Page 56 of Moonstruck Kiss

“Great to meet you, too, April,” I say with a smile.

“What are you guys doing here?” asks Joey.

Josie gestures in the direction of Moonstruck Tastes. “April just finished having dinner. I had dessert. What were you doing at the Pies’ barn at this time of the night?”

“We decided to set up for next Sunday because this week’s gonna be busy with other things,” answers Joey. “Cutie and Maggie came to help, too.”

“And whose bikes are those?” Josie prods.

“Theo’s and Gia’s.”

“So you were having drinks with them and you decided to go to the barn?”

Joey nods. “Uh-huh.”

“Turns out they want an early night alone,” I quip.

Josie chuckles. “I’m surprised you weren’t too tired to clean up.”

“Like I said, this week’s gonna be busy,” says Joey.

Josie nods. “So…now that you’re here at the lodge, what’s next?”

I look at Joey, staying quiet so she can tell her sister a story she’s comfortable with.

“Um, Brax is heading to his cabin, and I’m going home.”

Right.I plaster a smile on my face.

“Well, you can follow us, then,” Josie tells Joey. “It’s quite dark tonight. Might as well have a car escort on your way home.”

“Okay!” Joey chirps. “Goodnight, Brax. Thanks for your help tonight. It was great.”

“No worries. Anytime.”

I watch Joey ride away behind Josie’s car. When we can have a tryst again, I have no clue.

Theo’s words were prophetic. My balls are bluer than blue.

Lando: I just sent you another email. I’ll need your input on that one as soon as possible. Thanks.

I groan. I’ve been working long hours during the past week on an urgent project and now this? Work’s been getting in the way of my plans with Joey.

Ah, Dimple, Dimple, Dimple.

I’ve been going crazy trying to figure out how we can meet in secret. Our days have been busy and, with Ollie with me during the night, it’s been impossible to eke out an opportunity to see each other.

But this afternoon could be our time! She told me she’s going to the barn to set up the banners and do some last-minute rearranging of whatever. It’s light work so she doesn’t need anyone to be there with her. Except me, of course. And she also managed to tell me, obliquely, that Emory got her the “items” we needed, so condoms are no longer a problem.

The monthly markets are on today, so practically all Mooners are occupied. The usual suspects won’t have time to give Joey a hand even if they want to because they’re busy manning stalls. I don’t even anticipate anyone spotting me riding the bike to the barn because the houses along the way should be empty.

It would be the perfect time for Joey and me to continue what we started, if it weren’t for this new work request.

But you know what? I’m on a damn holiday. Even though I need to keep proving myself to Lando, it doesn’t mean I have to prioritise work every single fucking minute.

I’ll just do whatever I can until I have to meet Joey then leave the rest for later.

I check Lando’s email and try to work fast. Admittedly, it’s hard to be in the work zone when Dimple keeps popping into my head. That woman is a distraction. But I don’t mind because it feels good thinking about her.

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