Текст книги "Covering Kendall"

Автор книги: Julie Brannagh

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Текущая страница: 5 (всего у книги 17 страниц)

“I think I read about that.”

“Her network brought cameras and filmed a story about it that was broadcast at halftime the Sunday after Christmas.” The memory of Cameron’s excitement at hosting the holiday gathering (and the obvious love and pride in her husband’s expression as he looked on) still made Drew smile.

“You all went to Children’s Hospital later that day as well.”

“Now THAT was fun. A few of the guys made a toy run the night before Christmas Eve, and we handed the stuff out. They made sure to get low-tech stuff like board games and Jenga so we could play with the kids for a little while. The boy I was playing Uno with has cancer, but I made him laugh. I made sure he got a few extra cookies too. I think it was the best Christmas I’ve had so far,” he said.

The boy’s name was Nolan and he was Drew’s favorite Tuesday afternoon appointment these days. If Drew moved his ass tomorrow, he’d make it back to Seattle in time to stop at the hospital with a frosty Dick’s chocolate shake and maybe some French fries he smuggled in. Every time he went to visit now, Nolan wore the team logo hoodie Drew peeled off himself on Christmas Day and put on Nolan. It hung to the kid’s knees. They’d had to cut the sleeves to accommodate the IVs, but Nolan would be getting a brand-new one when he left the hospital.

Drew found out Nolan’s mom was a single parent. She was having a tough time paying the rent while her son was in the fight of his life. Drew did a little scouting around and pre-paid her rent for a year—confidentially, of course.

Kendall’s voice was gentle. “I’ve heard several of the Sharks go there every Tuesday afternoon.”

He blinked a few times and cleared his throat. He wasn’t Mr. Emotional as a rule, but he saw his own nieces and nephews in every kid in those hospital beds. If spending a few hours every Tuesday afternoon visiting brightened their day, he was happy to do it.

“Yeah. Our QB takes one for the team every week. The media takes pictures of him, and a bunch of us sneak in through another entrance.”

She leaned a little closer to him. “My parents thought I’d be a nurse.”

“Why is that?”

“I kept bandaging up my dolls. Being a nurse went out the window, though, when I figured out I couldn’t stand the sight of blood.”

“That might be a problem.” He leaned closer to her. “I’ll save you from it.”

“You will?”

“Of course,” he said. “I specialize in rescuing women.”

He wrapped one arm around her shoulders and dropped her hand to cup her cheek in his palm. She reached up to touch the tendrils of hair that escaped the elastic band he’d pulled it into to keep it out of his face.

“It’s so soft,” she whispered.

Her lips were trembling a bit with emotion. She moved a little closer to him and looked into his eyes as she touched and explored. Growing his hair out was now the best decision ever. He pulled in a breath and savored the tart, clean scent of green apples.

“I want to run my fingers through it. Is that weird?” she said.

He reached back and pulled the elastic band out of his ponytail. His hair spilled down his back and over his shoulder. He looped the elastic over his wrist.

“Hell, no,” he said. “It’s all yours.”

She bit her lower lip and reached out for him with both hands. Her fingers stroked his sun-warmed hair. It was thick, fine, and the length slid through her hands like liquid silk. His response was to pull her closer. By now, she was settled in his lap, and she laid her head on his shoulder.

“Has everyone you’ve dated wanted to play with your hair?”

“My ex-girlfriend didn’t like it when it wasn’t tied back. It got in her lip gloss.”

“Maybe she should stop wearing lip gloss,” Kendall blurted out.

He grinned at her. “I like how you think.”

“No offense, but she’s crazy.” The laughter rolled out of him. She twirled a thick lock around her finger. “I can’t stop touching it.”

He passed one big, gentle hand over her hair. “Your hair’s soft, and it smells like green apples.”

“Long hair looks terrible on me.”

“I don’t believe that,” he said. “Has anyone ever told you you look like Snow White?”

“I tried out to be Snow White at Disneyland one summer. I couldn’t make it work with my current job,” she joked. She ran her fingertips over the stubble on his cheeks and chin. “Maybe another time.”

“You know, the same thing happened when I auditioned for that movie—what was it? Thor?” he said. “They told me I worked out too much and they were going to have to pick some actor instead.” He pretended to let out a sigh, and she had to laugh. “Their loss. I guess I’ll just have to play football instead.”

