Page 67 of Afternoon Delight
“I might.”
“You should.”
“I have,” I confessed.
“Yeah?” That caught her attention. “Like what?”
I told her which toys I’d brought home.
“That’s a good start. See if your daughter wants any of these.” She motioned toward the bag.
“I’ll give Mom first dibs.” I wasn’t being facetious. “She hasn’t let me pay her for the work she’s done. She’s earned a few perks.”
“Sure.” She spoke around another yawn.
“I’ll let you sleep.” I said goodbye and went out to my car. Shelby was probably on the road and getting close to the ferry, but still a few hours away. Mom was out. Roddie was busy.
I looked at the bag of goodies and had a sudden, outrageous idea. I scrolled for Zak’s number and placed the call as I backed out of Gail’s driveway.
“Joe’s Rescue Service.” His voice filled the interior of my vehicle. “What is the nature of your emergency?”
“Treed cougar. This is actually preemptive. I was thinking about getting stuck in the Dogwood. That’s the motel on Seventeen, halfway to Sidney. I have a bag full of toys and a couple of hours to kill if?—”
“I’ll be right there.”
“What about your da?—”
He had already ended the call.
Chapter 38
Meg
I had second thoughts. Then third and fourth. But I pulled into the parking lot of the Dogwood and was relieved to see the budget motel had been updated in recent years. It wasn’t a total dive.
Zak came out of the lobby and veered toward my SUV. I lowered the passenger window.
“Lucky number seven.” He pointed and moved onto the walkway so he was at the door when I nosed into the spot in front of our room. He opened my door and took the bag I handed him. “I didn’t bring wine or anything. I did bring condoms, if that’s something you’re interested in knowing.”
“I’m very interested in that information.” I stepped onto the pavement, my heart beating erratically.
He kept me hemmed in at the V of the door.
“Are you waiting for a kiss?” I asked, feeling as though I’d taken some of Georgia’s meds and was slipping into a hallucinogenic state.
“I’m drinking in the moment.” His gaze tracked all over my face, making me self-conscious enough to blush.
“I’m trying to hide my stark-raving panic,” I joked. Kind of.
“Don’t be nervous,” he said gently. “I don’t have any expectations beyond hanging out on a bed with you and looking at toys. Clothing optional.”
“So you don’t want a kiss? Because I do.”
He dropped a brief kiss on my mouth, then said, “That tasted like another,” and inched closer, one arm on the open door, the other sliding behind my waist to pull me into him.
We kissed properly, lips parted and hungry, tongues tangling, until a moan escaped my throat.
His eyelids were low and smug when he stepped back, giving me space to move by him before he closed the door. I locked it and followed him into the motel room, my heart still thudding.
