Page 87 of The Summer Swap

He stroked her back with his hand. “Because she never showed the slightest interest in me until you and I kissed at the school reunion.”

She turned her head to look at him. “You remember that?”

He frowned and rolled onto his side, propping himself up on his elbow. “I remember. Why would you think otherwise?”

“Because you never mentioned it.” She put her hand on his chest and then moved it to his jaw. She couldn’t stop touching him.

“You didn’t mention it, either. I thought you regretted it. People do all sorts of things at those reunions. They’re a nightmare. I was being a gentleman, but that was because I didn’t know how you felt.” He leaned down and kissed her slowly. “That’s never going to happen again.” And to prove it he pulled her close and it was another hour before either of them spoke again.

“Todd?”

He pulled her closer. “What?”

“I think we left the front door open.”

He laughed. “I thought you were going to say something profound.”

“I don’t know about profound, but if your grandmother does come home unannounced it could be embarrassing.”

“That’s true.” He eased his arm out from under her and sat up with a wince. “I’m going to lock the door, and then I think we should move somewhere more comfortable.”

He dealt with the door and was pulling her to her feet when they heard the muffled sound of his phone ringing.

They both stared at each other and then at the discarded clothing strewn across the floor.

“Where is it?” She reached for his shirt, rummaging through the clothes they’d abandoned on the floor and finally he found the phone in his shorts.

He answered it before it went to voice mail. “Hi, Nanna. Yes, we’re here. No, nothing’s wrong—a long time to answer the phone? We were up a ladder, that’s all—”

She tilted her head and mouthed, Up a ladder?

He gave a helpless shrug and carried on talking to his grandmother. “Yes, we assumed that was the case—” He paused and listened and then nodded. “Good plan. The place stinks of paint. Reeks. And I have wood spread across the floor so if there’s an alternative place for you to stay, that would be a good idea. Stay as long as you like.”

Lily raised her eyebrows and he winked at her as he continued the conversation.

“No problem...we’ll be working until we lose the light anyway. There’s lots to do...don’t worry about food, we’ll figure it out. Lily? She’s fine, I think.” He allowed himself a slow scan of her naked body. “Yes, I’ll take care of Lily. No problem.”

He ended the call and tugged Lily against him.

She lost her balance and had to hold on to his shoulders to steady herself. “What are you doing?”

“Following my grandmother’s instructions and taking care of you.” He kissed her jaw and then her neck. “Do you have any idea how hard it was to string a sentence together with you standing there naked?”

“Yes. I witnessed it. You were stammering.”

“And whose fault was that? You did it on purpose, didn’t you?” His fingers trailed down her spine. “I mean, you could have been generous and pulled clothes on.”

“I didn’t see the point.” She rested her forehead against his chest. After wanting him for so long, loving him for so long, any moment apart seemed like a moment wasted. “I can’t believe this is happening.”

“Believe it. And the good news is that my grandmother is staying another night with Seth, so we have this place to ourselves.”

She looked up at him, digesting what he’d just said. “She’s staying another night? That has to be a good sign, don’t you think? How did she sound?”

“I have no idea. You were naked.”

“Did she sound happy? Excited?”

“As I said, you were naked.”

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