Shit. How late was it? I rolled out of bed and frantically searched the room for an extra pair of sweats. Looking down, I blew out a breath. I was wearing the sweats I was looking for.
I met June’s alarmed gaze. She was holding the blankets to her chest. Frowning, she glanced down. I wasn’t the only fully clothed one. She dropped the blanket.
I smirked at her, and she shot me a glare, then a smile curved her lips.
This was fucking ridiculous. Not even my mom had slept in with a stranger on a school day. The thought was sobering.
Ideas churned in my head. What should I tell the girls? They couldn’t know I was messing around with their music idol. The girls wanted June’s autograph. I wanted June’s climaxes.
Shit. I stuffed a hand through my hair. My obnoxious dick was awake and aware a woman was in my bed.
“I’m sorry,” June mouthed.
I shook my head. I’d fallen asleep and she’d done the same.
“Uh, Bethany...” What should I do? Plans were coming together as fast as I was brushing them off. I couldn’t let the girls see June in my room. That was out of the question. “Wanna get my coffee ready, and... and have Hannah start a load of laundry?”
“We’re going to be late.”
I usually drove them instead of sending them on the bus. Normally, it wasn’t an issue. Normally, I wasn’t hiding a woman in my bedroom. “I know. I’ll call the school. But I need to get ready.”
“Okay,” she said dubiously. Her footsteps receded down the hall.
I crossed to June’s side of the bed. “Here’s what we’ll do,” I said on a whisper. “I’ll go use the bathroom, and after I make sure the coast is clear, you sneak to the guest room. I’ll tell the girls you slept over because you were so tired.”
She nodded and scooted to the edge of the bed. “I’m really sorry,” she whispered back.
Without thinking, I leaned down and kissed her, a quick, firm kiss. “I’m not going to make you sneak out the window.”
“I never made you—” At my knowing look, she grinned. “It was once.”
“And I had to pretend I was taking a late-night walk in my socks. Your dad didn’t buy it.”
Before I did something foolish and crawled back in bed with her, I crept out. The hallway was clear. The metallic thump of the washing machine lid flying open was loud and clear. Drawers opened and closed in the kitchen. I waved at June.
She snuck behind me down the hall.
“Don’t close the door,” I said under my breath. “Otherwise Bethany might realize we’re lying.”
She nodded. “I was awake and getting dressed in the closet.”
Almost believable. Good enough. We nodded at each other like we were departing for a mission. A new connection formed. She didn’t question why I was keeping her presence from the girls. She understood.
I dipped into the bathroom and cleaned up. When I emerged, I went to the kitchen instead of getting dressed.
The main concern with dating was whether the other party would respect my limits when it came to Bethany and Hannah. June did, without hesitation. But this was temporary for her too.
Bethany was charging out of the kitchen. She stopped when she saw me, confusion twisting her mouth. “Are you sick?”
I was usually up and had my chores done in the morning before I got them up to feed the chickens, goats, the barn cats, and the dog. I never took sick days, but then I was never still in my sweats when school was starting soon.
“No, I’m fine. Listen, June got real tired last night and I told her to crash here.”
Excitement lit Bethany’s eyes. “June’s here?” She frowned. “I didn’t see her.”
I shrugged. “Maybe she was getting ready.” Before Bethany could think too hard about open and closed and locked doors, I stuffed a thumb in the direction of the bedroom. “I’m gonna get dressed. Just, uh, watch TV until we’re ready.”
When I was rushing down the hall, June emerged. She hung in the doorway.
