Page 50 of Baby, It’s Hot Inside

Luca

I wake up with a big ass smile on my face until I realize I’m naked, but alone. I get up, pull on sweatpants and go out into the living room where I find Jackie packing up her stuff in the kitchen.

I stare at her for a minute, watching her efficient movements. She hasn’t seen me yet, hasn’t noticed my presence.

But then Mabel barks and comes trotting over to me, tail wagging.

Jackie looks over at me, her dark eyes take in my bare torso and then she forces herself to look away.

I squat to scratch Mabel between the ears. “That’s my good girl.” Then I walk over to Jackie, pick her up and set her on the island counter. “What are you doing, baby doll?”

“Packing,” she says, brightly. She smiles at me, but her eyes never quite reach my face. “Snow’s been melting. I called the highway patrol and they said the roads are cleared. So I thought I’d head home to make sure I made it by Christmas. Roni will be heartbroken if I’m not there in time.”

“Were you planning to wake me up and say goodbye?”

“I hadn’t really gotten that far. Plus, you seemed really tired.”

I grab her chin and still her head. “Look at me, Jackie.”

She looks at my face, but her eyes are focused in on my nose or my eyebrows? I’m not even sure.

“Eyes. Stop hiding from me. What the fuck is going on right now? Did last night mean nothing to you? Because I thought you made some promises.”

She releases a little huff. “People say stuff they don’t mean all the time when they’re in the throes of passion. We both did that. I’m not going to hold you to anything. It’s okay, Luca.” Finally, her eyes reach mine. “I know it was a one-time thing. I get it. Your life is here in Oklahoma with the FBI and mine is back home in Saddle Creek. So let’s just end things now before things get complicated.”

“Oh, no. Things are already so fucking complicated.”

She shakes her head. “They’re not. I promise.” Her tears tell a different story.

I thumb them away.

“Well, here’s the problem. As it turns out, I no longer work for the FBI and I need a place to live because I’m not staying in Oklahoma on purpose.” I spread her thighs wider so I can stand between them, get closer to her.

She’s wearing another pair of Christmas leggings; these are black with brightly colored light bulbs all over them. Her sweatshirt declares in bold red lettering: I just want to bake cookies and watch Christmas movies.

I slide my hands up to the juncture of her thighs, letting my thumbs rest so close to her pussy. I tap her with my thumbs.

“Did we talk about this pussy last night?”

She swallows visibly. “Yes.”

“Do you let just any man who wants to lay claim to it? Because I thought I was special.”

She looks at me and swallows. Then she tries to look away, but I turn her chin so she has to face me.

“Please answer,” I say.

“No other man. You’ve ruined me for other men.”

“Is that so?”

“Yes,” she whispers.

“So whose pussy is this?” I ask her.

“It’s yours, Luca.”

“But yet you think last night was a one-time thing?”