Page 44 of Deuce

“Interesting.”He raised one hand to tangle in the hair on the back of my head.“They’re probably making things difficult because they’re jealous.”

“Jealous?”

“Yeah.Because they don’t get to do this.”He urged my head forward so he could devour my lips.

An hour later, I was in need of another shower.

* * *

Deuce

Waking up with Sophia naked in my arms felt good.We’d made it through our first club dinner without too much drama.Of course everyone was curious, but they mostly managed to tone it down enough that she felt comfortable.Not sure if having her dad there helped or hindered.

I slipped out of bed and pulled on a pair of sweatpants before heading to the kitchen to grab us a couple of cups of coffee.I made a mental note to pick up a compact coffee maker for our room, and maybe one of those pint-sized bar fridges.

Somebody had beaten me to the kitchen.A pot of coffee was sitting on the warmer, all ready to go.I filled two cups and turned to head back upstairs.

Willow whined, placing herself between me and the door.

I looked down at the little mutt.“You hungry?”

She wagged her tail, regarding me with those sad brown eyes of hers.

I put the coffee down and opened the pantry.Mom had picked up dry dog food as well as a few cans.I had a feeling Willow was going to be one spoiled little mutt if we stayed here for long.I found a bowl and poured some kibble in it, topping it off with a couple of spoonfuls of the canned food.I placed it on the floor in front of the dog.“There.That should keep you happy for a while.”

Willow wagged her tail as she lowered her head to eat.

Sophia was still lounging in bed when I got back to the room.She smiled as I placed the mug of coffee on the bedside table for her.

“You not coming back to bed?”She took a sip of the dark brew.

I shook my head.“Need to go down to the bar and grab some paperwork to do the IRS filings.Got to keep the government happy.”

She wrinkled her nose.“Should I come with you?”

“No, you’re probably safer here and I won’t be long.An hour, tops.”

She yawned.“I should be up and dressed by the time you get back, but no promises.”

“You sound like you’re going to enjoy the next few days being a lady of leisure.”

“I could get used to it.”She looked around the room.“Where’d Willow go?”

“She looked hungry, so I fed her some of the chow Mom picked up.She seems to like it.”I glanced down at my cup.“I’ll pick up a coffee maker while I’m out so we don’t have to get dressed before coffee in the morning.”

She eyed up my sweatpants.“That’s dressed?”

I shrugged.“It’s not naked.”

“True.”

I gulped down the last of my coffee and headed for the shower.Having Sophia around sure upped the number of showers I needed on any given day.

Chapter Ten

Sophia

After Deuce left forThe Riptide Rest, I got out of bed.Willow had returned after polishing off the food she’d conned Deuce out of.With her belly full, she hopped back up on the bed and lay down, only opening one eye when I started rummaging through the bags of clothing Mom had left outside the room after washing them.

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