“Dorito stays.”
“The fleabag goes. Would you like to see the razor-sharp cuts it left?” When her eyes sparked interest he said, “I’ll show you a hell of a lot more if the stray leaves.”
How could she pass that up? But to put the poor thing outside when it would need more food was too cruel. As her mind played tug-o-war, she heard her phone beep an incoming message. Carefully cradling Dorito, she walked to her backpack and pulled out her phone. It was an SOS from Ava. She was calling an emergency meeting.
“I have to go,” Jade said.
“Right now?”
“Yes, my friend Ava needs me.” She looked at Dorito, undecided what she would do with him.
“Here, give him to me.”
She gave him a dubious look.
“I’ll put him in the laundry room for the night.”
“He’ll need more food.” She was still reluctant to let the cat go. Nate would probably toss him out the second she left.
“I promise I’ll feed him and keep him inside. But tomorrow he’s out.”
She couldn’t ask for more than that and couldn’t force someone to take on an animal, especially when he wouldn’t be around much longer to look after it.
She placed Dorito on the floor, and he scurried back under the couch pillow.
Nate grabbed her wrist and pulled her to him. “Do you really have to leave?”
Ava never sent an emergency message. Whatever it was must be serious. But with Nate’s body heat surrounding her and his warm breath tickling the sides of her neck, she was tempted to stay. It took all her willpower to push away.
“I’m sorry, I do. Can we make it another time?” She sounded like she was planning a lunch date, but inside she was shaking in her boots. She’d always been in a relationship when she had sex. Even though she knew it would eventually end, she liked having some kind of commitment first, even if it was only short-term. But Nate had her wanting him like she’d wanted no one before. And this time there wouldn’t be any messy break-up drama. They both knew where they stood. Winning!
He pulled her back to him and gave her a curl-your-toes kind of kiss. It was so hot and sexy it surprised her she didn’t melt into a puddle at his feet.
“We sure can. I’ll see you tomorrow.” His gravelly voice told her he was just as affected by the kiss.
She could only nod and float out of the house.
* * * *
Jade and Lauren sat on Ava’s black leather lounge and watched her pace, more like waddle, in front of the floor-to-ceiling glass windows that looked over Brimland Point beach. Since they’d arrived, Ava hadn’t said a word, and it had been fifteen minutes.
Jade was getting worried. “Please, tell us—”
“I’m not ready yet.” Ava stopped her pacing and held out her hand like a stop sign. Then waddled again.
Jade looked at Lauren. She only shrugged like she too didn’t understand what was going on.
“I could’ve had sex with Nate by now.” Jade flicked her wrist to check the time on her watch. “Will you be pacing much longer? Because maybe I can go back and—”
“You’re sleeping with Nate?” Lauren gasped.
“My SOS interrupted sex?” Ava asked at the same time.
“No, I’m not sleeping with Nate…yet,” she explained to Lauren. “And yes, you interrupted,” she aimed at Ava.
“Wow, you’ve gotten hot and heavy fast with the sexy musician. You really are truly, madly, crazily in lust. That’s my girl.” Ava slowly sat down next to her and tapped Jade’s knee. “Tell us how far you got, what you saw, and what you touched.”
Jade laughed. “You’re still such a perve. I thought married life would have sorted that out. And besides, we’re here for you, not me.”
