Smoke Bomb by Abbi Glines
Thirty
Trinity
I’d placed the cinnamon rolls on the island with the rest of the breakfast when Huck walked into the kitchen. I had butterflies in my stomach, my heart had that funny feeling, and the smile on my face was unavoidable. I was in love.
He didn’t look at the food, but his eyes held mine as he walked toward me. I fought the urge to throw myself in his arms. Sure, we had spent yesterday in bed, in the shower, in bed again, in a bubble bath, on the sofa—you get the picture—but I never knew when Huck wasn’t going to turn cold.
“Don’t like waking up and you not being there,” he said when he reached me. His hand gripped my waist and tugged me against him. “I want you in my bed when I open my eyes.”
I tilted my head back to look up at him. “I have a job.”
He scowled down at me. “I need to change that.”
I shook my head. “No. Gage and Levi expect breakfast when they get up.”
Huck lowered his head until his mouth was inches from mine. “I don’t give a fuck. I want you in my arms when I wake up.”
I put my hands on his chest. “Huck, what are we doing?”
He kissed the side of my mouth. “I’m currently trying to grope you.”
I laughed and shook my head. “No. I mean …” I paused.
This was nice. No, it was wonderful. Did I really want to press him to put a name to it? Yesterday, he’d been different. He had said things to me and promised me this was long-term.
“I’m just here for the food. Please carry on.” Gage’s voice stopped me from having to decide what I was going to say.
I smiled and started to move out of Huck’s arms, but he held me tightly, not letting me go.
“You made their damn breakfast,” he said, lowering his mouth to my neck to kiss it.
“Aren’t you hungry?” I asked him.
“Very, but what I want is between your legs.”
“Get a room,” Levi said, then yawned as he walked into the kitchen.
“Shut up. Let them go at it. I like watching,” Gage told him, making me blush.
Huck glared at him over my head, which only made him laugh.
“We got that thing to handle today. Either fuck her or eat.”
Huck nodded, and his hold on me loosened. “Eat with me,” he said.
I followed him to the island and put the blueberry pancakes and a piece of bacon on my plate, then walked over to sit at the table. Gage pushed the maple syrup in my direction. I reached for it as Huck sat down beside me. His plate was loaded this morning. He never ate that much. I didn’t say anything though. I loved knowing he liked eating my food.
Gage was looking at me as he chewed his food. I met his gaze, and he glanced at Huck a moment, then back at me.
“Trinity, you never talk about your parents,” he said.
Huck turned his head to look at Gage. I saw a silent conversation they seemed to have with their eyes. What was this about?
“Uh, well, my mom died, giving birth to me. My dad died of a heart attack ten, well, almost eleven months ago,” I told him.
He leaned back in his chair with his cup of coffee. “Your dad ever remarry?”
Tabitha was not someone I wanted to talk about. Especially after last night.
“Yes. When I was ten.”
Huck slid his hand over my thigh and held it there.
Gage’s gaze turned serious. “You don’t like her.”
“No.”
“Why?”
Huck’s hand squeezed my leg, but he didn’t tell Gage to stop asking questions. I wasn’t sure why he was asking, and it seemed strange, as if they’d discussed this before doing it.
“She was mean. She didn’t like me,” I told him.
I didn’t want to talk about this. My chest felt tight, and I put my hand over Huck’s.
“No more,” Huck said to Gage.
Gage nodded and set his cup down.
Huck turned his hand over and threaded his fingers through mine. It wasn’t much, but that simple connection made the tension ease, and I was able to eat the rest of my breakfast. He didn’t let my hand go until we were both done.
“You okay?” he asked me when I put my fork down.
I nodded.
He leaned down and pressed a kiss to my lips. “Much as I want to go back downstairs with you, I got shit that needs to be handled.”
“I know,” I replied.
He let my hand go and stood up. “You want to go to the ranch today? Visit Maddy?” he asked me.
“I don’t want to bother her while she’s working.”
“It’s Saturday, baby. She and Cree are probably having a day by the pool. If I can get you a decent bathing suit, I’ll take you over and let you have some woman time. Could be we don’t get back until late tonight. I’d rather you be there than here alone.”
That sounded nice. “Okay, sure.”
