Almost before I realized it, I was clutching the bedding yet again, moving my own hips faster in time with his, faster and faster, until with a symphony of shudders and moans, we reached that glorious peak and floated back to Earth.
Except it didn't feel like Earth. It felt like Heaven. And when he settled down next to me a moment later, it felt like home.
It felt like I belonged.
Chapter 43
When I woke the next day in the Parkers' guest room, reality hit like a cold fish to the face. Last night had been a dream, a wonderful dream. But today, I had to face reality.
At five o'clock in the morning, Lawton had left for the airport. He'd urged me to stay, to sleep in his bed, to stay at his house. The invitation included both me and Chucky, who we'd retrieved from the Parkers' later that night.
But as I watched Lawton get dressed, I knew that delaying my departure wouldn't really help. It would only postpone the inevitable. So when he left for the airport, I asked him to drop me and Chucky off on the way with the anticipation of his return in just a couple of days.
As we said goodbye in the Parkers' driveway, I soaked up that final feverish embrace like my sanity depended on it. In a way it did, because if things continued to go downhill as far as house-sitting was concerned, I might not be his neighbor very much longer.
If I didn't hear back from the Parkers within the next day or two, I'd have some tough choices to make. Would I need to check with their bank? Leave their house? Call the police?
I sure as hell hoped not. It was exactly the kind of thing I tried to avoid, especially if I ever wanted to work again as a house sitter.
My day improved considerably when I arrived at work that evening and learned that Brittney had called in sick. Keith gave me the news personally, not looking too happy about it.
"Is it the flu?" I asked.
"Wouldn't you like to know?" he said.
"Not particularly," I said. "And just for the record, she reallyisterrible at this. Like I already told you, she insulted every single customer."
"And like I already toldyou," he said, "maybe she wasn't adequately trained."
"Hey, I tried," I said. "She never listens. You know what I think? She's trying to sabotage me."
"Chloe," he said, "not everyone is out to get you."
"I'm just saying, it's a problem."
"Wanna know what the real problem is around here?"
"What?"
"Your boyfriends."
I stared at him. "What do you mean?"
"Well, first, you've got one of them beating the crap out of his own car in our parking lot, and then you've got this other one coming in every day asking for you. What do you think? This is some kind of dating service?"
"I don't even know who you're talking about," I said.
"Sure you don't."
"I don't," I said. "Whoever he is, he's not my boyfriend."
"Funny, that's not what he said."
I felt my eyebrows furrow. "What'd he look like?"
"Heavyset guy, longish hair, said his name was Chester."
"Shaggy?" I said. "He's not my boyfriend. He's not even my friend."
