Pit Stop: Baby! (Crescent Cove 4)

Just like Shane.

At least this time I didn’t do it in the middle of the quad. Heck, I could go and do it in the gazebo to show the whole damn town. Did they make industrial locks to protect a person from themselves?

He slapped his hand against the door. “You’re going to make me do this through the door?”

I pressed my forehead to the smooth wood, aching to undo the locks keeping him out.

“Okay, if that’s the way you want it.”

I braced myself, the tears dripping down my stupid face. He’d go back down the stairs and head out. Back to his folks’ house?

I didn’t even know where he was staying. I just didn’t ask. Not wanting to see him in any kind of permanent status with this town—or with me.

“You surprised me, huntress. Being all kinds of a coward over something so stupid.”

I straightened and swiped away tears. What the hell did he mean that I was a coward?

“This just makes you even more interesting.”

I unlocked the door and swung it open. “What?”

He gripped the top of the doorjamb, his posture lazy and sexy. Just like the first time I saw him. “Yes. Do you know how much I can fuck with you? I can whisper shit in the dark—maybe I can get you to even—ooof.”

I jammed my fist into his belly. “You asshole.”

He reached inside and hauled me up against him. “You don’t want to hear what I want you to do?”

“No, you pervert.” I didn’t laugh. I didn’t want to be charmed.

“How could you think so little of me?”

“Because you’re male.” I tried to push out of his arms, but he held me tight.

“Really, Ry.” He touched his forehead to mine. “You think this matters?”

I tried to twist away and he tucked his hands into the back pockets of my ancient jeans. “Gage…”

“No. This is not our dealbreaker.”

“I’m a freak.” I stared at his neck because I couldn’t look at his face.

“No, you’re not.” He shook me. “Look at me. Dammit, Ry.”

I snapped my gaze to his.

“You have a hugely active mind that doesn’t know how to sleep laying down in a damn bed. Why does that make you a freak?”

“Hello? You saw me.”

“Do you know what you did?”

My face heated. No. I never remembered what I was doing. Whatever I was dreaming about didn’t stay with me when I woke up. It was like two different planes almost.

“You walked across the room. Put a bowl of popcorn in a bakery case. That’s about it.”

I frowned. “I felt like I was doing more.”

“Well, you kind of did go for a knife.”