Page 241 of Back in the Saddle

He kept doing it.

I got over it and turned to Javi, lifting the shaker. “This is pure class, Javi. I don’t think I thanked you.”

Javi winked at me.

His wasn’t as good as Eric’s, but it was still nice.

Jeff got on the stool beside the one Javi had used, asking, “Please tell me you have chips.”

I turned to the counter, grabbed the bag of tortilla chips, and tossed them at my brother, who caught them.

Then I opened the freezer to grab my vodka.

As I was closing it, I felt a touch on the small of my back and looked to the side and up at Eric.

“Lifeisgood,” he whispered.

Him standing right there?

“It sure as hell is,” I replied.

His onyx eyes were twinkling as he bent his head and kissed me.

And there it got better.

He went to the kitchen bar, slid the bowl of guacamole to Jeff and moved to the stove to start warming up tortillas.

I should have been making margaritas, but that wasn’t requested.

Anyway, martinis went with everything.

Though, in the end, it was just me and Titus with a fancy glass.

Eric, Javi and Jeff drank beer.

* * *

Everyone was gone.

I was brushed, cleansed and moisturized, looking forward to a good, quick fuck and bed, as I walked into the bedroom.

Eric was coming out of it, and I moved to step out of his way, when he caught my hips.

I dropped my head to catch his eyes.

“Now,” he said.

“Now?” I asked.

“The men are gone. The case is closed. The day is done. Now, you’re safe to do it, Jessie.”

I stared at him, having no clue how he knew.

But he knew.

I then allowed myself to feel the ghost of gratitude and fondness and the precious gift of human connection pressing against my forehead.

That was when I did a faceplant in Eric’s chest, my shoulders heaved, the sob scored my throat, and the tears came.

---