Page 84 of When Annika Met Thom

“So, in a way, we could both be on the rebound, unless there’s a statute of limitations.”

He looked up. “It’s possible.”

She smiled, surprising him again. “You know what else is possible? That this is kismet, despite your beliefs to the contrary, and that Rhea and Leo have led us to each other in some magical mystical way of the world bringing two people together.” She didn’t wait for Thom to reply, which was a good thing because he didn’t know where to start to argue against such a crazy idea—especially one that he liked so very much. “But we’ll never know, will we?” she said brightly, crouching down beside him. “Tell me about the bike. It looks vintage.”

“It is. A 1969 Triumph Bonneville T120R.” Thom said, relieved to be on safer ground. “Completely classic.”

“But it doesn’t run?”

“Yet.”

“Did you repaint the fuel tank? The red paint looks shiny for an old bike.”

“I did. Figured I might as well, when I had it all taken apart.”

“Great job.”

“It requires patience.”

“I’ll bet.” She was close beside him, her proximity shaking his equilibrium. Just then, Percival slipped out of her jacket. The ferret approached Cerberus with caution, and Thom found himself watching with a smile. When Annika might have said something, he silenced her with a touch. “I’ve been letting him out when you’re at work so they get used to each other.”

“Are they?”

“Not so far. This might be the day.”

The ferret crept up on the dog, who began to snore in the sunshine. He disappeared behind the dog and Annika gripped his leash. He wasn’t making a run for it, though. He popped up on the far side of Cerberus, then jumped onto her back. She sighed and rolled over, ignoring him. He slid gleefully down her ribs to the ground, dooking all the way, then waited and watched once he reached the pavement. When Cerberus didn’t move, he jumped happily then dove into the gap between her front legs and her chest. He gave her a ferret kiss, then nestled in for a nap.

“I don’t believe it.”

“Just takes time,” Thom said.

“Like it was meant to be." Annika eased closer to Thom without waiting for a reply, her hand on his thigh turning his thoughts in a predictable direction. “I promise not to say kismet again,” she whispered, eyes dancing. “If we can keep having sex.”

“You’re on,” Thom murmured, then sealed their deal with a kiss. He didn’t even want to think about watching her leave forever in just five more days.

Even if he knew it would be for the best.

* * *

Annika’ssecond week in New York passed at warp speed. She caught glimpses of Thom at F5F, but they didn’t speak there. Even when they made love in the morning and at night, they didn’t talk much. She felt as if something was sliding from her grasp, but knew that if she held on tight to him, she’d lose him even faster. Had she jinxed everything with her joke about kismet? Or was she actually on the rebound?

She had no idea what to do or who to ask for advice.

It was hard to believe that something so good, so electric and yet so easy, could be second-best by any accounting. She had more sex in a week than she’d had in her entire life and it was millions of times better. They did it on the counter, on the floor, on the kitchen table, in the shower, on the couch and in the bed. They did it fast and they did it slow. They did it so often that even Cerberus lost interest in their activities.

And it was never enough. Annika would think that had to be it, then Thom would give her one of those looks, or he’d slide his hand over her under the sheets, and she’d be ready to do it again. She watched him with the dog and wanted him. She listened to his theories—usually explaining why love shouldn’t be trusted—and wanted to convince him otherwise. This interval, if that was what it was, could have lasted to the end of the year, and Annika had a feeling she’d still want more.

The rock wall came together with record speed once the steel was in place. The surfaces had been cut to fit together like a giant jigsaw puzzle and they did. Annika had set up a camera on the opposite side of the lobby to take a picture every five minutes, intending to combine it into a video when the wall was done.

By Thursday night, they had only the supports for the belayer’s ropes to install and a few other details. Bruno was trying to persuade her to go for a celebratory drink, but Annika didn’t want him to think there were possibilities when there weren’t.

She wanted to spend her every last minute in New York naked with Thom.

“Looks amazing,” Kyle said and she turned, recognizing his voice.

“Itisamazing,” Annika said.

“Better than you imagined?”

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