“No way,”she breathes, her hand slamming down against the wooden surface.
“There’s no way, right? There can’t be.”
“Reid, we donotfall in love with men we just had mind-blowing sex with.”
“I didn’t mean to,” I hiss because Ididn’t.It just happened, and I’ll pray to anyone listening that it happens again.
Preferably as soon as possible.
“But…he’s not staying, right?”
Unless I give him a reason.
I ignore the little voice in my head. “I’m just going to enjoy it while it lasts—enjoyhim—because there’ssomuch to enjoy with that man.”
“And now you like dirty talk,” she teases with a grin that would rival the Cheshire cat.
“Only when he says it—I’m too awkward for any of that.”
She cackles, throwing her head back like it’s the funniest thing she’s ever heard, and if I didn’t love her so much I’d be pissed right about now.
“But it’s good?” she asks, confirming what I’ve already reiterated a million times, but I nod anyway. “That’s a relief. There’s nothing worse than some asshat thinking he’s hot shit but he’s cringy instead of sexy and it’s likeplease stop talking or I’m out of here.”
I snort. “You’veneverleft midfuck; don’t even lie.”
“No, but I have faked the hell out of an orgasm to get out of there and then immediately blocked their number.”
“Savage.”
“I have no time to soothe the hurt ego of some fuckwad and his deplorable attempt at dirty talk.”
“Not that you’re salty about it.”
“On the contrary, I’mverysalty.” She dips her previously forgotten spoon into her bowl and takes a bite. “Do you know how hard it is to be a woman and find a guy who’s worth scheduling to meet, enjoying their company enough to have an entire meal, confirming compatibility, and then go home with them andactuallyreceive the metaphorical payouts of the sexual promises they made?”
“That sounds absolutely exhausting.”
“It is. Which is why I’ll be single forever.”
“We’ll see,” I say, not believing her in the slightest that she’s okay with being single forever, but I also don’t have the energy to go toe-to-toe with her this morning.
“We will. But for now, tell me all the dirty details.”
My morningwith Wren took longer than I anticipated. She’d been in rare form, the news of the buyout of Mountain Side Salon and Spa weighing heavily on her. We had no way of knowing what the new year would bring, and that made it worse.
After showering and changing into a navy blue sweater and jeans, throwing other clothes and toiletries into a bag, I headed for my uncle’s house.
Harlan had been hesitant last night, but after seeing him with Onyx, there was no doubt in my mind that he was the right man for our newest rescue.
Pulling up the drive to their house always puts a smile on my face. The house is massive, and a stunning mixture of wood andstone. Large windows face the mountain, the glass panes having to be specially ordered. It had been a process, but Uncle Winston had wanted my aunt to have the house of her dreams and now she did.
The wide, wraparound front porch has enough rocking chairs for all of us plus a few more. It’s always been my favorite place.
Parking my car, I climb out and make my way up the walkway, not bothering to knock on the door before turning the knob and pushing it open.
“Reid!” my uncle booms as soon as he spots me. “How are you, kid?”
“Good,” I say, a flush creeping up my neck without my permission. My uncle smirks.
