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“Oh, Hannah.” He slid his hand down his belly toward his aching cock.

“Yes, lover?” She circled one rosy areola with her fingernail, and the bud tightened and puckered.

“You’re killing me. I need you.” He fumbled with his buckle, desperate for relief. His fingers closed over his rigid shaft. Pumping slowly, he drank in the intoxicating sight of Hannah’s tongue tracing the curve of her plump lower lip while her slender fingers pinched and squeezed and—

“Hannaaah,” a shrill voice rang out. “Gotta pee!”

“Crap on a flaming stick,” she muttered and dropped the phone. She appeared again, fully buttoned. “To be continued. Sorry!” Her sheepish smile tugged at his heart.

“It’s okay. Don’t worry about me.”And my poor little friend here.Wincing, he tucked himself away. “Love you, beauty.”

“Me too you.” He caught a jerky glimpse of her apartment floor as she hustled to the door, and then the call disconnected.

Me too you? Does that mean she loves me?

Damn and double damn. Why couldn’t Linda’s bladder hold out for a few more minutes?

While he contemplated a quick shower and tug to relieve his frustration, his text alert pinged.

BTW, Col. M, the UFO guy, called again. Told him you’re not interested.

How did he take it?

Like the blowhard he is.

Thx. Wish you were here with me, Han.

He decided against prodding her about what she’d meant just then. Texting was not the right venue for something so important.

Not a fan of Carroll Beach. Too snooty and expensive. TC is better.

I know, love.

He still didn’t quite get Trappers Cove’s shabby appeal. Carroll Beach’s polished style was more to his taste, but so what? He could disagree and still love her.

See you tomorrow.New contractor wants to chat face to face.

He chuckled as he read her response: a thumbs up emoji, a kissy face, and a heart with an arrow.

She still wasn’t ready to say the big L word, but she was inching closer.

Grinning, he stretched out for a nap and sweet dreams of his beautiful new love.

Chapter Twenty

Afteradecadentbeachsidebreakfast of house-made smoked salmon and cream cheese on a sesame bagel, plus coffee strong enough to restart a dead man’s heart, Xander drove back up the coast, his mood light and his head crackling with ideas, not to mention anticipation of reconnecting with Hannah.

That giddy optimism didn’t even last until noon. When he reached Souvenir Planet, Barry Bogosian, his new contractor, was waiting for him, along with a sharp-jawed, squinty-eyed guy who reminded Xander of a buzzard.

When they shook hands, Barry squeezed Xander’s a little too hard. “Good to meet you face to face, son.”

Xander made a mental note to order one of those grip-strength trainer gadgets. If he was going to spend the next few months shaking hands with construction guys, he’d need it.

“Meet Oscar Babbitt, our building inspector.”

Oscar tilted his chin in greeting. “S’up?”

“Building inspector?” Xander’s shoulders tensed. “I’ve already had the building inspected.”