Now I’m walking into the store, my hat pulled down low over my eyes. I’m only shopping for the basics—a quick in and out. I’ve just grabbed a buggy when I feel someone step up behind me, invading my personal space.
The smell of sandalwood and smoke hits me at the same time I feel a pair of warm hands land on my waist, and then I’m being spun around, lifted, and thrown over Theo’s shoulder.
“What are you doing? I scream, pulling my hands from his waist and pounding my fist against his back. “Put me down.”
I’m hanging upside down, my face bouncing against his back and my hands holding on for dear life because he’s only holding me with one arm wrapped around my legs and the other hanging casually by his side.
“No can do, hopeless.”
“Theo, if you don’t put me down right this instant—” I don’t geta chance to finish those words because his other hand comes up, swatting the back of my thigh.
I gasp, mortally offended, and Theo’s arm tightens around my leg.
“You drive me insane. Do you know that?” Theo asks, his voice full of gravel. “I’ve resorted to kidnapping you because you’ve been avoiding me ever since that kiss, and I’m going out of my mind. This is your fault, hopeless. All your fault.”
“My fault?” I screech. My voice pitches high, and I try hitting his back again—but he might as well be built of solid steel. “No one is forcing you to kidnap me, Theo Sylvis. Now. Put. Me. Down.”
I punctuate each word with a jab to his side. We’ve drawn attention by now, but instead of doing something normal, like calling the police because they see a woman being kidnapped, the residents of Benton Falls are watching with glee because they are being given a first hand account of a juicy piece of gossip.
I swear this town needs help.
The world starts to tilt again without warning, and I’m standing back on my feet. Theo opens the passenger side door of his truck, all while one hand still lingers on my waist. We are standing entirely too close for me to think right.
“Are you going to stop fighting me now?” Theo asks, his voice washing over my skin.
I cross my arms over my chest to glare at him, which only puts us closer.
“Are you going to stop kidnapping me?” I ask, and he grins. Full-on grins, making my heart stutter.
“Nope.”
“Then I guess I’m still fighting.”
He shrugs as it’s no matter to him. “Suit yourself.” I’m being lifted again, but this time, instead of being thrown over his shoulder, he places me in his truck and leans in to buckle me in. “But be carefulbecause I like it when you fight me, hopeless.”
______________________
“Are you going to tell me where we are going?” I ask, only for Theo to ignore me. “Are you planning on murdering me?”
That gets a response. Theo rolls his eyes. “If I were planning on murdering you, I would have let you fall out of that tree. It’s less messy when it’s your own fault.”
I narrow my eyes, glaring at the side of his face, but he keeps his eyes on the road, acting like he can’t feel me staring at him. “Let’s never talk aboutthe incidentagain.”
Theo snorts. “Is that what we are calling it?”
“No. Because we are never talking about it again, so we aren’t calling it anything.”
A dimple pokes into his cheek. “If you say so, hopeless.”
Growling, I throw myself back into my seat. “Would you stop calling me that?”
“No.”
“Ugggghhh. You are the most frustrating man I’ve ever met.”
He grins. “Thank you.”
Knowing I’m on the edge of throwing myself out of his truck, I reach forward and turn on the radio, and it stays on for the rest of the drive.
