Be With Me(54)

She frowned, and Hutch braced himself to dig his foot out of his mouth.

“I didn’t at first. Bad dream. Cam made cocoa though, and I slept great.”

The smile returned and she bounced—good grief, she actual y bounced—over to Sawyer, stepped on the rung of his stool, hoisted herself up and placed a big kiss on top of his bald head.

“Morning. I see you’re as verbose as ever.” He regarded her strangely. Actual y he was looking at her like she’d just descended the alien mother ship.

Had the sex been that good? Hutch was starting to think of al the ways he’d never measure up.

He shot Cam a sideways glance, only to see him smiling softly at Reggie. Then Cam turned and met Hutch’s gaze. There was hope in Cam’s eyes. Hope that Cam hadn’t exactly been ful of lately.

Hutch’s pulse sped up, and he cocked his head in question at Cam. Cam briefly shook his head and put a finger to his lips.

“No good-morning kiss?” she said teasingly to Sawyer.

Sawyer didn’t answer. Instead his hand shot out, curved around the back of her neck, and he yanked her to him, slanting his lips over hers in a hard kiss.

Hutch had to look away as anger surged through his veins. He’d never been comfortable with Sawyer’s hard edges. It worried him that Sawyer could frighten Reggie.

He shoved a plate across the bar toward her, but when he looked up she wasn’t there.

She pounced on him from behind, jumping onto his back. She wrapped her arms around his neck, her legs around his waist, and giggled in his ear like a goon.

Despite his dour mood, he grinned. Man, he’d missed her.

He promptly backed her into the refrigerator and winced when she tugged on his ear in retaliation.

“Hey, watch that shit,” Sawyer spoke up. “You’re going to hurt her ribs.”

Hutch stared at him in shock. Mister He-Man Hard-ass was going to lecture him on being careful with Reggie?

“Party pooper,” Reggie muttered in his ear. “I thought that was Cam’s job.”

Hutch snorted with laughter. He clutched the underside of her legs and hoisted her higher on his back. She giggled again and kissed the side of his neck.

He closed his eyes as her lips slid over his skin.

How many nights had he lain awake, reliving her touch, how she’d felt underneath him, her smel and her taste.

She wrapped her arms tighter around him, hugging him against her slight form.

Then she relaxed, let her feet fal and started to slide down his back. He caught her and lowered her careful y to the floor. When she had her footing, he pivoted and pulled her into his arms.

He tilted her chin up and kissed her leisurely, enjoying the feel of her soft, ful lips against his.

“Good morning, Reggie. You’re awful y chipper this morning.”

She grinned mischievously. “I feel much better today.”

“You’l feel even better when you eat.” She rol ed her eyes and bounced back over to the bar, where Sawyer had moved down to give her the seat between him and Cam. She climbed up, moving closer to Cam as she settled onto her seat.

They shared an intimate smile, and Cam reached out to touch her cheek.

“Good morning,” he murmured.

She looked almost shy. And a little uncertain. That look gave Hutch’s chest a little squeeze. It suddenly made perfect sense why she’d come into the kitchen bright and cheerful. She was terrified.

She leaned forward and kissed Cam then ran her hand over his face.

“You need to shave,” she said lightly.

She turned to her plate and picked up her fork.

Hutch softened al over. She was nervous and trying to cover her awkwardness, and he and Sawyer certainly weren’t helping by adding to the tension.

“I’ve got to go grocery shopping today,” he said as he dug into his own plate. “Want to come with?” Reggie looked up and smiled. Then she cast a sideways glance at Cam. “You’re not coming, are you?”

Cam laughed. “Afraid I’l confiscate al your junk food before it makes it to the basket?”

“Hutch lets me buy it,” she said defensively.

Cam rol ed his eyes. “No, I’m not going. I need to finish up those plans.”

She turned back to Hutch and smiled sweetly. “In that case I’l go. Any chance you’d run me into Beaumont so I could pick up a few changes of clothes? I’d rather not . . .” She frowned and took a deep breath. “I’d rather not go back to the house.” Hutch reached across the bar and took her hand.

“Of course, baby. We’l go wherever you need.

They’ve opened a new grocery store over by the mal . Supposed to have a kickass meat counter.”

“Oh yum. Steaks.” She turned to Cam. “You’l gril , won’t you?”

Hutch was so happy she was speaking in terms of being here awhile that he’d buy her an entire cow.

“You buy it, I’l burn it,” Cam cracked.

She looked over her shoulder at Sawyer, who was stil shoveling eggs into his mouth. “No, that’s Sawyer’s job.”

“Hey,” he said around a mouthful. “Like you cook any better? I’m thinking you make me look like a Food Network guru.”

“Don’t start, you two,” Hutch said with a groan. “Eat up, Reggie, so we can go.”