to emerge onto Fifty-First, a calmer way to go.
“Okay as in we’re good?” Erin asks anxiously. “Or okay as in you never want to speak to me again?”
I send her a look of amazement. “As in we’re good. Why wouldn’t I want to speak to you again?” Or kiss you, or have fantastic sex with you?
My body is still on fire from being with her, and I think I’ll never calm it down.
“I don’t want you to think less of me because I fell for Reuben,” Erin says.
I recall how the guy acted like Erin was his property, and my anger rises—at him, not her. “It happens,” I manage to say.
“I can’t believe now that I ever admired him. But before, Reuben was nice, actually. Supportive. In fact, he helped me get my job in Clarice’s company. But when he saw the opportunity to make it big on his own, he couldn’t leave fast enough.”
I slant Erin a sideways glance. “I thought you didn’t want to talk about it.”
Her face grows pink. “I don’t, but I want you to understand. I was excited to be dancing, to have the opportunity to be with West Valley, and I guess I was grateful to him. Kind of blinded me to Reuben’s faults. Most professional dance troupes take dancers right out of high school. I was already considered too old by many when I started searching for a dance job after college. Clarice is different—she wants skilled performers, not people she has to mold. And she hired me, thanks to Reuben.”
“I get that.”
Erin skewers me with a skeptical look. “No, you don’t. You’re wondering why the hell I ever trusted a man like him.”
“Maybe. But I know that guys don’t always understand what women see in other guys.”
Erin tucks a loose lock of hair behind her ear. “I suppose that’s true. Women don’t understand why men fall for skanky bitches either.”
I have to grin. “Skanky bitches? I don’t think I’ve ever met one. But then, they avoid nerds.”
“Can’t think why. Unless they’re stupid.”
I tap the steering wheel. “I think you just gave me a compliment. Not sure. Did you?”
Erin’s smile blossoms, which makes everything better. “Yes.”
“That’s why I’m in my truck with you, not a skanky bitch.” I make her laugh, which releases something inside me. “Interested in Dean’s happy hour?”
Erin shakes her head. “Not really. He’s a hard charger—dancing and partying are Dean’s life. I just want to take a nap.”
“That can be arranged. Want me to drop you at home?”
Erin goes very quiet. When traffic lets me, I turn my head to see her watching me, her mouth straight, her eyes soft.
“Only if you come in,” she answers. “You did stop at the drugstore.”
Immediately, my body is ready, willing, and able. If it weren’t for Phoenix traffic barreling around me, I’d pull off somewhere and do it right now. A lot of places are closed on Sunday—I bet I can find a quiet parking lot.
I keep myself contained until we pull into the driveway of Erin’s house. Mrs. Hampton across the street is nowhere in sight, and I breathe a sigh of relief. Not that she isn’t watching out her window.
I park the truck and we hop out, my legs shaking with the effort of holding myself back.
Erin unlocks the front door and ushers me gently inside.
Chapter Six
Erin
The rest of the afternoon is bliss. Ben and I lay in the sunshine in my bed, getting up only to eat—ordering out pizza—and then hitting the mattress again. I forget all about Reuben, my tired body, my worries.
All I need is right here in this room.
Ben eventually rises to leave, late in the night. It’s quiet outside as we emerge, moonlight bathing the street. My neighbors are indoors, and only occasional distant traffic breaks the silence.
“Good night,” Ben whispers.
I rise on tiptoe, put my arms around him, and kiss him. I want to kiss him for the rest of the night, and wake up in the morning against him. Why don’t you stay? I want to ask. Forever …
But life marches on. We have work in the morning—Ben needs to go home and get ready for that. No one knows about us and our secret weekend. As Ben eases from the kiss and rests his forehead against mine, I wonder if he’ll want to keep it secret.
We study each other, Ben holding my hands. I don’t want to let go. Finally, he releases me, reluctantly I think, and turns away.
I stand in the