Page 76 of When Annika Met Thom

She’d come to New York for sex and it turned out she was in exactly the right place.

* * *

Annika feltlike she was walking on a cloud. They did it four times Thursday night, then again first thing Friday morning. She liked it in the morning, when Thom’s skin was warm and his scent was strong. It felt luxurious to feel him behind her, his hands sliding over her beneath the covers and his erection against her butt. It had been slow and sensuous and had to be the best possible way to start the day.

He headed out early, leaving her to get ready for work. She didn’t see him at F5F until the end of the day when he came in for an evening shift. They admired the progress on the wall together, as if they were just acquaintances, then he went to the weight room. Annika avoided Bruno’s overtures for the weekend, and took home three kinds of burritos from a food truck in the park. She wanted to try them all and couldn’t decide, but it was too much food. Thom came home at midnight and after they made love again, he finished the burritos.

“My sister is coming in the morning,” he confessed. “She might want to show you the sights.”

“Did you ask her?”

“No, she offered. She thought you might be at loose ends.”

“Because you’re working tomorrow?”

He nodded once, then kissed her, a tactic he’d obviously discovered was an excellent way to keep her from asking questions.

It was a method that Annika liked just fine.

* * *

There wasa knock on the door at nine on Saturday morning. Annika was already dressed and Thom was waiting for his sister to arrive before heading to work. Tessa had dark hair and dark eyes like Thom, but she was tall and slender. She had a ready smile and a confident manner, the kind of person that Annika liked right away. Thom made the introductions, his eye on the clock. Cerberus greeted the new arrival with enthusiasm.

Tessa checked the dog, examining her ears, eyes and gums, then running her hands over her body. “Nice and trim,” she said with approval.

“I told you that.”

“I like to see for myself.”

“She goes to the vet,” Thom protested.

“But she’s my girl,” Tessa argued. Cerberus licked her cheek as if to agree. “Shots?”

“Of course.” Thom pulled up a file on his phone and surrendered it to Tessa. She scrolled through it, nodded approval, then handed it back to him.

“Weren’t you going to work?”

“Subtle, Tessa,” Thom complained and Annika smiled. He shook a finger at his sister. “No inquisition while I’m gone. No pestering.”

“Me?” Tessa opened her eyes so wide that Annika almost laughed. “I notice that you’re not giving Annika any warnings.”

“She’s smart enough to know better.” He shrugged into his coat, then gave Tessa a last stern look as he left.

As soon as the door was closed, Tessa turned to Annika with a smile. “I guess I have to behave, then.”

Annika laughed.

“You have a brother?”

“Three and two sisters.”

“Big family. I just have Thom and Maddy. Is this your guy?” She indicated Percival, who was watching her avidly.

“Yes, he’s a rescue. My sister has a pet grooming business and often hears of what she calls fur babies in need.” She put Percival on his harness and took him out of the cage.

Tessa held out her hand to Percival who checked her out. She had a serenity that seemed to encourage animals to approach her. “Well, you have someone now to keep you busy.”

“That was the idea. I heard that ferrets were good company but high maintenance. It sounded perfect.”

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