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“What got into you tonight?” Flynn slurred. “Did Willow give you one of her teas or tinctures after I left the Retreat?”
I blinked, struggling to recall anything that had happened between the time Flynn had left the Retreat with Alden and Pop and the time he’d opened the Tavern door, hauled me inside, and kissed all the thoughts out of my head. “Uh. No? She served up the strawberry shortcake I brought from Nat’s. Why?”
Flynn twisted a little, pushing up from the counter, and I let go of him so I could withdraw without making a mess.
Here we go, I thought, removing the condom and tying it off.Time to be convincing.
But Flynn didn’t move away; he only twisted far enough to wrap his arm behind my neck and peck a kiss to the corner of my mouth. “’Cause I’m gonna buy you strawberry shortcake for the rest of the damn summer if this is what it gets me.”
“Oh. Well, that’s…”
Shocking.
Thrilling.
Both.
As I stood there, stunned, he grinned and reached around to slap my ass. “Now, back off and let me finish cleaning this place up. Having a summer fling with you is one thing; fucking up my business is another. And throw that condom away when we get back to my place, ’cause if Dan spots it in the trash here, I’ll never hear the damn end of it.”
I blinked and moved aside. “Yeah. Okay.” So… we were having a summer fling? I was invited back to his place? Just like that? No convincing needed?
Part of me didn’t want to question my good fortune, but the other part wanted my attorney to look over the fine print so I didn’t mess this up.
Flynn hauled up his jeans and looked at me curiously as he did up the button. “What’s up with you?”
You surprise the hell out of me constantly. I crave you the way plants crave sunshine. I already know the summer isn’t going to be enough. I’m afraid I’m gonna fuck this up if I push too hard.
“I, uh, got a call from my assistant, Alice, after you left the Retreat,” I said instead, searching out my own clothes. “Her aunt took a bad fall and dislocated her shoulder.”
“Ah, damn.” Flynn’s forehead crinkled. “She gonna be okay?”
“Yeah, no, she’ll be fine. But Alice needs to take a couple days off to take care of her, and she won’t be able to help me much on the, um… time-sensitive project I’m trying to bring together, so I’ll have to do it myself.”
I stared at Flynn, thinking about three years ago and a similar conversation I’d tried to have and praying this one had a different ending.
I swallowed and lowered the boom. “I have to go back to the city in the morning. Just temporarily. I’ll be there until…” I winced. “Probably Thursday. And then I’ll be back.”
Flynn nodded slowly. “I see.”
“I wouldn’t leave if I didn’t have to,” I blurted, tugging up my pants and leaving my shirt off.
When the words were out, I was surprised to find they were true.
For more time with Flynn, I would gladly stay in town, even if it meant postponingmy important meetings and spending my days avoiding my mother’s social events. Especially because it meant more softball games (which meant more softballvictories)and a chance to make Willow’s family recipe for wheatberry salad to bring to Jace’s potluck.
This thing between us was temporary, so I wanted to hoard every minute that I could spend teasing and laughing and fighting and fucking with him.
“Believe me,” I added.
Flynn nodded again but didn’t seem entirely convinced. He turned away to grab a bottle of cleaner and a rag, then busied himself washing the countertop. The muscles of his naked back bunched and flexed in a really compelling way.
“You could come if you wanted.” Once the offer was out of my mouth, I realized exactly how much I wanted him to accept it.
Flynn paused but didn’t turn around. “Leave the Tavern during the summer rush so I can flit off to New York?Please.I haven’t even been able to get to Ogunquit in years, much less out of state.”
Damn. He sounded so resigned when he said that. I thought back to the map in his office and the dreams he’d stowed away. It made me doubly determined to make the Fortress deal happen for him… which meant I really fucking needed to get to New York.
The irony was thick.
