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Nine
Jecca tiptoed up the stairs to her bedroom. Lucy’s door was closed and there wasn’t a sound in the house. She hoped they hadn’t noticed she was out late yet again.
Any doubts she had were erased when she saw something propped on her pillow. It was the instruction booklet for Lucy’s embroidery software. Jecca quickly showered, put on the big T-shirt she liked to sleep in, and snuggled into bed.
After the romantic evening she’d just spent with Tristan, the last thing she wanted to do was read a software manual. She put her hands behind her head, looked up at the ceiling, and started reliving every second. His voice, his body, his lips on the back of her neck.
When her cell phone buzzed, she jumped. The lateness of the call made her think it was from home and that someone had been hurt. The ID gave an unfamiliar number with a local area code. Tentatively, she said hello.
“You aren’t asleep?” asked a voice that had become familiar to her.
Jecca smiled. “I’m getting there. What about you?”
“I’m so awake I might as well go to the airport now.”
She knew the feeling. The soft sheets against her bare legs made her wish he was with her.
Tristan’s voice lowered. “So what are you wearing?”
“The usual. Black silk.”
Tristan groaned.
“I have on one of my brother’s old football jerseys.”
“Short?”
“Not on my brother, but my legs are quite a bit longer than his, so it’s very short on me,” she said.
“Are you trying to kill me?” Tris didn’t speak for a moment. “Now I’ll never get to sleep! But that aside, I called for a purpose.”
“Which is?” She was smiling broadly. It felt good to be desired by this man.
“I want to ask you to do another favor for me.”
“More lists?”
“No. Would you check on my house while I’m away?”
“Of course,” she said. “I’d be glad to.” While he told her where he had a key hidden, she thought how she liked the idea of seeing inside his house. And she loved the thought of seeing the playhouse where they’d had one of their moonless nights together.
“Hey! You wouldn’t like to help Nell and me come up with colors to paint the playhouse, would you?”
“I can resist anything but colors. Any preferences?”
“None.”
“Won’t Nell have some if it’s her playhouse?”
“Good idea,” he said. “I’ll tell her about you, and you two can discuss it tomorrow.”
“You want me to talk to her?”
“Sure,” he said. “Why not?”
Jecca couldn’t think of a reason not to, but she was already wondering how to talk to a child she’d never met.
“So what are you really wearing?” he asked.
