“Sunflower seeds–want one?”

  Her lips twist, and she nods. “Sure.”

  Taking a black and white shell from my hand, she puts it in her mouth then bites down, chewing several times before her nose wrinkles and she starts to cough.

  “Oh…” She turns away from me, coughing and spitting. “Why would you eat that?”

  “What the hell?” I scoop the bottle of water off the ground and hand it to her. “You don’t eat the shells.”

  “Why didn’t you tell me?” Sticking out her tongue, she swipes the hard fragments away, still coughing and sputtering. “That’s awful.”

  “You’ve never had a sunflower seed?” Her lips press to the side, and she has a bit of shell on her chin. “Come here.”

  She returns between my legs, and I’m ready for Plan B. “You’re an excellent shot for a Park Avenue princess.”

  “I’m no princess.” Her chin lifts, and she tries to be sassy.

  I flick the fragment away then lower my face, tracing my lips along her jaw. “Is that so?”

  “Yes.” Heat fills her tone as her hands slide along my waist, finding their way beneath my shirt. “I’m a bad girl.”

  “You are?”

  “Mm-hm.” Lifting her chin, she whispers in my ear. “Now show me how to eat a sunflower seed.”

  “I have to get more out of the truck.”

  “I’ll come with you.”

  15

  Hana

  I’m straddling Scar’s lap in the cab of his truck, watching as he puts a sunflower seed between his full lips. His square jaw moves as he cracks it in half, then he takes out the heart with his fingertips.

  “This is the part you eat.” He holds the small kernel between us.

  Licking my bottom lip, I gaze at him. “That was hot.”

  His brow furrows, and he gives me one of those rare grins. “Was it?”

  I lean down and slide my tongue over his long fingers before covering them with my lips, taking the seed out of his grasp with a little suck.

  When I sit up, his blue eyes have darkened. “That was hot.”

  His voice is husky, and desire zips through my veins.

  “You think so?” I rest my arms on his shoulders, and I want him to kiss me.

  This entire afternoon, I’ve been burning up with lust. I don’t know why he wants me to learn to shoot, but I won’t argue if it means I get to stand with my back against his chest while his warm breath tickles my neck and his cock nudges my ass.

  My patience is not great, and I lean forward to slide my nose along his cheek. He smells so good, like warm woods and clean soap. “We’re pretty secluded out here, you know?.”

  Large hands slide up my thighs, scooping my ass forward on his lap. “Why do you think I brought you here?”

  “To learn to shoot?” I lift my face, so it hovers just above his.

  “Yes.” He lifts his chin and kisses my mouth. “How are you feeling?”

  “Like a badass.”

  That gets me another low chuckle, and a thrill races to my core. “I love to hear you laugh.”

  He kisses me again, and this time our lips part. His tongue slides against mine, and my body ignites. Heat floods my core, and I exhale a whimper.

  “I love to hear you moan.” His beard scratches my face as his lips move into my hair, kissing behind my ear. “You smell so good. I want my mouth all over you.”

  “I want that.” I gasp, leaning back and quickly whipping the thin sweater over my head. Just as fast, I strip off the silk cami I’m wearing under it. “I don’t know why I wore so many layers.”

  “So I wouldn’t have to kill every man who looks at you.” His rough growl is against my breast as he pulls a tight nipple between his lips.

  “Oh, fuck,” I gasp as pleasure races through my stomach.

  He’s right, that sweater is too thin to wear alone, but the possessive turn he’s taken since we slept together is very gratifying. He apologized for overreacting to Dirk, but after the shit I’ve suffered, I don’t mind having a massive bodyguard ready to fight off unwanted attention for me.

  His mouth moves from my breast to my shoulder, up to my chin, and I cup his cheeks as I kiss him hard, with all my passion. Scar makes me feel so safe and so sexy.

  My tongue curls with his, and his hands move to my lower back, sliding over my bare skin. He rocks my crotch over the bulge in his pants, and heat sparkles through my legs.

  “Feels so good,” I sigh. “I want you inside me.”

  “I didn’t bring a condom, but I’m clean. Hutch likes us to get tested regularly, even if we’re not with anyone.”