“Thor probably wants your job,” she said.

“He has stunt people. I don’t.”

HE MOVED CLOSER. He was going to kiss her, and she was going to let him. She was going to take him upstairs too. She was going to spend all night touching his hair because she couldn’t get enough. Tomorrow morning, she was going to watch him walk out of her house, and she was going to spend the next few years counting the minutes until he retired from the league.

Talk about playing with fire. This was all kinds of stupid, but she couldn’t let go of him right now. She couldn’t have stopped if she tried. She was going to have to keep tonight a secret. And do her best to forget it when it was over to protect her heart.

Chapter Seven

DREW CUPPED KENDALL’S face in his hands. Every time he looked at her, he was struck anew by the changeable gray of her eyes. Right now, they were the silver-gray of a winter’s dawn in Seattle. She’d probably laugh if he told her that, but he couldn’t think of anything else he’d ever seen that compared to the color.

She was still holding strands of his hair and rubbing them between her fingertips. He’d grown his hair out for the hell of it when he was in college, and it was now part of his identity—that guy with the long hair that wasn’t the other guy in the dandruff shampoo commercials. He’d never met a woman who wanted to touch his hair like Kendall did, though, or run her fingers through it.

“I want to kiss you,” he said.

She looked up at him from beneath her eyelashes. She said she didn’t want to date him, they couldn’t get involved, but she was currently sitting in his lap with her fingers in his hair. He’d better ask a few more questions before they got physically involved. They were a little carried away already, but he wanted to make sure this was what she wanted to happen.

“I want you to kiss me too,” she said.

“You still don’t want to date me.”

“Aren’t we on a date right now?”

“There could be an argument made for that.”

“Let’s kiss now and argue about it later.”

“I love the way you think,” he said, and he brushed her mouth with his.

She wrapped her arms around his neck, fused her lips to his, and he felt her tongue slide into his mouth. She tasted like the wine, with a little tang from the raspberries. She’d tangled her fingers in his hair again. He slid his hand over her lower back and under the waistband of her pants. She was soft everywhere, and he was harder than nails right now.

He’d always liked kissing. He wanted to take his time, tasting, touching, and discovering what a woman enjoyed. Every woman he’d ever kissed was like a treasure map; he sought out her secrets one at a time as he made his way. This one was currently rubbing up against him while she devoured him. He wasn’t objecting. Maybe they could try it his way in a little while. Right now, he was all for her doing whatever she’d like to him.

“I think it’s a date now,” she murmured when they finally came up for air a while later. She was breathing heavily and flushed, with sparkling eyes and a big grin. “How hungry are you?”

“For food, or for you?”

“You’ve answered my question.” She hopped off of his lap. He saw her smile when she glanced down at him. “How do you feel about cold chicken sliced into the salad?”

“What salad?” he joked, and she held out her hand to him.

The beeping oven timer told them the food was done when they re-entered the kitchen. The baked chicken was put into an appropriate container and into the refrigerator for later.

“It’s all set,” she told him.

“I’m sure it’s delicious, but I have other things on my mind right now,” he said, pulling her into his arms again. “Where would you like to go?”

“My room. It’s at the top of the stairs.”

One of the better things about his job was that he could carry a woman up a flight of stairs without even breaking a sweat. After shoving tackling dummies and offensive linemen around a football field, a warm, sweet-smelling woman wasn’t a chore at all. She wrapped her arms around his neck again and laid her cheek against his.

He walked through the doorway and halted in shock.

“Is something wrong?” she asked.

“No. Not at all.” He couldn’t stop staring.

Kendall’s room was nothing like the rest of her house. The only thing in common was sunshine streaming through windows covered with crisp cotton curtains and the feeling of comfort. Her living room furniture was formal. This room was vintage. Her bed was an old-fashioned four poster painted with turquoise blue enamel. The sheets were blinding white. Multiple pillows rested against the headboard. A framed close-up photograph of a riotously-colored bouquet of flowers hung above the headboard. A raspberry-colored patterned throw rug covered most of the hardwood floor.

“It’s a little girly,” she said.

“It looks comfortable, though,” he said.

“I know you don’t sleep in a bed like this at home.”

“Maybe I do,” he joked.

“I’m betting you have a huge bed, the color scheme is dark blue or earth tones, and you’d rather be run over than spend one minute of your time making sure fifteen decorative pillows are perfectly arranged every morning.”

