Page 80 of Lucky Haven

“I know.” She curves under the brim of my hat and we kiss. It’s slow and sweet, and I hope she knows I’m not gonna try to turn this into anything more than that.

“I want you to be really happy,” she says when we finally stop. “And if you were holding yourself back for some reason⁠—”

“I’m not.” I stroke her cheek. “Are you?”

“I don’t know.”

She sucks in a surprised breath. Maybe that was an unexpected confession.

“I’m happy in your arms. I know that much.”

“But that’s not enough when people are making life actively hostile for you.” I set my jaw firmly. “We’ll get to the bottom of it.”

“I know we will.” But her expression clearly says that she’s afraid of what we’ll find when we do. Afraid of how deep the disrespect might run.

I hate that for her.

I soften my voice. “Turn around.”

The sky is a riot of orange and pink and gold and red, and everything in the valley has gone quiet.

“It’s so beautiful,” she whispers as the sun slides out of view behind the next ridge over.

All I can see is her. “It sure is.”

Chapter Twenty-Four

Haven

I look up at Cash.

He’s staring down at me with a smile that feels so bittersweet my chest hurts. “Dance with me again.”

I nod.

This time, he cues up music on his phone. The tunes drift on the night breeze, probably carrying down into the valley as Cash coaches me through three more songs. I wonder if anyone can hear us, if they think we’re teenagers parking up here.

I don’t care. I’m having too much fun.

By the last song, I’ve learned to stop trying to anticipate his steps, and just wait for his body to cue me.

Being a blank slate, and just letting the dancing happen.

It’s fun to be this aware of his body against mine. To hold on to his biceps and shoulder, and lean back against the hard press of his hand in the small of my back.

The next song that plays from his playlist is a fast party song.

“Hang on, let me find something else.” He tugs me in close, so we’re both looking at his phone.

As he scrolls, I press up on my toes and kiss the warm stretch of his neck, brushing my lips in little butterfly kisses along his throat, up to where his beard starts.

He swallows hard against my lips. “Haven…”

“Sorry, am I distracting you?”

“I’m not complaining. You want to get in the truck?”

The fresh air is making me bold. “Or the back of it again?”