He figured it out. And I told Ria and Skye this afternoon. But they swore they wouldn’t tell anyone, and Jacob won’t either. I think we’re okay for now.”
“Okay then.” He was intensely relieved—so much that he was suddenly so exhausted he could barely keep his eyes open. And maybe there was a tiny little twist in his heart that was disappointed—that the whole thing hadn’t been blown open, that the entire truth hadn’t come out.
But the truth coming out wouldn’t do what he wanted it to do. It would just assure that he’d lose her for good.
Better to have something—have this—than have nothing of her at all.
She leaned over and cupped his cheek. “You look tired, Ken.”
She sounded so tender that his chest hurt. His eyes fell closed. “I am. It’s been a long day.”
“Yeah. You want me to go so you can get some rest.”
His eyes popped open. “No! You don’t have to leave. Have you had anything to eat?”
“No. Not really.”
“Me either. Let’s see what I can dig out of my fridge.” He hefted himself up, although every muscle in his body ached, and limped into the kitchen, Marlowe immediately alert and at his heels.
Madeline came with him, and together they found enough stuff to make sandwiches and the leftovers of a fruit salad Katie had given him a couple of days ago. They ate in the kitchen, Marlowe waiting hopefully for any crumbs to drop his way. They cleaned up and went into the backyard to throw Marlowe the ball for a while so the dog could get some energy out and do his business. It was dark, and his backyard was surrounded by a tall privacy fence. He thought it was probably safe enough for Madeline to be standing next to him.
All it would take would be one of his neighbors catching a glimpse of them here together, and their secret affair would be secret no longer.
She didn’t seem as skittish as normal. She didn’t try to hide in the house. She was quieter than normal, but so was he.
Mostly he was tired and relieved.
Since she was still hanging out here, he assumed she wanted to have sex. He hoped he’d have the energy to satisfy her tonight.
He hoped he could even get it up.
When they came back inside, Ken couldn’t think of any other excuse for delay. “You want to stay here tonight? I should probably take a shower, but after that we can...”
She looked down at the floor. “I’d like to stay, but to tell you the truth, I’m not sure I’m in the mood for... for much of anything exciting tonight.” He could tell she was nervous by that confession.
He almost groaned in relief. “Oh, thank God. I’m wiped out. I’d have tried, if you wanted to do some stuff, but I’m not really in the mood either.”
She smiled at him, surprised and relieved and heart-stoppingly fond. “Really?”
“Yeah. You want to watch some TV?”
“Sounds good to me.”
So they stretched out onto the couch together—her body stretched out against his, tucked between him and the back of the couch—and they found an old crime procedural on a streaming channel that they both liked.
After about a half hour, Marlowe climbed up with them, curling up at their feet. There wasn’t really room on the couch for all three of them, but they made do.
Ken couldn’t remember anything he’d enjoyed more than watching TV with Madeline cuddled up at his side. They occasionally made a few comments, but mostly they just relaxed.
During the second hour, Ken actually fell asleep. He woke up an hour later to discover that both Madeline and Marlowe were sleeping too.
Marlowe was snoring, his big head on Ken’s shin.
Ken smiled down at Madeline, whose cheek was pressed against his shirt.
He wondered if this was what it would have been like in a real relationship with her. If she wanted him for more than rebound sex.
He wondered if there was any chance of it happening.
Sure, he wasn’t the kind of man Madeline would normally go for. She deserved the absolute best. But still... she seemed to have a good time with him. She definitely enjoyed having sex with him.
Maybe he could make her happy.
He wanted her to be happy, and she’d seemed like she had been for the past month. Certainly happier than she’d ever been with Josh, the selfish asshole.
Maybe...
HE WOKE UP AGAIN WHEN Madeline was pulling away from him.
He was barely conscious of what was going on, but he knew