Page 43 of Sundown Somewhere

My insides ease, areas of my body I didn’t realize had gone tense releasing. Guess I need this massage more than I realized.

Slipping her arm around me, Dolly rests her head against my chest, and instantly, everything is right with the world. There is no way anything could be wrong with her holding me like this. I’m sure of it.

Same as it was when I woke up this morning, wrapped around her luscious body, her curves pressed against me and my raging morning wood nestled between her cheeks, screaming for attention. I never wanted to let go. If I could have figured out a way to keep her right there for the rest of time, I would have. Because this morning was different from all the other times I woke up snuggled next to her.

Because I kissed her.

I kissed Dolly McLain. Damn if that hasn’t been a secret fantasy longer than I want to admit.

“What’s the matter?” she asks, pulling away.

“Nothing.”

It’s not a lie. There isn’t anything the matter. But it’s also not quite the truth. Because I’m in deep fucking water and am starting to doubt my ability to swim.

“Your heart just started racing, so something is up.”

I chuckle, unable to hold it back. Leave it to this one to call me on my physiological reaction to her beauty.

“Can’t a guy’s heart skip a beat when holding his girl?” I reply, laying it on thick.

“Get out of here!” She pushes me away, rolling her eyes.

I laugh it off, trying to keep the moment light, but there’s no missing the twitch in her eye. The one that tells me she doesn’t believe me. Not really. The one that tells me she thinks that there’s no way anyone could ever think that about her.

My phone vibrates in my pocket, stealing my attention as the attendant appears from behind a sliding door, gesturing for us to following her. I let Dolly lead the way, quickly checking the text.

Willa

Showed Auggie the plans for Project: Second Star…he loves them! Said he and Jack can help push it through for approval

“Ah-hem…”

“Huh?”

I look up, the impatient blonde beauty in front of me holding out a robe, an amused smile spreading across those very kissable lips.

“This is yours. Locker room for you to change is right there.” She nods toward the door labeled men. “And leave that thing in there. I don’t want to listen to it going bzzzz bzzz the whole time because of whichever brother can’t leave you alone.”

“It’s Willa,” I correct her.

“That’s even worse.”

She has a point. I steal a quick, chaste kiss then disappear to change. It’s been a long time since I did this, and I don’t remember proper protocol. So, skivvies it is. Last thing I need is to go au natural and get us kicked out of here.

I change quickly, then tap out a reply to my sister before stashing my phone.

Awesome. Tell Nash I expect free landscaping

Exiting the locker room, I look around for Dolly, finding her in a dimly lit lounge type room, full of couches, with soft instrumental music playing, almost drowned out by an oddly loud water feature.

“Hey you.”

I sit down next to her on the couch, not leaving much room between us. The urge to be close to her is overwhelming and something I can’t explain. It’s like kissing her broke the dam, allowing all sorts of things I was keeping bottled up to flow out.

“Hi.” She reaches over, wiggling her hand out of the oversized robe that seems to swallow her and hide her beautiful curves, grabbing mine. “What’s Project: Second Star?”

“What?”