His hard length pressed into her from behind, giving his thoughts away. “Maybe.”
She turned in his arms to face him. “You could have just asked.”
“Where’s the fun in that?”
She kissed him, and they forgot about fishing for a while.
That evening, as they cooked dinner together, Nora’s new phone rang. Lila’s name on the screen.
“Hey,” Nora answered, putting it on speaker so she could keep chopping vegetables.
“How’s the romantic getaway?” Lila asked. “Please tell me you’re having amazing cabin sex.”
“Lila!” Nora laughed, hoping Carson hadn’t heard.
“What? I’m invested in your happiness. Also, I need to live vicariously through you since Jake and I broke up.”
“Wait, what? When?” Nora was frowning, instantly sad for her friend.
“Last week. Turns out he was allergic to commitment. Who knew?” Lila sighed. “But that’s not why I’m calling. I wanted to make sure you’re okay. Really okay.”
“I am. Really.” Nora glanced at Carson, who was stirring pasta and trying to pretend he wasn’t listening. “I’m happy, Lila. Happier than I’ve been in a long time.”
“Good. You deserve that.” Lila paused. “And the cop? He’s treating you right?”
“His name is Carson. And yes, he’s treating me very right.”
Carson looked over and mouthed, “Very right?”
Nora threw a piece of carrot at him.
“Okay, I’ll let you go,” Lila said. “But when you get back, we’re having a proper girls’ night. I want all the details. All of them.”
“Deal.”
After they hung up, Carson moved behind her at the cutting board, his arms wrapping around her waist.
“Very right?” he murmured against her neck.
“Stop fishing for compliments.”
“I’m not fishing. I’m verifying.”
She turned in his arms. “You’re very right. Excellent, even. A solid ten out of ten in the boyfriend department.”
“Boyfriend.” He tested the word. “I don’t think I’ve been anyone’s boyfriend since high school.”
“Do you not want to be?”
“No, I do. It’s just...” He pulled her closer. “It feels too casual for what this is. What you are to me.”
“What am I to you?”
“Everything.” The word came out rough. Honest. “You’re everything, Nora.”
Her breath caught. “Carson—”
He kissed her before she could finish, his hands shoving down her pajama pants before lifting her onto the counter, and then he was fitting himself between her legs and driving into her hard and fast before she could utter any protest—not that she would have—and dinner was forgotten for a while.