  Sliding off his lap, I unbutton my jeans, pushing them down my hips, leaving me in only my lace thong. “I think that’s a good policy.”

  I climb onto his lap again, covering his mouth with mine. Our kisses are ravenous and hungry. I pull the hem of his shirt, and he whips it over his head. Next my hands drop to his waist, fumbling with the button on his jeans.

  He slides them down his hips, and his massive erection springs free, long and hard and extending up to his belly. I lean down to run my tongue up the length of his shaft to the tip.

  It jumps and he exhales a low groan, fisting his hand in the side of my hair. “As good as that feels, I want to be inside you, too.”

  Sitting up straighter, I lick my lips, studying his dark eyes. “I want you to make me come.”

  Lifting me off his lap with ease, he turns me so I’m facing the windshield, and orders gruffly, “Lean forward.” I do as he says, and gasp as his tip nudges my core from behind. “You’re already so wet.”

  With a swift thrust he glides fully into me, and my palms slam against the dash. “God, yes,” I moan.

  One arm wraps around my waist, and his beard scratches my back as he arches forward, kissing his way up my spine. “Lean back, baby.”

  I do as he says, arching my back against his shoulder, and his hand goes between my thighs, sliding up and down and circling my clit. He’s deep inside me as my hips start to rock. It feels incredible. I moan as he kisses the side of my neck, breathing hard beside my ear.

  “Ride me, baby.” His fingers massage and tease my clit, and his cock is hitting that place inside me again.

  “Oh, shit, you’re doing it.”

  “That’s my girl,” he whispers in my ear. “So beautiful. Come on my dick.”

  My eyes squeeze shut, and I grip the back of his neck as my body arches higher. Pleasure floods through my stomach at his words, at the sensation of fullness. His arm that was around my waist moves higher, his rough palm sliding over my breasts, squeezing and pinching my hard nipples. It’s all too much.

  Orgasm races through my legs, summoned by his hand vigorously massaging my clit as his fat cock drives into me. My thighs start to tremble, and my inner muscles grasp and pull as I break with a loud moan.

  “Oh, fuck,” I whisper as I shoot through the stars.

  This feeling is unbelievable. Bucking my ass, I grasp his hand as the sensations become too powerful. I’m so sensitive, and our fingers thread together as his ass lifts from the seat.

  He groans in a way that curls my toes, and I’m flooded with another burst of hot pleasure knowing he’s coming with me. I feel him pulsing, and I feel the slippery wetness of our orgasm on my ass and thighs.

  Falling back on his firm chest, I turn my face to kiss his neck. His coarse chest hairs tickle my skin, and his lips press to the top of my shoulder before moving to my neck.

  “Beautiful badass.” He kisses my cheek. “I need to stock up on sunflower seeds if this is what they do to you.”

  “It’s what you do to me.”

  “It’s what you do to me.” His strong arms wrap around my waist, and I wrap my arms on top of them as joy pulses through my body with every heartbeat. “You’re changing me.”

  With a smile, I rest my cheek against his jaw. He’s changing me.

  Carmen is behind the counter flipping through a catalog when I enter Ruth’s Rarities. Scar said he needed to return the gun and check in with the guys, so I walked down the three-block Main Street of Hamiltown to where my bestie works.

  “This bag does not spark joy.” Pepper’s voice comes from behind one of the rows.

  Carmen doesn’t even look up from her post. “Then don’t buy it.”

  I peek around the corner at my little friend sitting on the floor, sorting through sequined bags with catch phrases on them. “What’s going on here?”

  “I brake for dad bods? Seriously?” Pepper cuts her eyes up at me then shakes her head dismissively.

  I shrug. “Some ladies like that, especially when you’ve been married for a while.”

  “I don’t think that’s true.”

  “It’s true,” Carmen yells from the front. “It’s one of our top sellers.”

  Pepper’s eyes roll so hard I think they might get stuck, and I wonder if her objection has anything to do with her lack of a dad, but I keep it to myself.

  “I don’t think Blake agrees with this.” Pepper looks up at me, then her brow lowers. “You look different.”

