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She glanced at Aiden and found him still sound asleep with his hand on her hip. She’d read her daughter’s text in a minute. She wasn’t about to miss the perfect opportunity to study his handsome face.
She spotted a small scar on his cheekbone that she’d never noticed before and had to fight the urge to run her finger along it. In his peaceful slumber, the lines around his eyes were relaxed, as was the one often furrowed between his eyebrows. He seemed at ease. It was a good look on him.
Dakota clicked on her Fitbit and was only able to read part of Chloe’s text, but she got the gist of it. They were going to drop Barney off before they left for the beach. And Chloe noticed Aiden’s car still in the driveway.
Should Dakota feel guilty about that? Dirty? Ashamed?
For more than two decades, she’d been careful about not letting a man spend the night when Chloe was around. And while Aiden had done some deliciously dirty things to her last night, she couldn’t find it in her to feel bad about waking up with him. Even with her daughter and her family right next door.
What did that mean?
Nothing. Other than your daughter is an adult and you’re a grown woman with needs who shouldn’t be ashamed of her sexuality.
“Good morning, Sunshine.”
He had a soft smile when she looked over at him, and she couldn’t help but return it.
“Good morning. Did you sleep okay?”
“Like a rock. I can’t decide if I sleep better because you wear me out before, or because you soothe me.” He squeezed her hip as he kissed her hair. “Probably both.”
She liked the idea of being the one to soothe him.
You need to get it together, girl. This is only for the weekend. Nothing more.
Why did she get the feeling that would be easier said than done?
****
Aiden
“I really don’t mind driving myself,” she said while standing outside his car with an overnight bag in one hand and Barney’s leash in the other. “That way I can just bring him home after our hike.”
“I already told you, Sunshine,” he said, closing the trunk after putting Barney’s dog bed and dog dishes in it. “It’s no trouble. Barney will be fine with us.”
“But… your car is so nice. He’s going to get his hair all over it and will probably slobber on your windows.”
“That’s what car washes are for.
“And he’s going to get hair all over your house.”
“Good thing I have a cleaning lady.”
He wasn’t going to give her any reason to cut their time together this weekend short. That was why he’d insisted she bring Barney with her in the first place.
“Okay,” she said as she opened the rear passenger door and the pit bull jumped in. “But don’t say I didn’t warn you.”
He came round and opened her car door for her, tapping her nose before she got in. “I’ve been duly warned, and I’m not worried in the least, so you shouldn’t be either. Just relax, baby. Everything’s going to be fine.”
Something about her had been off ever since they were lying in bed that morning and heard her daughter announce from the kitchen, “I’m just dropping Barney off! He’s already been fed, so don’t fall for his tricks! Have a nice day! Don’t do anything I wouldn’t do!”
He reached for her hand once he put the car in drive. “Everything okay?”
Her smile didn’t quite reach her eyes when she turned to him and said, “Yeah, why?”
“No reason, just making sure.”
By the time they drove into his neighborhood fifteen minutes later, she was back to herself.
