you please behave?” I scold.
Apfftsound leaves his lips. “You know you loved it.Babe.”
“God, I hate you.”
“Sure you do,” he mutters, falling in step beside me in line. Impulse buys line the shelves on either side as we shuffle to the front one shopper at a time. The toddler in the cart behind us begs for a lollipop, but his mother doesn’t cave. She’s too busy looking at coffee mugs with ironic phrases to pay him any mind. Jace whispers over his shoulder. “What’s your favorite flavor, kid?”
“Red.”
He winks and clicks his tongue. I set my cuttings on the desk and dig through my bag to find the coupon I’d clipped from the paper. I never even noticed the red lollipop sitting on the counter until I spy Jace pass it to the little boy. The kid smiles a mile wide, but Jace just keeps walking as if it never happened.
“That was sweet,” I say in the parking lot.
“I have no idea what you’re talking about.” He gets into the truck and slams the door. He can play the tough guy all he wants, but he can’t lie to me. I know the hard candy shell has a gooey center inside. I’ve seen it firsthand. It’s what drew me to him in the first place, and it’s what keeps me coming back.
“Thanks for the ride.” With my new purchases dangling from my fingers, I head for the kitchen and grab the kettle. After filling it with water, I set it on the stove.
Jace takes a beer from the fridge. I try not to notice the way his throat moves as he tips his head back to take a sip.
When the kettle cries, I pull it off the heat. Tea steams up from my mug. I squeeze in a dollop of honey, then stir it around until it’s well combined.
“How do you drink that piss?”
I bring my cup to the table and set it down. “You can go now. Your services are no longer needed.”
But the wooden legs screech on the tile as he pulls out a chair and plops down beside me. “I’d rather annoy you.”
Ignoring his snide remark, I slide the bag toward me and pull out my fabric. Ideas swirl in my head. I’ve bought enough to make several tops, plus a leftover cut of leather I got on clearance.