“Six months. We’ve been best friends since our first week in first grade. When I needed a place to crash while I recovered, heopened his home to me.” I rub the back of my neck. “A lot has happened to me lately.”
“I’m sorry to hear that.”
“You’re one of the good things to happen to me, though.” Her smile is as wide as mine. “Hey, I forgot to tell you. Guess what?”
“What?”
“You work with Jenkins’ baby sister.”
“I do?”
“April.”
“What a small world.”
“That’s small-town living for you. I’ll have you over as soon as I’m settled and I’ll invite Jenkins and April.”
She worries her bottom lip. “Really?”
I give her a,Are you kidding me right now?look.
“All right, all right. You’re my guy.” She’s still a little shy about it. That only makes me like her even more. “I look forward to the invitation.”
“By God, she got it, y’all.”
She laughs.
“You know why else I want you to come over?” My voice is low and deep.
She shakes her head.
“Last night was pretty hot, but I can’t wait to get you in my bed, beneath me, on top of me, riding me like a wild cowgirl until we both pass out from exhaustion. And I want to wake up to your dark hair fanned around your beautiful face against the pillow like a halo.”
“Oh.”
“Your eyes are as big as the fucking moon.” I laugh.
“You say things?—”
“Things I mean.”
She blushes.
“FYI, those are some of the perks of being my girl.”
“Lucky me.”
“Damn right.” We exchange a warm smile. “How was your day?”
“Since a certain Rhett Sullivan is tight-lipped about where he’s taking me, I spent most of the day preparing food for our outing. I have a cooler packed.” She points her chin to it in the corner of the kitchen.
I cock an amused eyebrow. “Carina, it’s only for tonight. We’ll be back tomorrow afternoon. Looks like you prepared enough food for a week.”
She shrugs. “Sue me. I’m half Italian on both sides.”
I laugh. “You’re absolutely charming. I love what you’re wearing, by the way.”
“Once again, I was going at it blind. I changed four times because I wasn’t sure what to wear.”