He walked over to the bed, lowered her onto it, and said, “We’d have to get out of it long enough to fix the pillows. I’m sure you can appreciate my dilemma right now.”

“I don’t understand.”

He nodded at the headboard. “Do I put them on the bench at the foot of your bed like a good guest, or do I fling them all over the room and try to make it up to you later?”

Her smile dazzled him as she arched her back and reached toward the headboard. The decorative pillows were off the bed seconds later and scattered all over her room.

“How’s that?” she said.

“Perfect,” he said. She pulled him down next to her, and he went willingly. The thuds of four shoes hitting the floor followed. “Come here.” He wrapped his arms around her. They wriggled until they were both comfortable.

“I’m so glad you’re here,” she said, smoothing the hair out of his eyes.

The heat and the urgency of their kisses on the glider outside had transformed into a much slower seduction. His hands slid down her sides to cup her hips. She tucked the curtain of her dark hair behind one ear as she leaned forward to rub noses with him.

“I’m happy too, Kendall, but I’m a little confused.”

“Why?”

“What you’ve said is true. We really can’t date. Someone’s going to find out, and it’s going to be hell to pay for both of us—”

“You told me you’re not interested in the Miners.”

“No, I’m not.”

“No matter how much money we offered you, what incentives are in your contract or that year’s worth of brats and Kringles I suggested—”

“They might get a little further if they offered dinner with their interim GM.”

“So in other words, I’m what you want,” she said.

“Yes,” he said.

“Then let’s make a deal,” she said. “A side offer, if you will.”

“I’m all ears.” She rubbed against him a little. God, she felt good.

“One night,” she said. “One night, and we’ll both go back to our lives.” Her voice dropped. “It’ll be our little secret.”

“That’s a pretty big secret,” he teased. “You might want more.”

“I might, but we can’t. Not right now.” Her eyes held his. “Deal?”

“Are we shaking on this?”

“Of course we are.”

“Well, then, I accept.”

She gave him a fist bump in response. She pulled herself up on his chest, straddled him, and he told himself to breathe. The late afternoon illuminated her skin in sunbeams. She was the beautiful conquering warrior home from the executive suite, and he was her willing servant/pool cleaner/lawn maintenance professional. He’d be anything she wanted him to be as long as she kept rubbing herself against his hard-on. She was driving him out of his mind, and they hadn’t taken off one stitch of clothing yet.

“I’ll remember that,” she teased. Her fingers moved over his chest, streaking fire as they went. “Back to our negotiation. What kind of contract concessions would you be willing to negotiate if I took off my clothes?”

She slowly licked her lower lip and gave him the same saucy, enticing, confident smile he imagined women had been giving the men in their beds since the beginning of time. She fingered the hem of her sweater, pulling it off over her head and letting it dangle from her fingertips before it hit the floor.

“I’d play for a dollar a year with those terms,” he said. A dollar? He’d pay them.

“A dollar?” She unbuttoned the top button of her slacks. “I don’t know about that. This might require more discussion.”

He brushed her fingers aside and made short work of the zipper. “I’m guessing sexual favors might work better.” With one quick movement, he shoved the pants over her waist and halfway down her hips. “Better?”

“You’re still dressed.”

“We’ll work on me in a minute here. Let’s make sure you’re comfortable first.”

He reached to pop open the back hooks on her bra; the lace and satin confection fell away to reveal breasts that fit perfectly in the palms of his hands, tipped with small brown nipples. Her eyes gleamed as he braced her against himself and rolled over so she was beneath him.

He stripped away her slacks and peeled off the panties that matched her bra, dropping them on the floor. He felt her hands skimming up his back, pulling the sweater and T-shirt he wore off with one quick movement over his head. She unbuckled his belt, unfastened the jeans, and tried to shove them off. She couldn’t budge his weight.

“Let me help,” he teased. He was out of the jeans and his boxer briefs less than a minute later. A few seconds afterward, he held a naked and trembling Kendall in his arms again. He couldn’t think of an endearment he hadn’t used before, and this occasion seemed to call for something special. He’d think about it right after he figured out why she was shaking. Maybe she wasn’t sure about what they were about to do, and he needed to back off.

“What’s wrong, Kendall?”

“Nothing.” She let out a sigh and reached out to pull his face closer to hers.

