Page 87 of River & Rue

“Whoa, okay. You’re naked. Wasn’t expecting that. Although in retrospect, maybe the clues were there.” A blue eye peeks at me from between two fingers. “Stop it.”

“Stop what?”

“Smiling.”

“Nope.”

“Then at least put some clothes on. It feels like there’s a third person in the room with us.”

Chuckling, I move to the dresser and grab a pair of athletic shorts. As I step into them, I glance back and catch her staring at my ass.

“See something you like?”

She crosses her arms over her chest and sniffs dismissively, like pretending annoyance will negate the pink of her cheeks. So adorable.

I pull a T-shirt over my head as I stroll toward her. “You made me come so hard I cried, Rue. I think it’s safe to say you’re the opposite of horrible at blow jobs.”

“So you thought I was an immature loser who’d think less of you for having feelings? That’s even more insulting.”

I shake my head, my smile fading. “I was afraid you’d regret what we did. The line we crossed was a pretty major one.”

“I don’t regret it.” Her delicate throat moves. “We’re adults, right? Last night doesn’t have to be a big deal.”

A sinking sensation races down my midline. “It wasn’t a big deal for you?”

“No. I mean, yes. For fuck’s sake, of course it was a big deal.” She throws her hands up. “All I’m trying to say is that you don’t have to worry about me expecting… you know.”

“I don’t know, actually. What would you expect?”

Her eyes ignite. “Reciprocation!”

Relief punches a short laugh from my chest. “If you think I’m not dying to bury my face in your⁠—”

Three loud bangs make us both jump. I spin toward the sound, quickly stepping in front of Rue as footsteps clomp toward the bedroom.

“Howdy-ho! Anyone home? Door was open!”

“Oops,” whispers Rue.

Before I can intercept Kirk, he appears in the doorway. Twinkling eyes bounce from me to Rue and back.

“Hey, kids. Sorry to interrupt this special moment, but I’m in a bit of a bind.”

“What could you possibly want at”—I glance at the clock on the wall—“eight in the damn morning?”

“I can’t find my wheels. Have you seen ’em?”

Rue gasps. “You lost the golf cart?”

“Yeppers. Left it parked near the Lodge last night and poof, gone this morning.”

I pinch the bridge of my nose. “And you think, what? That I’m a closet locksmith and made a copy of the key yesterday?”

“No, no, nothing like that.” He scratches his cheek. “Between you and me, this isn’t the first time it’s run off.”

Rue grabs my waist and smothers a giggle between my shoulder blades. Time stops, then resumes with an explosion of warmth in my chest.

Kirk grins and waggles his eyebrows.