Page 79 of Possess

“Good morning.” His gruff voice caused her smile to widen.

“Morning. What time is it?” She covered her mouth as she yawned. The last time she’d looked at the clock, it was around five.

“Almost ten.”

She hummed. “I don’t want to move.”

“Nothing says we have to.” His palm skimmed up and down her back.

“True.” She stretched against his body. “But I need a shower.” As much as she hated to get up, she felt sticky after all their lovemaking last night.

“I do too.” Zeke sat up with a yawn.

“Okay.” She slid her legs off the mattress. “Last one to the shower loses.” She took off toward his bathroom.

“Hey.” His bellow made her laugh.

She barely beat him into the bathroom, but it hadn’t been a fair race, not that he complained.

“What is my penalty since I lost?” he asked.

“Me.” She’d never felt so free with a man as she did with Zeke. She could be playful or serious. He’d take all sides of her.

“Oh good. Let’s play.” He flipped on the water, then scooped her up and set her inside the big shower before stepping in behind her.

* * * *

The next week was hectic. Picking up all of Rudy’s work and her own kept Allyson busy from the time she got into the office until the end of her shift. The upside was she was seeing Zeke every day.

Wes already told her he was interviewing to see which of the two junior inspectors he wanted to move up—one to take Rudy’s place and the other to help out when needed. Allyson had never felt so happy. She walked into Sweet and Savory on Friday afternoon to see Dani waiting for her.

“If your smile gets any bigger, you’ll need a new face,” Dani said, giving her a hug.

“I’m happy to see you.” Allyson sat down.

“More like Zeke is making you happy.”

“He is.” She was happy, and Zeke did that to her. But he wasn’t happy when she begged off breakfast with him at his parents last Sunday. He’d asked her several times, but each time she found an excuse. When she was growing up rumors had run rampant. Both Dani and her grandmother had sat Allyson down and told her she didn’t need to worry about them. It was her parents’ neglect that people were most upset about, but none of them would do anything about it.

Dani’s grandmother quietly told Allyson she’d tried once to talk with Allyson’s parents but were met with indifference and distain. So instead, she concentrated on making sure Allyson had a safe place to go whenever she wanted.

“I’m so glad,” Dani said. “So Sunday, we set up the sub meeting for four in the afternoon.”

“Cool.” Allyson was happy to be involved with the group.

“My turn to get lunch. Your usual?” Dani asked.

“Yes, please.” Allyson put a reminder in her phone about the meeting. She’d just put her phone away when Zeke’s sister, Josie, sat down. What was with this girl and stealing empty seats?

“Josie, good to see you again. But my friend will return in a minute.”

“Hopefully, this will just take a minute. Why won’t you come to breakfast at my parents’ house?”

Allyson was taken back. Yes, Josie was direct, but she hadn’t expected that. “It’s none of your business.” Allyson fought down the panic filling her veins. What was Zeke’s family saying about her? Did Josie know about her past? Would her continued pushing off meeting his family drive a wedge between her and Zeke?

“I like you, Allyson, but my parents are beginning to wonder if there is something wrong because you refuse to visit.”

Allyson took a deep breath. It seemed that Josie didn’t have any information on her past at this point. “Josie, I know you mean well, but my reasons are mine.”

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