“You’re shaking all over. Are you scared?” He traced the tendon in her neck with the tip of his tongue. “If you don’t want to do this, we don’t have to.”

Her head tossed on the pillows that didn’t hit the floor earlier.

“Not scared. Maybe nervous.”

“Tell me all about it.”

She drew one finger down his chest. “You’re the first guy I’ve been with who didn’t wax off his chest hair.”

“I’m not into pain.” He kissed her brow. “Are you into pain?”

“Not especially.”

“Well, that works well for both of us, doesn’t it?”

She grinned at him, and she let out a breath. “How long has it been since you—well, since you slept with someone?”

“Six months,” he said.

He’d had plenty of volunteers, but he’d rather jerk off in the shower than have another meaningless fuck. Most guys would give their left nut to have scores of women at their beck and call, or better yet, women who came right out and propositioned him on a regular basis. He was ready for something more, a relationship that meant something. They both knew this couldn’t last, but he wanted her anyway.

“It’s been a year for me.” She rolled onto her back and looked up into his face. “Bad breakup.”

“Do you want to talk about it?”

She looked a little surprised. “I’m naked, you’re naked—isn’t this usually not a great time for a detailed conversation about previous relationships?”

He moved the bangs out of her eyes with one hand. He rolled onto his back and pulled her into his side, wrapping one big arm around her.

KENDALL RESTED AGAINST a chest that looked like it was carved from granite. Warm, clean-smelling, golden-toned granite with springy, coarse dark blond chest hair and light-brown, flat nipples. He reached one hand behind his head, twirled his long hair into a low coil of sorts to get it out of the way, and wrapped his other arm around her.

“Before we talk about the stupidest man in the universe, there’s a few things I’d like to say to you. I don’t have sex without using a condom. I’m tested for STDs yearly. I stopped screwing as a recreational pursuit when I was in college. In other words, I don’t have sex unless there’s feelings involved.”

She had to smile while her fingertips explored his chest. She wanted to trail her hands over every inch of him. She moved one thigh over his leg and brushed his erection; he must have been ready to explode, but he was waiting for her. Showing up at her front door with her lost cell phone and a bouquet of flowers had just been eclipsed as the most romantic thing any man had ever done for her.

He wanted to talk first. Most guys didn’t want to talk at all, before or after. She hauled in a breath.

“I get tested with my physical every year now for the team’s insurance policy. I don’t have sex without protection, either. I didn’t lose my virginity until I was in grad school, so my number’s relatively low,” Kendall said. “I prefer sex with feelings too.”

“But you’re nervous.”

“Please tell me you’re not secretly married and have two kids and a wife in Connecticut.”

“No, I’m not and no, I don’t. I’ve never been married. I’d like to marry just once.”

She was going to rock Drew’s world, as many times as he’d like her to, and then she was going to tell him about Tony.

Kendall took a deep breath, and the clean scents of soap and the outdoors filled her lungs. That distinctive scent would always mean Drew to her. Even though he’d mentioned a subject that usually left her feeling betrayed and sad, her body was ready for what they both knew was going to happen. She’d never wanted like this before, and the only thing she was afraid of right now is that one night wouldn’t be enough to lose herself in his big, strong body.

She grabbed his face with both hands and looked into the bluest eyes she’d ever seen.

“Drew McCoy, I’m going to make you the happiest man in Santa Clara right now.”

“Done,” he said. He covered her mouth with his seconds later.

She skimmed her hands over bulging biceps, an abdomen so cut she could grate cheese on it, the smoothness of his back. She wrapped her legs around his thighs, which didn’t quite fit, but seemed to make him happy. She couldn’t resist cupping his butt in both of her hands. She felt him hard against her abdomen, but he didn’t seem in any hurry to penetrate her. Mostly, she luxuriated in his long, slow, tender kisses that started a different kind of trembling. He was touching her with big, gentle hands, but she was hotter than the surface of the sun from his deep, unhurried exploration of her mouth. She wondered what was going to happen when he got around to the rest of her.

“Drew,” she finally murmured.

“Yes?” He’d moved down and taken one of her nipples in his mouth. She gasped. “I’m guessing you like that.”

“Uh huh. Oh, God. Please don’t stop.”

She heard a low chuckle. “Let’s see if I can figure out something else you might like.”

“You must be really into kissing. Oh!”

