Free Knock Love Out (A Sensual New Adult Crossover Romance) by Pella Grace Page B

the world feels very quiet.
    Two brown eyes stare down to us.
    “Hi Lilla,” I chuckle. “Help you find something?”
    Heath laughs at my side.
    “I think you’re the one who needs help,” she teases, holding out a hand I’m not deserving of. At the moment.
    “Thanks,” I climb to my feet, keeping hold of her.
    Hold of her. I want to hold her. Surround her and bath myself in the warm vanilla permeating from her golden skin. Marshmallows and roses.
    “What about me ?” Heath pops up, brushing off his clothing. “I don’t get a hand?”
    Lilla looks at him. “I think you and your hand have done enough.”
    Speaking of hands, my own is pressing a fist to my mouth.
    Heath’s bushy eyebrows furrow. “What—do you have damn super hearing?”
    Lilla takes a step back, her hand slipping from mine. I think she’s going to run, leave. A deflation in my chest. A blue walkie-talkie is plucked from the pile of citrus, screeching in protests when she gets too close to Heath.
    “I think you had your button down.” She hands me back the walkie-talkie I accidentally left sitting there. Damn.
    Heath points at her, nothing coming out of his mouth.
    “Don’t worry,” she speaks up, “I’m going to spend the rest of the night burning it from my memory. As well as the shorts.”
    He knocks his fist to her shoulder. Her body instantly going rigid as he makes contact.
    “Probably best if you don’t touch her with your hands, Heath.”
    Two fingers point at me before he retreats to the stockroom.
    I’m grateful when I turn around, seeing her eyes playful as a slight smile paints her face.
    “Spying on me, Cash?”
    My natural reaction is to reach for her, but I don’t know what the rules are now. I don’t know what she wants. I don’t know what my role is. She’s had her affair. She’s gotten her kicks. She’s cried in my bathroom. She’s evaded me for six, seven, eight, nine, ten days.
    “Ogling—if I’m being honest. That color is good on you.”
    “What color?” Her eyes are playing our secret game.
    “The velvet honey on your skin.”
    She looks at her arm. “I was working in my garden this week. Well, I was trying to make one, anyhow. A garden.”
    “Trying to get rid of me completely?”
    Lilla looks to her basket. “I don’t think that’s possible.”
    “I’ve been here all week and this is the first time you’ve showed up alone.”
    Her eyes find mine. “It’s also the first time Adam has been gone all week.”
    “Is a grown woman not allowed to leave the cage by herself?”
    “He came home from his trip all clingy,” her shoulders shrug. “I don’t know which way is up or down, Cash.”
    “I beg to differ.”
    My insides love that she has to close her eyes. That she has to think for a moment before she speaks. Caught off guard. Shy. I adore her shy.
    “Caaaaash!” Mary breaks the magic spell. “I have this for you. Your dad said to make sure they go on the display in front and make it fast!” A snorting laughter comes from her. “Want some help?”
    I simply shake my head, unable to form words around her snorts and shoulder bobs and disgusting display of just … everything about her.
    Lilla shifts her basket in her hand.
    “Are you ready to check out?”
    She nods and I take the basket from her, shifting the box into my arm, walking to the front of the store. I feel her eyes watch me as I scan her items, slowly burning tiny holes. My fingers dance on the keys, not wanting to be done with her and tell her the total. But … there’s nothing left.
    “Cash or credit?”
    “Cash,” she replies, innocent to the stupid joke behind that shit.
    I take her money and press a few more keys, grateful that I needed to open a roll of pennies. It buys me ten more seconds. I tap the roll on the till and empty the change into the right slot.
    “Why are you working so late, Cash? Your car has been in the lot since this morning.”
    I smile, glancing up at her. “Spying on me?”
    “I had