Page 25 of Playing for Keeps
“It was all I thought I could do,” Del told her. “Until I didn’t have a choice. I couldn’t do it anymore.”
She nodded as if she understood that he was ending the conversation now.
“Did you enjoy the sandwich?”
“Very much,” he replied and reached over to take the napkin she’d been using to wipe his mouth. “Now to try this spiked hot chocolate you made.”
Del reached for the mug and took a sip. “Mmmm,” he said. “This is really good. Rich and smooth. Easy going down but with just that hint of spice from the brandy.”
He sat back on the couch and watched as she finished her sandwich and drank from her mug as well.
“Hmmmmm, I love it. Especially on cold winter nights.” She took another sip. “Especially when it’s all I have to keep me warm.”
She turned to look at Del then as if she hadn’t realized that she’d said that aloud. He smiled. “Well, tonight, I’m here. So, I can definitely keep you warm.”
Her smile came slow, lifting her already high cheekbones and filling her eyes with a warm light. Del liked how she looked when she smiled. He liked it a lot.
“I’ll bet you can,” she said and took another sip.
He patted his thigh. “Come here.”
She waited, watching him set his mug on the table. Del leaned forward and took the mug from Rylan’s hands. He set that on the table too.
“I said, come here,” he whispered before lifting her off the chair and setting her sideways on his lap.
He wrapped his arms around her and cuddled her close to his chest.
“Warm enough?” he asked.
“Definitely,” she replied.
“Good.” Del found the remote control between the pillows on the couch. “Now, let’s see what’s on late night television.”
“I don’t know,” she said. “I’m usually asleep at this time. You know, when I’m not chatting online.”
She wrapped an arm around his neck, while the fingers of her other hand ran along the edge of his jaw.
“Yeah, that online chatting is dangerous,” he joked and turned on the television. “You never know what type of lunatics you might meet.”
She play punched his chest and he chuckled.
He kissed her on the forehead. “And you never know what the internet might reveal before your very eyes.”
Rylan tilted her head up. “Ain’t that the truth,” she whispered before Del kissed her lips.
At seven-thirty a.m., Rylan’s alarm clock blared like it was pissed off at someone. The sound had her lurching up from the bed, same as every morning of her life. But she wasn’t a morning person, so without the help of her trusty, but annoying as hell clock, she would always be late. After slamming her hand down over the clock, she lay back against the pillows, eyes closed and ready to steal a few more minutes of sleep. Just as she did each morning.
But the second she felt the bed shifting beside her and the hand splaying over her bare belly she realized there would be no additional sleep. Because she was not alone.
“Mornin’,” Del said, his voice far too chipper at the crack of dawn.
Del was in her bed. He’d come over late last night and stayed. Wow somehow didn’t cover that realization.
She should no longer be shocked at what was going on in her life. Two months ago, she’d been fine believing that she’d work at Kent Automotive for the rest of her life and continue bringing herself sexual pleasure until the moment “Mr. Right” came waltzing into Providence to sweep her off her feet. Because Rylan knew just about every guy close to her age in town and she was certain none of them were “Mr. Anything” where she was concerned.
Apparently, she’d been wrong.
“Mornin’,” she replied and cleared her throat.
