“I didn’t say that.”
His expression and tone turn serious. “I don’t make sex a priority because women usually want more than that.” He reaches out and puts a finger under my chin, his eyes landing on mine. “I don’t. I don’t want anything more, with anyone, and I never will.”
“Neither do I. I have enough problems without a man making them worse.” He chuckles as I sit up and scoot off the bed. “That doesn’t mean I’m not up for more brain wiping orgasms if you are.”
“You’re going to have amnesia by the time I’m done.”
After collecting my clothes from the floor, I crawl into bed in the guest room. My body feels limp and relaxed, my mind quiet. Blissful sleep steals me away quickly.
CHAPTER 9
LEE
Landon hasn’t beenable to trace the origin of the texts, but there also hasn’t been another one. It’s been a week. So, whoever it was probably moved on to scam someone else once I didn’t take the bait. The weather has finally realized it’s November and started behaving like it. The cool air seeps through my shirt the second I step outside, but I’ll be glad for it in a few minutes once I get to work.
Arlow parks beside my truck and hops out. “You want the sandbags in your truck bed?”
“Unless you want to carry them around the lake.”
He flips me off as I join him and we shift the bags from his truck to mine, where the rest of my supplies wait.
He swipes some hair out of his eyes and reseats his ball cap on his head. “Any idea what happened?”
“My guess is someone took that turn too quickly and ended up in the ditch then got themselves out withoutreporting anything. The culvert is busted, and debris has it backed up. It’s a two man job. Thanks for the hand.”
“Sure.”
Silver emerges from the house. “Are you leaving? I’ll lock the door.”
When I nod, she turns to do just that, and my gaze goes straight to her ass. No one could blame me with those leggings she has on. They hug her tight and leave nothing to the imagination. Her thin, long-sleeved shirt clings to her breasts when she comes down the steps.
“Are you going jogging?” I know she likes to run but it’s usually on a treadmill at the gym.
She pauses and looks down at herself. A runner’s belt is fastened around her waist with a water bottle strapped to it, and earbuds are tucked into her ears. “No, I’m going ballroom dancing.”
Arlow laughs and she flashes a smile at him.
“Smart ass. You could’ve been going for a hike.”
She shrugs. “A little of both. I’ll jog the road there and take the trail back around.”
The words spill out before I can give them a second thought. “No. You can’t go alone. It’s not safe.” God help any man who tries to tell Silver what she can’t do.
Arlow’s already covering his smile at the expression on her face before she looks to the left and right, then turns to check behind her. “I don’t know who the hell you’re talking to, but I know it isn’t me. First of all, I don’t obey men. It’s a policy. Secondly…” She reaches into her belt and pulls out a can of mace and a knife. “I have these.”
“It gets dark an hour earlier,” I remind her. It’s on the tip of my tongue to tell her to be back before then, but she’d probably stay out later to prove a point. If she isn’t, I’ll find her.
“Yep. That’s how daylight saving time works,” she chirps, jogging away. “I’ll be back by then.”
“Fine.”
She’s already down the driveway to the road when she calls back over her shoulder. “Whew, I was really worried you wouldn’t give your permission.”
She’s lucky Arlow’s here, or I’d be dragging her sexy, mouthy self inside to test the theory that she doesn’t obey men. She sure does in the bedroom. I turn to see Arlow with his brows raised and a grin on his face. “Shut up.”
He laughs as we climb into my truck. “How are things going with the living situation?”
My mind flashes to her bent over my bed last night, fisting my sheets and screaming my name. Then to her smiling at me as she slid pancakes onto a plate for breakfast. I’m used to living alone and wasn’t looking forward to having anyone here long term, but I have no complaints. We mostly see each other in the evenings, and everything is very relaxed. Twice since that first night, she’s ended up underneath me. Once when I started it and another time when she did. No matter where I take her, she goes back to her bed without a second thought afterward.
