Slowly, he pulled back. Then leaned in and kissed her lightly.
She held his stare and his pulse swished faster.
“We’re good?” he asked.
Now she smiled. “Yeah.”
“Good.” He brushed the pad of his thumb over her cheekbone.
“This whole thing between us is just so… I mean. I wasn’t doing this again. And you weren’t. And now we are.” She dropped her head to his shoulder.
His favorite place for it.
He rested his hand against her neck. “I’ll be by in a few hours. Go with you and Babushka to check this place out. I need to check out the space, anyway, if I’m going to decorate it.”
“That works,” she said against his skin. “You’re really okay with your family knowing about us?”
“Well, let’s not get carried away.” “Okay” was not the word he’d choose to describe his feelings, but he’d go with it. “We’ll make it work.”
She didn’t move. He didn’t move. Her hands still fisted in his shirt. “I guess I have to go back to work,” she said.
“Then you have to let go, sugar.” Now he was chuckling.
She glanced to where her hands still held on to his tee. She released him. “Right.”
His insides started to go soft. Except one specific appendage that flew full staff whenever she was around. Her cheeks were pink, and his dick was hard, and somehow they’d figure out how to do this so it didn’t go sideways. No one had to get hurt.
18
Chapter Eighteen
Senior “Senior” Prom Countdown: 18 Days
Heather followed behind Jase and Babushka as the director at the retirement home gave them a tour. After Logan left, Heather had found a volunteer notice and had started coming by. Turned out, she really liked the residents who lived here. They loved it when she stopped in and never got tired of the time she spent with them. When she got lonely, it was easier to come for a visit and chat with her new friends than spend the evenings alone. They were a balm to her fresh heartache—they understood loss and they didn’t downplay her feelings. And they loved her cookies—especially the naughty ones. The book club ordered them weekly.
They also loved game shows, which was a huge plus. Ever since she was a kid, watching them with her grandmother, they’d become a permanent part of her routine. She loved the unpredictability of what would happen next. The strategy. The way they could take an average person and make their life better.
“Heather!” She turned when Harry, one of her favorite residents, hustled toward her. “How’s my sweetheart?”
The retirement home was all decked out in pastel colors and a multitude of beiges. It was very subdued and meant to be calming. Harry was none of those things. He was a spry old man with a huge smile and an abundance of cologne.
She grinned. “I’m good. Bringing a friend who might want to live here for a tour.” Heather gestured to Jase and Babushka, who were listening to the spiel about how the shuttle to downtown worked.
Harry’s eyes twinkled. “Is she single?”
“No.” Heather shook her head. “She’s got a boyfriend.”
He shrugged. “Eh. At our age, that status changes hourly.”
Oh God, that’s just what Jase needed. Another boyfriend for Babushka.
“The book club ladies and I want to ask you about a cookie-decorating class. We want to change things up.” Harry rubbed his hands together. “What do you say?”
That sounded like a load of fun. “You all name the day.”
“Aye-aye.” Harry gave her a little salute and scooted off toward Babushka. Heather followed, slipping beside Jase. His hand found hers and he linked their fingers together.
And, dammit, she’d had sex with this man all weekend. But when he linked their fingers together? Butterflies danced through her stomach. She’d been out of the game for a while, so they were practically geriatric butterflies. But they still flitted, and she felt like a teenager who’d just been asked out to the movies.