  “I do?” Stepping back, I go to the counter where Carmen is working.

  My friend looks up, and her eyebrows rise. “You’re glowing.” Her voice drops, and she leans forward. “You did it. Tell me everything.”

  “What did you do?” Pepper nearly makes me jump out of my skin. “Was it that bologna facial I saw on TikTok?”

  “Ew!” My nose wrinkles, and I try to imagine what the heck…

  “Good lord, Pep,” Carmen cries, “Don’t do facials you see on TikTok. Especially not any that involve bologna. Gross!”

  “It looked like that horror film…”

  “Leatherface?” Carmen shakes her head. “Kids these days. Just because some idiot does something on social media doesn’t mean you all have to do it. Just say no.”

  “You sound like an old grandma,” Pepper grumbles.

  “And you sound like a little Japanese lady.”

  I’m biting my lip and doing my best not to laugh at them. I’m so light and happy, and I know it’s because I’ve been getting the most amazing sleep followed by some pretty amazing orgasms–which I have no intention of discussing in front of Pepper.

  Our little friend pulls her phone up and looks at it. “Uncle Hutch said I have to meet him at the office now.” She walks over and puts her arms around my waist, and I like how even though she’s twelve, she still has moments when she acts eleven. “Are you coming to dinner tonight?”

  Wrapping my arms around her shoulders, I give her a squeeze. “I’m not sure. I haven’t talked to Blake today.”

  “You don’t have to come just because Blake’s there. I miss you.”

  “I miss you too, Skater-girl.” Planting a kiss on the top of her head, I give her a little nudge. “You should see the pictures I took. You look like a superhero.”

  “Maybe I can see them on Saturday? You said I could tidy your room.”

  She looks up at me, and I tweak her nose. “It’s a date, but no throwing away my stuff without asking.”

  “I’ll make a pile and you can decide what you think. Bye, guys!” she yells, running to the door.

  It closes with the ringing of a bell, and I exhale a laugh. “She’s already anticipating a non-joyful pile of my stuff.”

  “I think she just likes saying tidy or this doesn’t bring me joy.” Carmen imitates Pepper’s voice. “Now, tell me everything!”

  “I don’t know what you’re talking about.”

  “Do not do me like that. You had sex with Scar, and I want all the details. Is it big? Oh, I know it’s big, I’ve seen him in sweats. Does he have any special moves? How many times did you do it?”

  A laugh bursts through my pursed lips, and I shake my head. “I’m not telling you any of that! He’d kill me.”

  “You can tell me some of that.”

  “I’ll tell you he is very good at it.”

  “Of course he is.”

  “And very caring….” I think about our recent ride in the truck. “And a bit of a dirty talker.”

  “Oh… Nice.” Carmen’s eyes widen, and I snort a laugh.

  “You are so crazy.”

  “Well, I have to get my kicks somewhere. My dating apps are turning up a whole lot of nothing. The quantity is there, but the quality is not. Then I watched that Tinder Swindler documentary the other night. Now I don’t trust anybody.”

  Leaning on the counter, I look at the catalog she was holding. It’s for signs and other store supplies. “What about Dirk? He’s handsome and charming and very smart. Not to mention, he’s loaded.”

  She purses her lips and shrugs. “He never seemed interested. I don’t think he thinks of me that way. You know he went to school in New York and all. I think he’s more into girls like you.”

  “Like me?” My brow creases as all the fucked up shit I’ve done flickers through my mind. “I don’t think so. Maybe he just needs a little encouragement.”

  “It won’t make a difference.” She clicks through stock items on the computer, and I tilt my head to the side.

  My eyes narrow at her indifference. “Is it possible you’re the one who isn’t interested?”

  “I don’t know what you mean.”

  “You don’t like Dirk! What’s wrong with Dirk?”

  Shaking her head, she exhales a gasp. “Nothing is wrong with Dirk!”

  “But you’re not interested in him. Why not? Tell me.” I scoot closer to her. “What did he do?”

