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I nod, pressing my smile to his lips. He slips away, using the bathroom to clean up before coming back out and flopping onto my bed. I go next, finding my legs wobbly in the best way. He notices too, chuckling when I glare back at him over my shoulder when he whistles at my naked walk to the bathroom.
When I reenter the bedroom, he holds the blankets open for me. I only hesitate for a second to crawl up against his side. Fighting for the things I want has never really been a struggle for me. It’s the regret that comes later that will make me pause, but that’s a problem for tomorrow.
Despite the warmth of his body, my exhaustion, and satisfaction I have from the amazing sex, I still can’t calm my mind enough to fall asleep.
I lie on Derrick’s chest, his rhythmic breathing calming me, just not enough to put me to sleep.
My mind races all night as I worry about tomorrow and how my life going forward will look.
Do we stay together for a week?
Do we hit the courthouse first thing Monday morning?
Will the people he works with refuse to let me on the plane with them?
Time drags on, and I’m still awake, my eyes feeling like sandpaper as the sun starts to come up, hints of it coming through the sheer curtains in my bedroom.
I jolt when his phone rings. I have the feeling I’m not going to like today at all when he hisses a curse at the sight of the name on the phone.
It goes to voicemail before he picks up, but he grabs his jeans, stuffing his legs into them, before walking out of the room. When the phone rings again, I hear him answer it in the living room, and the front door claps closed behind him.
Nothing good has ever come from a phone call that can’t be answered in front of the person you just spent the last two nights with.
I turn over onto my back and stare at the ceiling. Maybe him coming back in here and telling me this was all a big mistake is for the better. I have no doubt people in town have taken bets on the over/under of when this will all blow up in my face. And the people who don’t get in on the betting action probably think I paid the man to pretend to be my husband yesterday. Why else would anyone be so damn attentive to Beth Moore?
Chapter 9
Oracle
I knew I wouldn’t be able to avoid Kincaid forever. I knew the second I walked away from Stormy and Mila yesterday that the gossip would start.
We don’t go through the same thing that Beth has gone through. No one at the clubhouse is mean to others, with the exception of Hemlock, but that’s more a resting bitch face, I think.
Cerberus members and all those connected to them always gossip. They speculate, make guesses as to who, what, why, and how. Sometimes, they’ll ask the person the gossip is about, but most often, they whisper among themselves, refuse to get involved, and wait and see how everything works out.
Except Kincaid.
As the club president, there are certain things the man needs to know, and I know that’s exactly what this call is about.
“Good morning,” I say, closing the tiny duplex door behind me as I step out onto the front stoop.
Yesterday, it was hot enough that I had sweat gathering between my shoulder blades, but right now, first thing this morning, there’s dew on the grass and a chilliness in the air. Despite being in the middle of this small town, the air is crisp and fresh, much like it would be in New Mexico, on the outskirts of Farmington.
“I hear congratulations are in order.”
“I got married the night before last,” I tell him.
I will not lie to the man, but I also don’t want to give any more information than is requested of me. Beth is fun. The time I’ve spent with her has been entertaining and sexy. I’m not quite ready for it to end just yet. I don’t want a voice of reason listing all the ways this can go badly.
“I guess that means she’s coming back to Farmington then?”
There’s more to the question than he’s saying.
“If that’s okay,” I tell him.
As fun as Beth has been the last thirty-six hours, I’m not willing to lose my spot with Cerberus to keep up the charade. But for some reason, just thinking of leaving without her causes an ache inside of me.
I shove the unease down and turn to face the street.
The town is quiet, despite its proximity to the university. With their rules on who is allowed to have vehicles on campus, limiting those privileges to seniors only, most of the students walk to get where they’re going or they ride bikes. It cuts way down on the noise pollution.
