Page 89 of Denim & Diamonds

While she gently snored, I looked up to meet the stare of the moose head on my wall, laughing to myself as it brought back memories of the first time February was in my bed. What she must’ve thought looking up at that thing. I remember how panicked she was. I never would’ve imagined the drunk woman from the bar would end up asmywoman. I’d had no idea what I was in for. Yet here we were. I was happier than I’d ever been.

Of course, at the same time, I felt a pit in my stomach, because when you’re feeling this high, typically there’s nowhere to go but down. But one thing I knew for certain: I was willing to get my heart broken and take the chance that this might actually be it for me.

February wasn’t the only one snoring. Oak also contributed to the sinus symphony in my bed right now. My dog, AKA Oak the-bathtub-sleeper Hawkins, was lying at the base of my bed by our feet. Last night, he’d climbed up onto the bed, rendering February and me speechless. Oak hadn’t slept in the bed in years. Maybe somehow he’d remembered the night the three of us fell asleep on the couch in front of the fire, and he associated February with a feeling of safety. I’d be interested to see whether he returned to the tub after she left. Because the only two times he’d slept outside the bathroom in recent memory were nights that February had slept over.

Damn.I could get used to waking up next to them. The only bad thing about this new arrangement was that it would always involve having to separate from her again. There was no way around that.

February stirred and turned toward me. Her eyes slowly opened to find me watching her.

“Hey,” she said groggily. “How long have you been up?”

“A while.”

“You were watching me sleep?”

“I was.”

“What were you thinking about?” She smiled.

“I was remembering the first time you were in my bed, among other things.”

She laughed. “I try not to think about that. It was quite embarrassing.” She rubbed her hand along my leg. “We’ve come a long way, though, haven’t we?”

“We’ve come a lot since last night. That’s for damn sure.”

“Well, that too.” She chuckled. “Probably my favorite part of being back here.”

I wrapped my arm around her. “Any idea what you’d like to do today?”

“Put me to work.”

My forehead wrinkled. “Excuse me?”

“Put me to work,” she repeated. “Before I told you I was coming this weekend, you mentioned that you had work to do at the smaller cabin. Then after I told you I was coming, you said it could wait. But why don’t we head over there? You can do the work you originally planned to, and I can help. That way you don’t get too far behind.”

She was going to help? I stifled laughter. I didn’t want to insult her by admitting she’d probably be more hindrance than help. It was sweet that she wanted to come with me.

“I’m not sure you’ll enjoy yourself, sweetheart. We should probably do something fun while you’re here.”

“Isn’t thatyour ideaof fun?” she challenged.

“Well, yeah. But you won’t enjoy it.”

“Iwillenjoy it. If me visiting is going to be a regular thing, you can’t afford to drop everything each time I come, like it’s some sort of vacation. It’s not a vacation anymore. This is real life. Same as when you come to New York. It won’t always be sightseeing. Some weekends we’ll just be lying around decompressing from the week.”

“As long as the lying around includes time inside of you, I’m good.” I winked.

“Well, of course.” She lowered her hand to my crotch, cupping my balls. “Sex with you has become myfavoriteway to decompress.”

My dick hardened, signaling the fact that if she touched me even one more time, we might never leave this bed today, let alone get over to the construction site.

I arched a brow. “Yousureyou want to come to work with me?”

She nodded eagerly. “It will be like take-your-girlfriend-to-work day. I want to experience a typical day in your life.”

One thing I knew? As long as February was around, nothing would ever be typical.

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