Don't Mess with the Girl with Candy novel Chapter 1342

The door swung open.

Luella stood on the porch, dressed in all black, a cap pulled low over her eyes. A mischievous smirk played on her flawless face. She squinted up at him, teasing, "Took you long enough. Are you hiding a woman in there?"

Jimmie froze in place, his brows knitting together as he carefully looked her up and down. It was as if he was terrified he was just hallucinating from missing her too much.

"What are you staring at?"

Seeing his bewildered expression, Luella's smile faltered. This wasn't how it played out in the movies. Weren't guys supposed to be thrilled when their partner showed up unannounced?

*Wow. Is this it?*

Jimmie took a step forward, his warm palm coming to rest against her cheek. The smooth texture of her skin, her body heat, and that faint, familiar scent that belonged only to her hit his senses all at once.

Luella blinked, staring at him in confusion. She pouted. "Jimmie Tate, what am I, a golden retriever? Stop petting me!"

"It's really you!" Jimmie's eyes slowly lifted to meet hers. They were rimmed with red, and a devastatingly handsome smile broke across his face.

The next second, he threw his arms around her, pulling her into a bone-crushing hug.

"Ugh—" Luella gasped, struggling against his grip as he squeezed the breath right out of her. "Jimmie! I knew it, you definitely have a wild woman hiding in there and you're trying to suffocate me so I don't find out!"

"Yeah, I do."

Jimmie leaned down and swept her into his arms in a fluid bridal carry, supporting her legs with one arm while grabbing her suitcase with his free hand.

Once inside, he tossed the luggage into the living room and carried her straight toward the bedroom.

He didn't stop until they fell onto the mattress in a tangle of limbs. Jimmie cupped Luella's face, leaning down to capture her lips.

"Mmph—"

Luella wriggled, turning her face away. She looked at his dark, intense eyes and smirked. "Hold on. I still haven't inspected the room for that wild woman."

Jimmie's chest heaved, his breathing heavy as he stared fixedly at the girl who was deliberately ruining the moment. "I found her," he rasped.

"Huh?" Luella's smile froze. A giant question mark popped into her head. *Did he even hear what he just said?*

"What time is it?" Luella croaked, her voice so hoarse it was barely a whisper.

"Seven in the evening."

Jimmie sat down on the edge of the bed, instinctively reaching out to pull her into a hug.

"Seven?" Luella blinked, seriously calculating the timeline. She had arrived at 4:00 AM. Did that mean she had literally passed out from exhaustion?!

*Smack!*

Luella slapped his hands away and lunged at him, playfully wrapping her hands around his neck. "Jimmie Tate, you absolute bastard! What do you take me for?! I knew I shouldn't have given you an inch! You're completely out of control. I'm going to strangle you!"

Jimmie let her pin him against the headboard, his arms resting casually at his sides. He couldn't even try to hide the massive grin on his face. She talked a big game about strangling him, but there was zero force behind her hands.

"Stop smiling!" Luella glared at him, exasperated.

"Alright, alright." Jimmie took the opportunity to wrap his arms around her waist, pulling her close. "You still haven't told me why you flew all the way back here so suddenly."