Need You for Keeps (Heroes of St. Helena, #1)(60)
“Not just any sandwich, but a bro-wich. The triple B, if you please. Bacon, bread, and more bacon.” She leaned back on her hands, giving him a view of a couple more inches of thigh. And that tank of hers had serious clinging action going on, which made him think of another sacred B that would make a nice bro-wich.
“Oh, and there is a doughnut at the bottom, raspberry filled if you’re feeling healthy. And,” she reached behind her and grabbed a paper cup off the hood, “coffee, black, no frills. Just how you like it.”
Something in his throat caught, making it difficult to speak. He’d like to chalk it up to sleep deprivation, or an endless night of sex, but feared it was that elusive more sneaking up on him. “Thank you.”
She shrugged. “Even Superman has to eat, right?”
He smiled his first real smile of the day. “I’m not Superman.”
“Right.” She snorted. “Then explain that complex you’re so fond of, the one that has you rescuing cats from trees in a single bound and makes you incredibly selfless . . . don’t make that face at me, I think it’s one of the sexiest things about you. It goes along with that secret sweet side you work so hard to camouflage.”
She tugged at his belt, weaving her fingers under the loops and pulling him closer until sweet didn’t sound so bad. In fact, it sounded a whole lot like that foreplay Giles was talking about.
“Superman wouldn’t have bailed without much more than a note,” he said, noticing that the lot was empty and stepping between her legs to rest his hands on the hood next to her thighs. The position gave him a clear view of that summer top she had on, and what she had on beneath—orange satin.
“Jonah, you found out your uncle was missing. Of course you’d leave.” She said it without an ounce of mockery in her tone. “You would have gone no matter who was missing. That it was your uncle only made it more personal. But saving people, making their world better is what you do. Who you are. Why would I be upset about that?”
Jonah stood. He was shocked and honestly impressed. “Most people would.” And most women in his past had.
“Yeah, well most people suck.”
And that was why Jonah couldn’t seem to stay away from her. Shay wasn’t most people. She might come off as impulsive and reckless, but she was one of the most observant and real women he’d ever met. She took people for who they were, the good with the bad, embracing all aspects. And she had the ability to cut through the small talk and BS and get down to what was important. What mattered.
“You are a protector, Jonah. You take your responsibility for this town and the people you love seriously. Don’t ever apologize for that. Things happen, sometimes really shitty things, but that doesn’t diminish all of the amazing things you have done. No one can be there one hundred percent of the time for one hundred percent of the people, but you can give one hundred percent of yourself when you are there, and that makes a difference in every life you touch.”
Jonah hadn’t gone into law enforcement because it sounded fun. He’d become a deputy because protecting and serving was who he was. At his core. Even after the tragedy that shattered his world in San Francisco, he’d never once considered quitting.
Sure, he’d come back to St. Helena a little jaded and broken, but he’d signed on as a deputy determined to make a difference, do his duty, and hopefully find some kind of peace. It was ironic the only time he felt any semblance of peace was when he was with the one person who made him forget his duty.
But as Jonah looked down at the understanding in Shay’s eyes, he wasn’t all that convinced that time off was a bad thing. It had been far too long since he’d allowed himself to breathe. That he was able to with this woman was going to make things hard.
But Jonah had never let hard scare him off.
“Every life counts,” he whispered, running his finger over the exact words written on her St. Paws tank top. “Is this the same kind of pep talk you give your strays?”
“No, but I have given it to myself a few times over the years.” She looked at him and he felt his entire chest still. “I’ve actually given it to myself several times since meeting you.”
“Why?” he asked, stroking her leg.
“Because you’re just so,”—she waved a hand—“you. And I’m not.”
His eyes fell to the creamy cleavage peeking out from beneath her tank and he smiled. “I’m glad you’re not.”
She rolled her eyes. “No, I mean . . .” Her voice softened. “My life wasn’t like yours growing up, and I’ve made some crazy choices. Some I’m proud of and others I question, but I own them all,” she admitted, tugging on her necklace, something he noticed she did when she was nervous. “I can be spontaneous and unpredictable and understand that leaping without looking for the net doesn’t always work out. But following my heart, even when my head is telling me to slow down, is who I am. It might complicate things or blow up in my face, but I’m okay with that, because it makes life fun and exciting.”
And it made her irresistible. For Jonah, a guy who loved structure and a by-the-books approach to life, Shay’s guns-blazing lifestyle was a complete turn-on. Not practical in his line of work, but sexy as hell on her.
“What I need to know, though, is if you’re okay with that,” she said quietly.