“I am, but I like this even more.” He took her nipple back into his mouth and reached between her legs. He stroked her, wetting his fingers with her moisture. She let out a moan and arched toward him. “Easy,” he said. “Let’s take our time.”

He suckled and stroked, moving his fingers agonizingly slowly over her, close to her clitoris but not enough direct stimulation that she’d come quickly. Her heart was pounding. Heat rolled over her in waves. She spread her legs more to encourage him; he’d get close, but not quite close enough.

He took his mouth off of her nipple long enough to murmur into her ear, “I’ll bet you want me to touch you there, don’t you?”

“God, yes. I want to come! Why aren’t you letting me?”

He captured her mouth with his again, plunging his tongue into hers, and finally sliding his fingers into her, stroking in and out. Maddeningly slowly. He bumped the palm of his hand against her clitoris, sending shocks of sensation throughout her body. She writhed beneath him, tore her mouth away from his, and cried out in desperate need when he finally picked up the pace. She wrapped her legs around him as best she could to offer even more access.

He stroked as quickly as possible as he rubbed and rotated the heel of his palm over the most sensitive nerves in her body. His voice was low and dark in her ear.

“I can’t wait to watch you come, Kendall.”

She felt the pull of sensation, the skittering prickling over her skin, the first contractions of a massive orgasm. She let out a shriek as stars burst behind her eyelids. Her heart was pounding, her body felt like fire, and she tried to catch her breath.

His fingers were still moving, but his touch now was tender, soothing. She could still feel the ripples of the orgasm throughout her body, and she heaved a sigh.

“That was unbelievable.”

His lips curved into a smile.

“Where did you learn that?” she said.

“What do you mean?”

“I . . . I . . . are you always . . . how did you DO that? I usually have to use a vibrator to get anywhere close, and . . . oh, God.”

His eyes locked onto hers. He looked happy. Even more, he looked a little bit proud of himself. “Did you enjoy that?”

“Other than the part in which you made me beg—”

“You’re not mad at me, are you?” He kissed the middle of her forehead. “Delayed gratification can be a good thing.”

“I thought my head was going to explode.” She grabbed his wrist and placed his hand flat on her abdomen so he could feel the continuing waves of sensation. “Feel that?”

He was quiet for a moment.

“I’ve never had a woman demonstrate what I did to her before,” he said. He gazed into her eyes. “It’s hot.”

She rolled onto her other side, scrabbled in the bedside table drawer, and pulled out a strip of condoms. She turned back to him, waving it teasingly in front of his eyes.

“I’ll show you some delayed gratification, Mr. McCoy.”

“Is that so? What did you have in mind?”

She pushed him onto his back, ripped one of the condoms off of the strip, opened it, and rolled it over his still-erect penis.

“Watch and learn,” she joked. She straddled him, balancing herself with flattened palms on his abdomen. He grabbed her hips. She bent over him, capturing his mouth with hers. She stroked his tongue with hers while grinding herself against his penis. She played with his nipples, and she was rewarded with a groan of pleasure.

She tore her mouth off of his for a few seconds. He sat up, gripping her upper arms in both hands. He tried to push her onto her back. She wasn’t having any of it. It was his turn to beg, and she was going to make it happen. His eyes were almost black with arousal. His breathing was ragged. His erection was inches from where they both wanted it. She wondered how much more he could take before his superior strength won out, he flipped her onto her back, and plunged inside.

“You want me?” she whispered.

“Jesus, yes. I’ll do anything.”

“Anything? What are you willing to do?”

“You thought that orgasm was big. Wait until you find out what I’ve got for you now.”

“You are such a sweet talker,” she said as she wrapped her arms around his shoulders.

“Kendall. Let me in, for God’s sake. I have to have you.”

“How badly?” she said.

He groaned again. She felt his fingertips biting into her hips as he pulled her up to her knees.

“Ride me,” he hissed. “Fuck my brains out.”

Oh, she would. She reached to position him, and she sank half an inch onto him. He let out a long, harsh breath. “Want more?”

He said something unintelligible, and she sank another half an inch onto him. She could feel the head of his penis sliding into her, and she raised up and down on her knees a couple of times for the hell of it. He pulled her down a little more onto him. She wasn’t sure how long it took while she teased him and moved down a fraction of an inch at a time but finally, he was seated inside her, and his hands guided her into a rhythm that worked for both of them.

