Page 63 of Riding the High

“Sounds great.”

She glances back up at me again. “You have coffee on your shirt. Might want a fresh one before your first official appearance with council.”

I look down. And, sure as hell, see a coffee stain.

“Shit,” I mutter under my breath.

“Fresh ones are in the closet to the left of your desk. Just got your size delivered yesterday,” she says, her eyes back on the documents in front of her.

I tap the frame of the door as I leave her office.

“Thanks, Bev,” I say, grateful for her motherly care. One more meeting and I get to go home and see what Ginger has come up with to wear to the banquet tonight. I can hardly fucking wait.

By four o’clock, I’ve managed to make it home early. I play a quick game of Uno with Mabel before heading to my room to lay out my fancier, all-black uniform I wear for formal events. As I get out of the shower, wrapping a towel around my waist, and wipe down the mirror to shave, I hear Ginger and Mabel in the living room, chattering away about when to get Mabel into her dress and what hairstyle she wants Ginger to give her. I’ve thought about nothing but Ginger all day. No matter what I do, I can’t get her out of my head.

It’s the line I’ve always struggled with, but having her here makes it so much more difficult. At home I’m Dad, not Cole. Creating space to be a man in a dad’s home might be the hardest thing I’ve tried to do. But after last night, I don’t have a choice.

A light knock on the bathroom door pulls me from my thoughts.

“I think Mabel’s hairpins are in there. Can you pass them out?” Ginger asks from the other side of the door.

I open it wide, letting her in.

She stands in the doorway for a beat as I pump shaving cream into my palm. I feel her eyes roam my body and I relish being under her stare. I turn to face her.

“Come in and close the door. Stay a while,” I say with a grin.

She blinks, and I love that she looks at me the same way I look at her. As though she can’t tear her eyes away.

“So this is younottrying to entice me,” she says sarcastically, waving a hand over my towel-clad body.

“Working for ya?” I ask, raising an eyebrow.

“Pffft. Not in the slightest,” she answers too quickly, but the creep of pink slinking across her cheeks tells me she’s lying. After a few seconds of silence, she blurts out awkwardly, “Mabes is watchingAnnie.”

“Of course she is,” I say calmly, letting her off the hook as I rub the foam along my jaw in small circles.

I pull my razor out from the bathroom drawer and give it a rinse in the sink, tapping it against the marble. I hear her huff out a breath and prepare myself for an earful.

“You know … last night was a moment of weakness for me and just because you know you’re hot doesn’t mean you can parade it around everywhere you go. I’m aware this is your house, but still …” Ginger says in a sort of angry whisper, her hand on her hip. “It’s … distracting. And you not being the least bit upset with me about what happened on the boat, and kissing me like that … why weren’t you more upset?”

I continue my shave as she rambles on. I know her well enough to let her finish before I try to get a word in edgewise.

“You trusted me with Mabel and I should’ve been more cautious.” She taps her nails on my bathroom counter. “And you still trustmewith her after that? And another thing. You … you getting to me like that—”

“Making you come,” I say, cutting her off.

She narrows her eyes at me. It’s fucking adorable.

“Well, it’s like you’re messing with my head, Cole.”

I’ve had enough.

“Sit.” I nod toward the counter, taking a guess that she’s finally finished rambling. “Look, let’s get some things clear,” I say, keeping my eyes on the mirror as I start to shave again. She miraculously doesn’t argue for once and pops her perfect ass up onto the counter beside me. She’s wearing cutoffs and a tank, but her hair and makeup are styled for a formal night out. The contrast is perfect.

She looks up at me like she doesn’t know what to expect and I wonder if anyone has ever let her just shine on her own. I can tell it makes her nervous when I don’t doubt her, but she better get used to being treated right if she’s going to hang around here all summer.

I finish up the steady line I’m shaving, feeling the weight ofher gaze on me, and breathe out a sigh. I give my razor a rinse before starting again.

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