Repeat - Kylie Scott Page 0,57
lecturing me too.”
“Okay. Just saying . . .”
“She and I will work it out when and if I’m ever ready.”
“Whatever you say, beautiful.”
Shannon stares at Ed, lips shut tight. Around her boss, she apparently keeps her opinions to herself. A far cry from the time she tracked me down at the café near Frances’s place for a chat. Her top is cut low, showcasing a large tattooed chest piece of roses and ribbon. It flows above her breasts, along with dipping farther down out of sight.
“That’s lovely,” I say. “Did Tessa do that piece for you?”
Her smile remains hesitant. “Ah, no. Ed did it.”
“Does that worry you, Ed regularly seeing other women’s bodies?” asks Tessa. Not malicious exactly, just curious.
Behind me, I can feel Ed go still, listening with interest.
I shrug. “Kind of part of the job isn’t it?”
“Interesting,” says Tessa. “Because it used to bother you quite a bit.”
Shannon says nothing. Lots of it.
“We also get to see lots of hairy asses and other bits,” says Leif. “It is just part of the job, Clem. You’re right. The thrill gets old real fast.”
I must have responded to the question appropriately since Tessa moves on to other things and Ed’s body sort of eases beneath me once more. And this is all beyond awkward, being put on trial in front of people I barely know. Most of the time, I can live with what’s happened. With what I do and don’t know and who I was before. But tonight, this is all a bit too much.
Via an arm around my waist, Ed pulls me back against his body. His hard chest to my back. My ass against his groin. Whoa. Guess this is how we used to sit back in our couple days. Lounging all over each other, treating the other’s body like beloved and extremely hot furniture. But given it’s been less than twenty-four hours ago since he kissed me for the first time this go-around, then that trust thing this morning, it seems kind of awkward for some reason. Or maybe it’s just about being surrounded by people from my messy past. All of the differing emotions regarding and reactions toward me. I’m not sure my social skills are up to it. Hell, my ability to handle life in general is dubious right now.
“This okay?” he asks, voice low.
“Mm-hmm.”
“Relax, then. You’re stiff as a board.”
I ease back against him, trying to get comfortable. The span of his hand sits across my stomach in a possessive and thrilling manner. And if anything, he smells even better today than his shirt did last night. You can’t beat the real thing for authenticity. It’s some sort of sandalwood-type cologne and him. I’m not entirely sure we’d have been all over one another again so soon if Tessa hadn’t been giving me the stink eye. Ed’s protective instincts are nice. Comforting. Suddenly sharing the evening with her and her obviously still angry at me despite his whole easygoing guy-shtick boyfriend feels like the best thing possible. Then there’s Leif, who is always good company.
This is fine. This should be fine.
Leif, Tessa, Shannon, and Ed start talking about work things while Nevin and I drink our beers. At first, I try to ignore the throbbing inside my skull. But it’s no good.
“Hey, I . . .” I start to say, wriggling off his lap.
“You okay?” asks Ed.
“Headache. I might take some Tylenol and lie down for a bit. I’ll be fine.”
“Are you sure? You don’t need to see your doctor or something?”
Now Leif is all worried too. “What’s up, Clem?”
“All of a sudden, you really don’t look so good,” says Tessa, expression genuinely concerned. “What’s going on?”
“Just a headache. Really, I’m okay. It happens sometimes.” I squeeze Ed’s shoulder and give him a smile. “Save me some pizza?”
“Absolutely. I’ll come check on you in a bit.”
I nod and lift my hand in farewell. Even Gordy lifts his head off Nevin’s lap, following my path with sad eyes. He’s a good dog, but his canine extrasensory perception is probably telling him there’s pizza coming. I’d stay put if I were him too. In the bedroom, I shut the door and turn on the little lamp. Take two of the pills sitting on the bedside table. Next I shuck off my shoes, jeans, extract my bra, and climb into bed.
Conversation from the next room is only a distant, low noise. And in the almost quiet, things are better. Guess I just needed some space to