and towels a little while later. Cool enough, anyway. My mother is on the phone, which helps. I don’t have to look anyone in the eye and try to explain why I look dazzled and frazzled.
I head straight upstairs. And a half hour later I hear Rickie whistling in the shower. I hide in my room, lying curled up on the quilt, my body more relaxed than it’s been in ages.
Desire is a wonderful drug. I’m happy for the dose I just had. But old habits die hard, so I’m already bracing myself in case he distances himself after this.
Honestly, even if he forgets my name again tomorrow, it might have been worth it. Nobody has made me feel sexy in a long time. And even if Rickie is out of my league, I know in my heart that he’s no Reardon Halsey. He’s not going to lie to me or betray me.
My hair is still damp, and my muscles are loose. The sultry summer air blowing into the window smells sweet.
And when my phone chimes, I almost don’t bother checking it. I don’t want anyone to kill the high I’m riding. But maybe it’s Violet. And curiosity wins, so I peek.
It’s not Violet. It’s Rickie. Gorgeous, can I come in for a second?
Maybe, I say, playing coy. What do you need?
A good night kiss, he says.
All right, I agree.
The door opens a few seconds later. Rickie appears, chest bare, hair damp. And my heart leaps at the sight of his smooth body slipping into the room as he pulls the door shut behind him.
He wastes no time climbing onto the bed beside me and leaning in for a kiss that’s surprisingly sweet. “Promise me something,” he whispers.
“What?” I ask, my brain temporarily scrambled by the way his strong arms gather me up and hold me close. My cheek comes to rest against his chest, and I can feel his stubble graze across my other ear.
“Promise me you won’t climb inside your head and think up fifty reasons why that was a terrible idea.”
“Okay,” I agree immediately. Even though it’s a distinct possibility.
“Uh huh,” he says knowingly. “You may not realize it yet, but this is happening.”
“Pretty sure it already did,” I mumble against his warmth.
“I don’t mean the sex. Although there’s plenty more where that came from. I mean this.” He lifts my chin and stares deeply into my eyes. Then he gives me a slow kiss. “And this.” I receive another kiss. “But also more dates. Dinners out. I want it all.”
I blink up at him, feeling a little dazed by another Rickie-inspired hormone rush. “All of what?”
“All of you,” he says with a low rumble. “I realize you’re still getting used to the idea.”
My stomach does the swoop thing. “I tried not to like you. But it didn’t work.”
“I know, baby girl.” He gives me his cockiest grin. “Sorry about that. What can I do to help take away the pain of this failure you’ve suffered?”
He’s joking, but I’m not. “Just don’t ever lie to me. That’s what I need from a man.”
“Ah.” His expression goes serious. “All right. I promise.”
“Thank you,” I whisper. I wish he’d stop being so dreamy. A girl can’t think with a man like Rickie holding her in her bed.
“Don’t mention it,” he says. I get one more kiss. “Good night and sweet dreams.”
“Good night.”
He gets up and walks away. And just the view of his backside starts those good dreams flowing even before I shut out the light.
Thirty-One
Daphne
It’s August, and the first apples are ripening, which means the farm is suddenly busy again. And my first semester’s tuition has come due in full, so I’m a little stressed out about money, even though I know Mom already wrote the check.
When you blow up your life, there’s a lot of damage control afterwards. I knew my summer would be complicated.
But then there’s Rickie, with his hot glances and surreptitious kisses. As much as it kills me to admit I was wrong about someone, I’m a convert now. Maybe it’s the sex we’ve been sneaking around to have in odd places. Maybe it’s the way he sneaks into my room to kiss me good night every single evening.
I like him a little more every day. That doesn’t mean I find it easy to say so again. I’m still wary, and still wondering whether he’ll get sick of me. I hope it’s not soon, because Rickie makes everything more fun.