That warmth grew and settled comfortably in her chest even as she asked, “Really, are you sure?”
Hank turned into Arissa causing her to move to her back. He hung above her, their eyes connected. “When I asked you earlier if you’re ready, I meant it. I’m not here to play games, Arissa, too old for that shit. I’ve seen how you are with others, with me and this town. I like it. Like it a fucking lot.” He held her stare and when she didn’t say anything, he asked, “You with me?”
Never had she been on the receiving end of such words. She’d been under a lucky star when she’d pick Summerville to set down roots because this man…he was under her skin in the best possible way. She ran her finger over his lips, needing that small touch before she whispered, “I’m with you.”
His eyes grew soft from just three small words. He took her mouth, and when he explored her this time it was slow and soft. Ending it with light brushes against her lips and cheek, he settled back next to her, pulling her closer than she was before, even though that wasn’t possible.
“Dinner in or out?” He shot at her.
“In. I’ll make another pie since we didn’t get any last time.”
“Deal,” he said before he asked, “Movie in or out?”
She glanced up at him and grinned. “In for all the questions.”
Hank smiled at her before he chuckled. When his laugh died down he asked, “You have to go into the city much for work?”
“No, most of what I do can be handled from here. I only went in last week to calm down Danielle. She lets it all build and then she blows. She should be good now for another few months.”
It wasn’t a question when Hank said, “Next time you have to, I go with you.” He let that sit between them a second before he told her, “It only takes me a minute to pack a bag.”
“I love Charleston. I always have, but this last trip it was missing something.” She looked up at him before she added, “The next time I went I was going to ask if you’d come with me.”
Hank leaned into her, causing her to fall to her back again. “Baby, no matter what it involves, I’ll always come with you.” He didn’t let Arissa speak as he kissed her, this time it ended with them breathing out each other’s name when they came…together.
9
Hank woke to a thundering sound. He gently shifted trying not to wake Arissa, whose body was draped over him. The banging came again, this time louder.
Arissa stirred, the loud sound waking her. “Make it stop,” she grumbled and snuggled closer to him.
He moved from underneath her, rising from the bed to check out what the fuck was going on. “Babe?” Hank called as his eyes stayed to the sight out the window.
Arissa had been having the most excellent dream, but the damn banging was pulling her from it. At least she thought it was a dream until she opened her eyes to find Hank standing by her window. Last night came back in stunning clarity. “I thought I was dreaming.” It was only when Hank turned to her, that dark look in his eyes that made her body react, that she realized she was still speaking every thought out loud.
Hank winked at her. The erotic vision of Arissa’s nightshirt lifted above her belly, hair a mess and sleepy eyes to him had him thinking he should make a new ordinance in the town. No knocking on anyone’s door before nine in the morning, maybe extending that time to noon for his and Arissa’s doors. “Fuck, you’re beautiful,” he mumbled. Then cocked his head gesturing to the group of women now screaming Arissa’s name. “Better go deal with your women before they break the fucking door down.”
Arissa was still on him calling her beautiful. She could say the same of him, standing there in only his boxer briefs. The look in his eyes, whatever he’d been thinking, she wanted to explore that all day. Then she heard Hya. She rolled her eyes and climbed from bed. “You need to arrest them. All of them,” she grumbled as she yanked open a drawer and pulled out a pair of yoga pants. Shimmying into them, she glanced over at Hank. Dear God, she was leaving him in her room to handle the Belles. “And throw away the damn key,” she hissed.
Hank chuckled as he reached for his jeans on the floor. “Been trying for years, Sweetheart.”
“I’ll infiltrate from the inside. Plant evidence, if necessary.” She didn’t bother brushing her teeth. Banging on a woman’s door at this hour, knowing who she went home with, served them right.
All hands had to be banging on the door at once because the sound thundered through the house as Hya screamed, “We’ll break it down, Arissa, you know we will!”
She headed for the door, but stopped in front of Hank. She let them bang as she got her fill of him, wishing he wasn’t putting on his clothes, but taking them off. “I’d like another rain check.”
Hank was doing the zipper of his jeans when his eyes met Arissa’s and he whispered, “Baby, you hold all the checks now.” He laid a kiss on her forehead, swatted her ass and told her. “Go deal with those crazy ass women.”
She was going to kill them. All of them. She didn’t share that, but dragged her feet from the room. When she heard Hya, she screamed back, “Shut up, old woman. I’m coming.” She yanked the door open, they all tried to enter at once. It had to be the look on her face because Maureen stopped, and the others all banged up into each other.
“Do any of you own a watch?” Arissa asked but didn’t wait for an answer. “No one should be woken at this hour.” She then dropped her
