Page 146 of Back in the Saddle

He grinned.

I couldn’t tell if his grin was slightly terrifying, mostly lovable, or slightly lovable and mostly terrifying.

He trundled out from behind the bar before I could decide.

Raye closed in. “After our shifts, Luna and me will scout locations to see if we can find someplace where we can watch without people who might be watching the camp knowing we’re watching.”

That was kinda confusing, but I got her.

“Rad,” I said.

“We’ll reconvene tomorrow to figure out schedules,” Raye went on.

“Awesome,” Luna said.

Raye put her hand in the middle of our huddle.

Luna put hers on top.

I put mine on top of theirs.

Harlow came up the rear.

“Angels unite,” Harlow whispered excitedly.

I fought rolling my eyes.

We bounced our hands and broke.

“You women done with whatever the hell you’re up to now?” Byron asked from the other side of the bar.

“Dirty chai refill?” I asked back.

He gave me aDuh!expression and headed back to his booth.

I hit the espresso machine.

SIXTEEN

QUIET NIGHT

That evening after work, I came in my apartment door, saw Eric in my kitchen slicing mushrooms, and suddenly understood why many women hankered after that white dress and big cake day.

If this vision before me was what I got for a lifetime after going through those motions, I’d put up with all the overblown hoopla to get it.

That said, I was me so I had to shovel shit.

“What? Did you pick the locks?”

He smiled at me.

That hoopla was looking better.

Then he answered, “Yup.”

Fascinating.

Though, mental note. Give the guy a key.

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