The flashing red sign alerted passersby that the glazed doughnuts—the signature item—were hot and freshly made. Shawna stared at it since it was significantly less dangerous than looking at him.
Her stomach tightened as she remembered stopping at the store near Michigan Avenue and insisting he try one. They’d shamelessly gone through the box in the hotel room. When the last doughnut remained, they’d playfully fought over it. He’d been stronger and pinned her to the bed, but he offered to let her have it in exchange for a kiss. They’d then spent the next hour making love, the pastry completely forgotten.
Once Ryan placed the order and paid, he pulled out of the parking lot. Holding out the green and white box, he said, “You’re welcome to have one.”
Shawna could almost taste the sweet confection melting on her tongue. “No, thanks.”
“Come on. You know you want one. You have just as bad of a sweet tooth as I do.”
As if his cajoling tone wasn’t enough, he waved the box under her nose. She smiled despite herself.
“Fine. But only one,” she insisted, taking the box from him and opening it. Six freshly glazed doughnuts nestled against each other in the container.
Ryan chuckled. “Yeah, right.” He took one and shoved most of it into his mouth.
“Slow down. You’ll choke,” she chastised him.
He shrugged. When he could speak, he said, “I’ve been hooked on them ever since that day we had them in Chicago. I swear they lace these things with crack. That’s how they get you.”
Shawna giggled. “I wouldn’t doubt it.”
He reached for another one and they ate in comfortable silence for a few minutes while the truck rolled slowly along the long road. When she finished the first one, Shawna sheepishly pulled another from the box. “I don’t want them to go to waste,” she explained.
“You’re a martyr,” Ryan said with amusement.
They smiled at each other and Shawna felt warmth in her chest. She didn’t want that feeling. It meant she was getting comfortable with him. It meant she was enjoying spending time with him.
The white glaze covered the tips of her thumb and finger. The doughnuts were good but messy. She placed her thumb in her mouth, absentmindedly sucking off the icing.
“Now why’d you go and do that?” Ryan asked softly.
She turned to him. “Do what?”
“That,” he replied, inclining his head toward her hand. “Now you have me wishing I was that finger.”
An unbearable sensation crawled across her skin and awareness crackled between them.
Shawna cleared her throat. “I’ll use a napkin,” she muttered. “Please keep your eyes on the road.” On edge, she continued talking to keep her mind off of being in such close quarters with him. “How’s your mother?” Six years ago, his mother had been recovering from breast cancer.
“I told you about her?” he asked.
She nodded. “One time you mentioned her fight with cancer. You said you didn’t know what your father would do if anything happened to her.”
Ryan remained quiet for a moment before he answered. “She had a relapse a couple of years ago but beat it again. My dad fell apart, and the medical bills piling up made things worse.”
“Did your brother have to step in to help again?”
“We both did this time. It surprised my father that I could actually contribute. He finally admitted that my decision to leave college wasn’t a completely crazy idea.”
“You can’t live your life for other people. You made the right decision for you.”
He looked over at her, a grateful smile on his face. “Thanks.”
They said very few words the rest of the way to her house. Aside from her giving him the occasional instruction on where to turn to get there, the only sound in the truck was the soothing soft rock music coming through the speakers. She handed him her keycard so he could swipe it and let them into the small community—ten buildings with two townhouses in each. When they pulled up in front of her home, she hopped out of the vehicle.
Ryan turned off the engine. “I’ll walk you to the door.”
“That’s not necessary.”