Up and down, up and down, and she gasped for breath. She felt his fingers stroke through her wetness again, and he applied his thumbs to the opening between their bodies. He tried some direct pressure this time, and she couldn’t control her gasps.

“Ride me. Harder,” he said. She increased the tempo, and his groans increased too. “Shit, that feels good. More.”

She heard their bodies slapping against each other, and the bed moving with his thrusts. She could feel the tell-tale rushing in her head of an oncoming orgasm. Her body gripped him, and sweat poured off of her in the cool room. She was gasping, her body was shuddering around him, and fireworks burst behind her eyelids.

He let out a shout, and she felt him thrust up into her even faster. They were racing to the end. It didn’t matter who got there first; they were both going to the same place. Her world burst into unbearably intense sensation as the orgasm took her over. She forced herself to open her eyes and watched his face convulse as he came.

Sweaty and sated, she slumped onto his chest. He was sweating too. He was trembling. His arms surrounded her as his lips brushed her hair. They were both silent while she tried to catch her breath.

A few minutes later, Drew’s breathing was deep and regular. He’d fallen asleep. She wasn’t sure why she was disappointed by this. He still held her close and didn’t seem to mind the fact she was lying on top of him, so it wasn’t all bad. She shifted a little.

“Sweet dreams,” she whispered.

She felt the rumble of his voice. “I’m not asleep. I’m very, very relaxed, though.” He stretched a little. “That was incredible.”

Her momentary unhappiness dissolved into a starburst of elation. “I enjoyed it.” She could lie on him all night, but he might like to take a deep breath. “Maybe I should move off of you so you’re more comfortable.”

He let out a snort. “I’m fine if you are, Kendall.” He pulled her into his side and reached over her head for the mini-carafe of filtered water and clean drinking glass she kept on her nightstand. “Want some water?”

They took turns sipping out of the water glass. He propped himself up on one elbow.

“Are you hungry yet?”

“Nope,” he said. “I believe I promised you a little chat, and I’m too comfortable right now to leave your bed.”

“Ahhh. That’s right.” Kendall was sated and happy in her post-orgasmic haze. She really didn’t want to spoil a wonderful evening with any discussion about her ex, but it was time to come clean. “Once upon a time, there was a woman who chose the wrong guy to date.”

He tipped her chin up with one finger. “Weren’t you dating Tony Kelly?”

Her mouth dropped open. She felt the surge of embarrassment all over her body. Oh, God. “How did you know that?”

“My agent was negotiating with his company for an endorsement for me at that time. You made quite an impression on Lance. He said, and I quote, ‘It’s too bad San Francisco’s director of football operations is dating such a shit. I’ll bet she has no idea about the wife and two kids he already has.’ ”

“And you didn’t sign with them.”

“Again, a better offer. I’m no choir boy, but I don’t want to associate myself and my brand with any guy who thinks he’s only married and a father when it’s convenient for him.”

“You must think I’m really gullible,” she said. “I still can’t believe I fell for him.”

“I think you were attracted to him and you didn’t know.”

“His wife called me at the office one day.”

“I’m sorry.” He shook his head and gave her another squeeze.

“It was the worst fifteen minute conversation of my life. I apologized to her. I’m always going to feel guilty. He was too good to be true, and I should have known that.” She let out a sigh. “When we played in New Jersey last season, I met her for a drink. She’d like to leave him, but she needs a job first. We’ve been working on it ever since.”

In other words, his first impression of her was correct. Instead of being so embarrassed at finding herself caught in a situation that any other single woman would do almost anything to distance herself from and shift the blame, she apologized and did her best to make some kind of amends. It was impressive.

“How’s that going?”

“Miami’s front office needs an executive assistant. She’s not going to live in a five thousand square foot house and drive a Cadillac Escalade anymore on the salary, but I don’t think that matters to her. There’s also a place for her in Atlanta if she wants it. Mostly, she’s getting her ducks in a row before she makes the move.”

“That’s pretty nice of you.”

“Thank you for saying that, but it was the only way I could live with the guilt. I could help her and the kids get out and make sure they were on a better path.” She let out a sigh. “If anything good came out of this, I made a new friend. And I learned.”

“We all learn,” he said. “I’d like to learn some more about you.”

He rolled atop her again. His fingertips brushed the ticklish skin under her arm, and she let out a laugh as she reached up to kiss him.

One night was not going to be enough. She was crazy to think it ever would be.