Page 38 of Lawson & Jill

Chapter 12

“So, is this hot pocket, cross-legged thing a thing?” Law asked.

Jill looked up from her position on the floor as she was about to take a bite from her pepperoni hot pocket. She hadn’t heard Law coming in from the garage, probably because she had her earbuds in and cranked up to one hundred and one.

Come to think of it, that was not the wisest move in the world since her dad was darn near deaf. She pulled out her earbuds.

“Did I just hear a wise-ass comment about my eating habits?” She grinned up at Law as he swooped in for a kiss.

“Honey, a hot pocket might be a habit, but it’s not really eating. MRE’s are better eating.”

“What’s an MRE?” Jill asked.

“Meal-Ready to Eat. It’s the shit that the military puts into little plastic packets for us to eat in the field. It’s a hell of a lot more nutritional than what you’re eating.”

Jill felt her smile getting bigger. It was so sweet when he proved he cared. For the last four nights, he had cooked dinner because he knew that she was on a heavy deadline. Was it any wonder that she felt the way she felt about him?

Love. Admit it, Keiler, it’s love.

“What?”

“What do you mean what?” Jill asked.

“You’re looking at me funny,” Law said. “Is something going wrong with your project? Are you going to miss your deadline?”

She sighed.

“Honey, you’re kind of scaring me. You’re biting your lip again.”

She shut her laptop and untangled herself from between the couch and the coffee table and stood up. “I need another kiss.”

“Glad to deliver.” He pulled her into his arms, and soon she was lost in the magic of Law’s touch. The man could kiss. When he finally lifted his head, he gave her a long look. “Wanna tell me what’s wrong?”

She looked up at the ceiling.

God, give me strength.

“I have never met a man as good, honest, and honorable as you. Did you know that?”

Every muscle in his body tightened beneath her touch as his eyes darkened.

“Where’s this going, Jill?”

“Oh, God, I’m doing this wrong.” She clasped his face in both of her hands and stared into his eyes. “This time, I’m going to break the macho code. I need you to know that I love you. Right here, right now. No flowers, no candlelit dinner. Just a cold hot pocket on a plate. I’m in love with you, Lawson.”

She stared up at him and didn’t see one sign of a dimple.

“It’s okay, I don’t need you to say it back. But I just had to say it to you, because you’re wonderful, and you had to know that someone just loves you to death.”

Still no dimple. She drew back her hands and felt the need for an antacid. Maybe he was right, maybe she needed to start eating better.

“Dammit, you’re biting your lip again. Stop it, Honey.”

He trailed his thumb over her bottom lip and she forced a smile. What had she been expecting, after all? She took a silent breath. “Do you want to go out for dinner? Maybe that seafood place you like so much,” she suggested.

He shook his head slowly. “I don’t think so.”

“Italian?”