model. She looks up to you. Teenagers pay attention to what people do, more than what they say. Do you really want to show her it’s okay to have a summer fling? She’s not going to understand why it would be okay for you and not her.”
Ford thought about it for a minute. “Fine. I guess you’re right. Her defense about getting herself in trouble by using a fake ID is that I used to drink when I was underage. It makes it hard to say something’s wrong when you’ve done the same things.”
“Exactly.”
Ford cupped my cheek. “See? We’re a good balance. I’ll help you get the inappropriate stick out of your ass, and you’ll help me set a good example for my pain-in-the-ass sister. Now, let’s kiss and make up.”
His hand slid into my hair, and he gripped the back of my neck and tilted my head up. Planting his lips over mine, his tongue dipped into my mouth and our bodies immediately melted together. The man could seriously kiss. He made my knees weak and left me panting every single time.
“Do you want to come in?” I asked when the kiss broke.
Ford looked into my eyes. “Yes, I want to. But no, I’m not going to. Another night…when you’re ready for me to come in.”
I was disappointed. But he was right. Though my body was definitely ready to go there, I wasn’t sure I was.
I nodded. “Okay.”
He kissed me one more time, then pressed his lips to my forehead. “Goodnight, beautiful.”
In a daze, I watched him walk down my stairs. He turned back as he reached the bottom and called up to me. “You still owe me breakfast tomorrow. I’ll be back to collect in the morning.”
***
My phone buzzed on the vanity. Before this summer, I’d often misplaced my cell at home. Hours would go by without me checking it. Now I took it into the bathroom while I was in the shower to listen for the ping of an incoming text—talk about anxious.
Ford: Breakfast in twenty?
I wrapped my hair in a towel and texted back.
Valentina: Sounds good. Just got out of the shower. The back door is open. Let yourself in.
Ford: Will do. But do me a favor? Wear the white tank top you wore last week.
I hadn’t realized he liked it. But sure. Why not?
Valentina: Okay!
Ford was leaning against my kitchen counter with a mug of coffee in his hand when I came downstairs. His eyes took their time raking down my body and snagged on my breasts on their climb back up.
I cleared my throat. “Good morning.”
“That it is.” He nodded.
I walked to the sink and set my empty coffee mug down.
“I didn’t realize you had a thing for plain white tank tops.”
I’d looked in the mirror after putting on the top he’d requested. The material hugged my curves, but not in an obscene way or anything. And the fabric was nothing special—thin, white cotton—quite plain, really. I wasn’t sure what he liked so much about it. Unless perhaps it was more revealing when I was cold.
Ford caught my eyes. “Take off your bra.”
I blinked a few times. “What? You mean take it off before we go to breakfast and leave it off?”
He nodded.
“I can’t go to a restaurant without a bra.”
“Why not?”
“Because it’s inappropr…” I’d made it halfway through the word when I realized I’d walked right into his trap.
He knew what my response would be. The wiseass smirked with an arched brow.
“Okay. I get your point. But I really can’t go to breakfast without a bra on.”
“Is it uncomfortable to not wear one?”
“No.”
“Will anyone be hurt by it?”
“I guess not. But it would feel weird. Thirty-seven-year-old women don’t go out without their bras on.”
He folded his arms over his chest. “Again with the age shit. Would you have gone out without one at twenty-two?”
I shrugged. “Maybe.” I totally would have.
“You have great tits. Better than any twenty-something.”
I felt uncomfortable, but fuck it. He was right. I did have great boobs. And if this modest act of semi-indecency made him happy, why not? I held his eyes while I reached behind my back, pushed up my shirt, and unclasped my bra. Sliding the straps down and pulling my arms out was simple—Lord knows we women are better than Houdini when it comes to taking off a bra without removing any other piece of clothing. Once my arms were out, I reached up and under my shirt and tugged the bra from my body. I