Page 185 of Worth the Trip

“That is not a wardrobe.”

“Strong foundation.”

She smiled, but reluctance stayed underneath it. Then she released her seat belt and turned fully toward me.

“Thank you.”

“For what?”

“For yesterday. Your family. The cabin. This morning. The bookstore. The beach. For making room for me without making me feel like I had to shrink to fit.”

I lifted her hand and kissed her knuckles.

“You don’t ever have to thank me for loving on you well.”

Her breath caught.

“Loving on me?”

Yeah.

I heard it too.

Could’ve cleaned it up.

Didn’t want to.

“Yeah.” Nolani searched my face. I held her stare. “You don’t have to say anything back before it belongs to you. I’m just telling you where I am.”

Her fingers touched the pendant once.

Then left it.

She leaned across the console and kissed me.

Full.

Tender.

No borrowed declaration attached to it.

I took exactly what she gave me.

When she pulled back, her mouth stayed close to mine.

“You really don’t scare easy.”

“Of course I do.”

That surprised her.

“Of what?”

“You.” Her eyebrows rose. I smiled faintly. “What you could mean to me. Difference is fear doesn’t get voting rights over here.” Something in her expression opened. “I don’t need easy, Hershey. I need honest, reciprocal, and worth showing up for. You got all three.”

“You’re dangerous when you stop joking.”

“Nah. I’m dangerous when I mean every word.”