of her. It was less than forty-eight hours since he’d told her that he wasn’t looking to get matched—just to get laid. And now he couldn’t even count all the times that he’d had her. At his place, on the sofa, in the shower, in his bed.
Even when they’d gone to her place for her to pack a bag yesterday morning, he’d followed her into the bedroom. He hadn’t intended to get her under him again. His intention had been to check out her underwear drawer. He almost believed her that she was the kind of girl who only wore thongs and lacy things, but he wanted to be sure. He’d made a joke out of it, looking over her shoulder as she packed. She’d known he was suspicious and had turned it around on him. Emptying the whole drawer out, holding little scraps of lace up to his face, then modeling them for him. Of course, they’d ended up in bed. He was hard again just thinking about it. But instead of reaching for her, he slipped out of bed.
In the kitchen, he started the coffee brewing and then checked his phone.
His heart sank when he saw that he had two texts from Callahan.
The first one had come in at eleven-ten last night. He and Leanne had been in bed by then.
Check in, Brady.
The second had come in at six-fifteen this morning.
You’re off script.
He blew out a sigh. He could hear the tone of his superior’s voice—even though there were only three words—and they were written.
He stared at the screen, wondering what to say. Then tapped out a reply.
Is it so unlikely that a guy would meet a girl and want to hook up?
He glanced over at the coffee pot, needing some caffeine to go with this conversation.
No. Hooking up is fine. Romantic weekend away? Not so much.
It wasn’t a … Ryan scowled. At least, he hadn’t intended for it to be a romantic weekend away. More of an extended hookup.
And your hesitation in answering tells me that’s what this is.
Ryan didn’t even bother to argue. Callahan seemed to know him better than he knew himself. He just waited to see what he’d have to say about it. Would he order him back to the city? Would he go if he did?
Make the most of it, Ryan. I want you back here on Sunday evening.
That was better than he’d expected.
And when you tell her goodbye, it has to be goodbye.
That was more like it.
I know. It will be.
He hit send then set his phone down and went to pour himself some coffee, wondering why he felt so bad. Callahan hadn’t said anything he didn’t expect him to. He already knew that this weekend was all he’d get with Leanne. Hell, he’d even been upfront with her about that.
He shrugged and took his mug to stand in front of the window and look out at the huge trees looming in the morning fog. Leanne was amazing. She was beautiful, smart, funny. She was all the woman he could handle—maybe more. But he didn’t need a woman. Wasn’t looking for one—and as Callahan had just reminded him, he couldn’t have one even if he were.
He’d known that going into the job. He could screw around as much as he liked as long as it wasn’t ever the same woman twice. He smiled to himself. He’d sidestepped that rule with Leanne by getting a whole weekend with her. His smile faded. Once they got back to the city, it’d be over. It was going to be tough to work with her and Dan and not want more, not want to see her again, to sleep with her again. But tough was a relative term. In the grand scheme of things, it was no big deal.
He turned at the sound of movement in the bedroom. She was awake, then. He poured her a mug of coffee and went to join her. The drinks would probably be cold by the time he’d said good morning, but he didn’t want to waste a minute of the little time they had left.
Chapter Eight
Present day.
Leanne drained the last of her Jack Daniels, wishing that she’d asked for three. But then she hadn’t known that she wasn’t going to have to drive. And she sure as hell hadn’t even imagined that Ryan—or Dan—would remind her of that first weekend they’d spent together. She caught herself smiling. It’d been the best weekend of her life up to that point.