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The seriousness in my tone must convey who I’m asking about, because she answers right away. “I didn’t find out about your mom that way. But I did take a quick peek at some of the files from the doctor Redleg uses for preemployment and ongoing fitness for duty medical exams. I’m not proud of it. You have a good, strong, healthy heart, though. Good job on that.”
How else did she know about Lettie if she wasn’t investigating everyone?
Duh.
“Well, don’t I look like an ass?”
With her features masked in shame, she shifts her position to straddle my lap. I run my hands down her lower back and squeeze her haunting ass.
Locking me in her embrace, she holds my stare. “You are not an ass. I’m an ass. I violated everyone’s privacy.Shit.I even knew Sue’s family calls her Susie Q. How am I supposed to confess to that?”
This woman is far too talented at what she does for her own good.
“How the hell did you find that out?”
Her chin falls to her chest, and her eyes slip from mine. “Text messages.”
I shouldn’t laugh, but I can’t help it now.
She glances up at me, her eyes widening in shock at the blasé expression I wear. “What’s so funny? You should be disgusted by me, not squeezing my ass harder. And speaking of hard, are you getting a boner right now? How could you? I’m the human equivalent of a gray sprinkle on a stale cupcake.”
“Shh, stop that.” I suppress my chuckle. Only barely. “You are not a disgusting sprinkle. And while we’re on the topic, that should have been a sign of the superiority of pie over cake. You’d never see a flavorless wax speck like that on a pie.”
Her teeth lightly press into the pink flesh of her lower lip with her snicker, but there’s nervousness etched on her features.
“If you’re a dessert topping, you’re a decadent caramel drizzle or a raspberry glaze. I never get enough of it and want to lick it off the plate.”
“That’s oddly arousing.”
Not sure if I initiate a kiss or if she does, but our lips lock, and our hands grow needier by the second. Settling into the connection, I let time fade, along with memories of past wrongs or guilt. I focus on forgiveness and hope for what’s to come.
After we break apart, I catch my breath and reassure her. “Mia, I should have known you’d have looked into everyone else the same way you dug into me. That doesn’t make it okay, but I understand. I’ll be able to put this behind us and forgive you. But I want you to put it behind us too. No more guilt. Not about me or the others at Redleg, and damn sure not about your sister.”
I soak up the relief befalling her features as it softens the pinched skin across her forehead.
“I’ll try.”
My mouth splays into a grin. “Truth be told, I’m unsure if it makes it better or worse, not being the only one you put under your microscope. I felt special for a minute. Now I’m the same as everyone else at Redleg.”
“Cal, I assure you that you arenothinglike the others. You are exceedingly special.” She joins our lips for a quick peck, then another and another. “Thanks for listening and not kicking me out. You’ve got an impressive capacity for forgiveness in that big heart of yours.”
“Well, you did let me motorboat your rack.”
We laugh together, a lightness filling the room and drowning out all the remaining darkness.
“So tiger. Did you have a location picked out for your retirement plan? Publix stores are on every corner around here.” I feed her the last bite of pie. “Still a valid option for you. They make pies, although nothing as good as this.”
“I was thinking of the one in Harbor Oaks. Seems nicest. I’m not that picky when it comes to spending my golden years surrounded by ganaches, chantillies, tortes, carrot cakes, cream cakes, marbles, fudge, andfuck, Cal. Did you know they make a cannoli cake?” She pats her palm on my chest to add emphasis. “A cannoli cake.”
“I’ll make you a cannoli pie that’ll make you climax on the spot.”
Her laughter makes her eyes dance. The way she wiggles causes her to tease my cock with that delicious pie between her legs. “Be careful, Cal. Them are some baby-making words.”
Hmm.Should I go there?
Nothing ventured, nothing gained.
Oh fuck it.
