Page 106 of Sinners Reunion

My heart picks up its pace. Am I really doing this? Am I about to ask her if she can forgive me for being so foolish for so long? Am I about to lose this bet?

“Oh god, you don’t want to talk, do you?” she asks.

“Actually, yes.” I motion for her to take a seat on a rock.

She looks from me to the reddish boulder. “I think I’d prefer to stand.”

“Suit yourself.”

I lean against the rock and fold my arms over my chest. Without my suit, I feel underprepared. Maybe I should wait until I’m better dressed.

No. The cargo shorts and t-shirt will have to do. Stop procrastinating!

I take a deep breath, but as I consider the best way to break it to her that I’m Grantham Carter and that I don’t think I want to die at the end of this and I damn sure don’t want to go on without her anymore . . . my throat closes off, and I say nothing.

Josie cocks her head and steps closer with a smarmy grin. “Riveting talk. I’m glad you pulled me away from that sunset for this.”

I roll my eyes, then spin her around so she can watch her damn sunset. My arm remains over her chest as I hold her against me. She leans over to kiss my skin, and a smile breaks onto my face.

I long to kiss her, and I no longer think it’s only because it’s a challenge. That might have been why I thought I couldn’t live without Marcia, but when it comes to Josie, it’s something different. Something new.

Something I don’t think I can run from anymore.

“How do you think the plan went?” she asks.

“With Blayne?”

She nods, and a warm breeze tousles her hair and sends the tea-tree scent into my nose. My eyes slide shut, and I take another deep breath before the stillness returns.

“I think it went as well as it could have done.” I place my other hand on the thick pad of skin over her hip. I love her curves, her softness. I love her.

Fuck. I love her.

She turns her body just enough to look me in the eye. “You’re being awful short tonight. Any particular reason?”

“My apologies. I’ll try to grow a few inches more, as her nibs requires.”

“If you don’t stop with the dad jokes, I’ll have to buy you a grass-stained pair of New Balances and start calling you Daddy.”

I reach lower and grab a fistful of her ass. “If you don’t behave, Daddy will bend you over his knee and give you a proper spanking.”

“Gross,” Cat and Bennett say as they stroll by, heading the scenic route back to the limos.

With a tormented sigh, I brush her hair over her shoulder and nip her neck. “I guess the party’s over. Shall we continue this in the privacy of our bedroom on wheels?”

“Only if we can keep going with the punishment aspect.”

Then I remember the chase.

Smirking against her skin, I say, “Are you prepared for our date tonight, my beauty? We don’t leave Arizona until late tomorrow evening. We can spend all night hunting each other through the desert, then watch the sun come up before sleeping through the heat of the day. We’ll be refreshed and ready to make the late-night drive.”

Quinn laughs as she, Aven, and Blayne stroll by. “You’re in for a fabulous time, Josie!”

“Let’s continue this in the RV,” she says, her face turning five shades of scarlet.

She grabs my hand and hauls me toward the limo with the strength of ten men, and I’m powerless to stop her. I don’t know that I’d want to. I stride along behind her. Either she’s eager to discuss the chase or she’s eager to call it off, and I’ll know which soon enough.

Chapter Thirty-Three