  “It’s more what he hasn’t done. Why is he still in Hamiltown? He’s not Hutch. Hell, Hutch is practically the mayor, and he has Pepper and now Blake.” Carmen’s voice rises. “Dirk went to school in Manhattan! Why would he come back to this little Podunk when he could have the bright lights of the city? I’ve never even been out of the state except to go to Atlanta for market.”

  Pressing my lips together, I’m not sure what to say. “Maybe he likes the small-town vibe?”

  “Exactly.” She taps her finger on the counter. “I want to see things. I want to travel. I want to go to New York City!”

  Her voice rises, and I nod. “Well, that settles it. You’re coming with us to my art show next month.”

  A shy smile curls her lips, and she shakes her head looking down at the counter. “No, that’s a family thing. I couldn’t impose–”

  “You’re my best friend. I need all the moral support I can get. Do you know how cutthroat the art world in Manhattan is?” Putting my hand on my stomach, I close my eyes dramatically. “I get nauseated every time I think about it.”

  I’m laying it on pretty thick, especially since I’m feeling really great about the photos I’ve taken, but the thought of being back in town with only Blake as a buffer between Natasha and the old crew makes me cringe.

  “Having you there would bring me joy.”

  “Am I really your best friend?” Her voice is high.

  “I mean, yeah. Blake’s my sister and Pepper’s…”

  “Pepper,” we say at the same time.

  Carmen’s entire face lights up, and she claps her hands fast. “I’ll go!”

  “And we can go to Magnolia Bakery and the Top of the Rock and get hamburgers at 5 Napkins…”

  “Maybe I’ll meet an unattached billionaire, and he’ll ask me to be his nanny. Then he’ll fall in love with me, and we’ll get married…”

  “Easy there, what about that swindler?”

  “Oh right, speaking of strange men, so I was in Steamy Beans this morning, and Wilma said a handsome stranger was in town. She said he was well-dressed and very attractive.”

  My eyebrows rise. “Is he still here? What happened?”

  “She said he was asking a lot of questions about the town and the original families.”

  Uncomfortable prickles skate across my skin. “He was asking about my family?”

  “Don’t worry. He’s probably some historian from one of the colleges or somebody who did ancestry dot com and thinks he’s from here. A long-lost cousin or something.”

  “Does that happen a lot?”

  “Not really.”

  “Okay…” I think maybe I’ll share this information with Hutch or Scar. “I’d better take off in case I have a dinner date.”

  “We need to do a girl’s night. Don’t forget your old pal Carmen now that you have a massively hot new boyfriend.”

  “He’s not my boyfriend.” Although, I’d like to think of him that way.

  “Whatever. Girls’ night.”

  “I’m in!”

  Scar wasn’t at dinner tonight. Hutch said he was working on their case, so it was just Blake and Hutch, Pepper, Dirk, and me chowing down on Lurlene’s amazing pot roast. I wish Scar had been there to see me clean my plate.

  Carmen’s story about the stranger in town was on my mind, but I decided to save it for Scar. It’s possible it was just some local historian or genealogist, but after our impromptu trip to the makeshift firing range, I’m not so sure.

  Back at the house, I quickly wash my face and brush my teeth. I slip into my usual knit shorts and tank and grab a small bag as I head for the door.

  I’m at the top of the stairs when Blake stops me. She’s in tan palazzo pants and a matching long sweater, and her dark hair is loose down her back.

  “You’ve been spending every night out.” Her voice is quietly concerned.

  “I–um…” My eyes drop, but I decide I’m not ashamed. Lifting my chin, I meet her worried gaze. “I’ve been spending the night with Scar.”

  “Oh.” Her brow jumps, gray eyes studying mine.

  I know she loves me. I know she’s my self-appointed mother, and I do love her for it even if it’s unnecessary.

  “It’s okay, B. He’s really sweet to me.”

  Her full lips press together, and she gives me a brief nod. “I only want you to be well and happy.”

  I give her a quick hug. “I’m both of those things. So much. I promise.”

  She doesn’t answer, but I don’t wait. I dash down the stairs, out into the night, and hop on the silly golf cart I use to get around our tiny town. In minutes, I glide up to Scar’s house.