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“Long day,” Rayne mutters, eyes still on the road ahead.
“Yeah,” I breathe out, my throat suddenly dry. “Thanks for the ride.”
He just nods, his fingers flexing on the wheel. There’s something heavy hanging in the air between us, something we’ve both been dancing around for too long. I try to ignore it, but the heat from his body, the rough way his voice wraps around me—it’s all too much.
I steal a glance at him, taking in the hard lines of his jaw, the way the cowboy hat casts a shadow over his eyes. His muscles straining against his shirt as he drives. Every movement sending my pulse racing.
I swallow hard, feeling my stomach flip when the truck comes to a stop at a red light. The silence stretches between us.
Rayne doesn’t look at me, but his voice is low, gruff when he says, “I’m done holding back, Billie.”
* * *
Rayne
I’ve been keeping it together all day, but I’m done. Done pretending I don’t want her. Done keeping my hands to myself when all I’ve been thinking about is what it’d feel like to have her pressed against me.
I grip the steering wheel tighter, the light turning green, but my focus is shot. I steal a glance at Billie—she’s looking straight ahead, but I can see the way her breath hitches, how her body tenses when I speak. Good. She feels it too.
I reach out, my hand settling on her thigh, feeling the warmth of her skin through her jeans. “I’m done dancing around this thing between us, Billie.”
Her breath catches, and I see her pulse quicken. There’s a moment where I think she might pull away, but she doesn’t. Instead, she leans into my touch, her body softening under my hand.
“Rayne…” she breathes, and just hearing my name on her lips makes my cock twitch in my jeans.
I glance at her again, taking in the way her full tits rise and fall a little faster under her shirt, the way her fingers grip the edge of the seat. The thickness between us is suffocating, and I’m on the verge of pulling over and taking her right here, right now. But I won’t. Not yet.
“We’re not rushing this,” I mutter, my thumb brushing slow circles against her thigh.
I hear her let out a shaky breath, her head turning slightly to look at me. Her eyes are dark, wide, and full of heat, and it takes every ounce of willpower I’ve got not to lean over and kiss her.
But I don’t.
I keep driving, my hand still on her thigh, my touch lingering just enough to let her know this isn’t over. Not by a long shot.
Chapter 4
Billie
The next morning, I’m back at the bakery, but my head is still buzzing from last night. Every time I close my eyes, I see Rayne. The way his hand felt on my thigh, the heat of his touch, the low rasp of his voice saying he’s done holding back. I can’t stop thinking about it.
It’s still early, and the bakery is quiet, just the smell of fresh bread and cinnamon hanging in the air. I’m pulling trays of muffins from the oven when I hear the bell over the door jingle.
“Morning,” a familiar low, rough voice says.
I turn, and there he is—Rayne Miller is standing in my doorway, looking every bit the rugged cowboy. That damn hat, those worn jeans clinging to his thick thighs, and a plain black T-shirt that hugs every inch of his broad chest. I shouldn’t be staring, but hell, it’s impossible not to.
“Morning,” I reply, trying not to sound breathless. “You’re here early.”
He steps closer until he’s leaning against the counter. “Figured I’d stop by. See if you needed any help.”
I can’t help the grin that spreads across my face. “I told you, you’re not getting paid in cupcakes.”
Rayne’s lips twitch into a small smile as he gives me a look—one of his intense, unreadable gaze that does things to me.
I turn back to the oven, trying to pull myself together. “I’m good. No help needed, but thanks for the offer.”
He doesn’t say anything, just stands there, watching me with those dark eyes. The silence between us is thick, and after a few moments, I can’t take it anymore. I set the tray down on the counter and turn to face him.
