Then with a small sigh, she plugged it into the outlet by her bed and hopped into the shower. She decided she wouldn’t think about the phone or what it represented. She had other things to do.
Faith was going to shave the things that needed shaving. She was going to spread more body butter than she needed on her legs and arms and, well, everywhere so that she was as smooth and soft as she could be.
Once that was done, she towel-dried her hair, then using her fingers and the hair dryer to finish, was able to achieve big beachy waves. Her skin was looking good these days, so Faith kept her makeup minimal but spent some time on her eyes and added a soft pink gloss to her lips. Then she turned to her wardrobe and frowned. What to wear?
She decided on the only pair of jeans she owned and a simple white T-shirt and sneakers. Then she grabbed a small zip-up hoodie, which she tied around her waist, and a small bag for a hair tie, some cash, and a pair of sunglasses.
Faith walked toward the full-length mirror that rested against the far wall of her bedroom and studied her appearance. She looked good. Over these last weeks, the sun had kissed her face, giving her a healthy glow. Her hair was longer, wavier, shinier. Her eyes were a darker hue, and her lips . . . she peered closer and touched them with the tip of her finger. Was it possible they were still swollen from Gus’s kisses?
Heat crept up her neck. Faith turned and swore under her breath. Shit. Was she losing her mind? Was she so sex-starved that all rational thought fled her mind because of the number of O’s she’d experienced the night before?
Taco, sensing her mood, stood from his spot by her bed and wagged his tail, and her stomach dipped. What the hell was she going to do with him? More importantly, how could she have forgotten her dog?
A sharp knock sounded, and Faith ran from the bedroom to answer it, though she took a beat to get herself ready for the inevitable shock she’d get when she set her eyes on Gus. She slowly exhaled and then opened up. A man stood there, but it wasn’t Gus.
“Hal? Is everything okay?”
Her boss gave a wave and a smile, then nodded. “Sure is. I’m just here to collect the dog and I’ll be on my way.”
“The dog.” Confused, she frowned.
“Taco.”
“I don’t . . .”
The rest of her words got caught in her throat when Gus appeared. Her stomach rolled. Goosebumps appeared. And she was having trouble breathing.
Unfair, the way her body reacted to him, and she was going to have to work on some things. It wouldn’t do her any good for him to know how visceral he was to her.
Gus David was the sexiest man she’d ever met. His eyes glittered, his smile radiated, and his body was an exhibit she wanted to explore. His hair was wet from the shower, and he was dressed similarly in jeans and a black T-shirt. His fresh scent was like an aphrodisiac, and she couldn’t help but smile. She had him for the whole day.
Gus clapped Hal on the shoulders before turning to Faith. “Hal here is going to take Taco because I don’t know when we’ll be back.”
“And I’m happy doing it. Since you’re working tomorrow, I’ll keep him overnight.” Hal nodded. “Just give me his food and leash and I’ll be on my way.”
Faith grabbed Taco’s leash and doled out food into a container, then handed it back to Hal.
“Okay,” the man said, motioning to Taco to follow. “You kids have fun and don’t worry about Taco. Sam loves her and so does the customers.”
She and Gus watched Hal leave, then before she could say hello or thank you oranything, Gus pulled her against him and kissed her until her head spun. Until her knees were butter and her muscles were noodles.
Until she was seriously considering gassing the road trip and spending the day in her bedroom with this man and zero clothes.
“Good morning,” he murmured against her mouth.
“Hey,” she responded quietly, trying her best to keep her shit together.
“Did you sleep well?”
“I think that’s the question I should be asking you.”
His grin was wicked. It was delicious and sinful. “Slept like a baby after I took care of a few things.”
“I’m glad to hear that.” Her voice was low and throaty, and it didn’t sound anything like Faith, but she didn’t care because herfocus was on his mouth. She slid her hands up along his face and stood on her tiptoes so that she could reach him.
The kiss was light and full of promise and . . .
“Is this what it means to be neighborly?”
