Okay, maybe a little bit because of that. Money solved a lot of life’s little problems.
“So, yeah,” he said, still holding me in his arms. “That road trip I want us to take? Money’s not gonna be a problem.”
I arched an eyebrow. “Us?”
“You’re damn right,us,” he said. “I’m not done with you yet, Peaches, and you’d better not be done with me. Hell, I’m pretty sure I’m in love with you. And that’s not easy for a guy like me to admit.”
He’s in love with me, I thought, heart soaring.He really is.
I grinned up at him. “I’m in love with you too, JayceSimoneHawkins.”
“You just had to slip that in, didn’t you?”
“Darn right I did.”
He smiled. It was the smile of someone who wasn’t able tonotsmile while looking at the woman he loved.
“Where will we go?” I asked.
“North,” he said. “Or south. Wherever the hell we want.” He cupped my chin. “Wherever we go, I want you there. You make this shitty world a whole lot better, Peaches.”
As he stared into my eyes, into my soul, it was impossible not to kiss him. Our bodies melted together and for a few seconds it felt like I was weightless.
We took two bags of cash, covered the crate of money, and made the walk back to his bike. We climbed on, I wrapped my arms around him, and he twisted to look back at me.
“But first, let’s go back to Eastland,” he said. “I want to have breakfast with your parents before we go on our road trip.”
“Oh really?”
“Yeah. I think your mom has the hots for me.”
I smacked him on the arm, hisgoodarm, and he roared with laughter. Then he gunned the motor, and we shot away north with reckless, exhilarating speed. I clung to his body as the Georgia sunrise spread across the sky.
As long I had Jayce, I would always feel safe.
