He was getting the picture. That’s why she’d told him to stay open to the possibilities. “What if Tex wakes up and goes looking for you?”
“He’s a champion sleeper.” Her words came out in a nervous rush. “But if he wakes up and finds me gone, he’ll go to Mari. She’ll say—” She put a hand to her chest and sucked in air. “She’ll say I’m checking on Monty and I’ll be back soon.”
His eyes had adjusted to the dim light. She was braless and likely panty-less under her outfit. Message received. This was a booty call, and he was going to answer it.
Her cover story for Tex was a riot. “Checking on Monty, are you?”
“It’s not exactly a lie. How was your day?”
He choked out a laugh. “Kind of boring until a gorgeous woman showed up at my door asking for sex.”
“She sounds a little pushy.”
“Fine with me. I like assertive women. By the way, is it a one-night stand? I’d like to know in advance.”
“That depends.”
“Is this an audition? That’s not a game-changer, but?—”
“No! I’d never ask for a sexual trial run!” She clapped her hand over her mouth and glanced at the open porch window. “I hope nobody heard that.”
He smiled. “Besides me?”
“You know who I mean. Does everyone keep their windows open?”
“Probably, but they’re all sawing logs by now. I’m the only one in the family who has a problem sleeping.”
“Insomnia?”
“Yep. Ever since I was born, I’m told.”
“Me, too.”
“Is that why you’re here? Sex helps you sleep?” Would he let her use him in place of a pill? Yes, he would.
“You think I’d take this crazy risk simply to get a decent night’s sleep?”
“I guess not. But I gathered you’d closed up shop to focus on Tex. So why me? Why now?” He shouldn’t care. He should quit asking questions and take her to bed. If it was for one night only, so be it.
“I’ve never had such a strong reaction to a man and you’ve said this is a first for you. It seems a shame not to at least….” She took a quick breath. “At least find out.”
He absorbed the significance of her shift in thinking. After several years of celibacy, she was making an exception. He figured she’d wrestled with the idea before driving over here. “Do you have a plan?”
“A potential plan.” She swallowed. “Mari offered to cover for me on her nights off.”
“Then it’s not a one-night stand.” His heart swelled with anticipation and… joy. She wanted to be with him, even if that meant breaking her self-imposed rule and keeping a secret from her son and her uncle.
“That’s up to you. if you’d rather make this short and sweet, just to stay on the safe side, then I?—"
“No, ma’am.” There was no safe side when it came to this woman. “I’ll take whatever you’re willing to give for as long as you’re willing to give it.”
Chapter Eighteen
In the dim light Zinnia couldn’t see the gleam in Monty’s eyes, but his tone was the same one he’d used when he’d taken on Speckles’ foaling. He was all in.
Thrilling. Scary, too, because now the conversation was over. It was go-time. Her fingers trembled as she unzipped her small cross-body bag. “I thought you might not be prepared, so I brought?—”
“Very thoughtful. Let me take that.”
