His shoulders drop in relief, and he offers me that cocky smile that’s been on his face since he was a teenager.
“Need something to drink?” he asks me.
“I’ll take some water,” I reply and follow him into the kitchen.
I see the paint was done this morning. I head straight for Gideon and hug him tight.
“You’re leaving us.”
“For now,” he confirms, and kisses the top of my head. These guys are so tall, I fit right under their chins. “I’ll be back before the end of the year.”
“Christmas?” I hear the hope in my voice as I look up at him, and he grins at me.
“I’ll try.”
“Tryhard.” I poke him in the stomach, and he doubles over as if he’s in pain. “Weenie.”
“You’re so fucking mean,” he growls, but his gaze is playful. “I won’t miss you at all.”
Ry passes me a bottle of water, and I pop the cap and take a long sip. “Whatever. You’ll miss me. Call me when you get home.”
“I’ll consider it.” He walks over and hugs Ryker, pats him on the back, and then lifts his suitcase. “I have to get going. You okay, Wills?”
“I’m great. Safe travels today.”
Gideon nods, and then, with a wave, he walks out the front door. Ry and I watch each other as we listen to the rental car fire to life, and then the tires crunch on the gravel down the driveway.
“I’m gonna miss him,” I murmur.
“Yeah. Me too. So what’s going on?” he asks me, and I’m reminded why I’m here.
Right.
“I need your help,” I reply, and his eyes immediately narrow, that smile drops, and he crosses his arms over his chest, making his biceps bulge.
“Talk to me. What’s going on.”
“Uh.” I swallow and clear my throat. “Can you put a shirt on?”
“Why?”
Because you’re half naked, and I want to lick you all over.
I blink at him. “Because you’re distracting me.”
“Yeah? Why’s that?”
“You have such an ego, Captain.”
He smirks and holds up a finger, jogs up the stairs to his room, and I admire his ass as he goes.
You havegotto calm the hell down, Willow.
Less than thirty seconds later, he returns while tugging a tight black T-shirt over his head and down those washboard abs, and I admit, I’m a little sad that they’re covered.
“Better?”
Not really.
