Page 50 of Kiss Me Tonight

I return the finger-gun salute. Cock the nonexistent safety. And “discharge” the weapon toward the space between us, like I’m laying down the law. “You owe both your mom and me a good deal of money after the car mishap, so let’s look at it this way—every time you come over to help with the house, I’ll knock a sum off your total. Sound like a deal?”

Grumbling, Topher shrugs a narrow shoulder. “Can’t blame a guy for trying.”

Nah, I can’t.

At least he has the manners to ask, which is a lot more than I did back in the day.

I rap my knuckles on the wall. “Take a seat or grab something from the fridge. I’ll be ready in five.”

I’m halfway down the hallway, grabbing a towel from the linen closet, when I hear him call out, “If I take an apple, am I gonna have to pay you back for that too? How do you feel about the charity,Feed Topher’s Belly?”

My mouth tugs up in an honest-to-God smile.

Pulling my phone from my shorts’ pocket as I head for the master bedroom that I’ve yet to sleep in, I thumb down through my contacts until I get to Levi’s name.

Me: Your son is a piece of work, Coach.

As if she’s been waiting by the phone, her answer is immediate.

Levi: Have you smiled yet?

I spy my reflection in the mirror, and sure enough, I’m grinning like an idiot. I scrub a hand over my mouth, turn the hot water knob to get the shower running, and tap the glass screen to bring our message thread back to life.

Me: Twice.

Levi: See if you can make it a home run by the end of the day. I believe in you.

Me: Do you now?

Levi: Well, I believe in my baby boy. He never lets me down.

Me: We’ll see.

Levi: Want some advice?

Me: Go ahead. I get the feeling you’re gonna offer it anyway.

Levi: Topher’s not above bending the rules to win.

Steam whirls around me, heating up the tiny bathroom off the master bedroom. Another section of the house that’ll require some major renovation. No couple would ever want a bathroom this small as the master. The sink and toilet are nearly on top of each other, and the bathtub is the same shade of blue as Aladdin’s Genie. Contrasted against the muted pink shag carpeting, this room is a disaster of epic proportions.

I strip out of my shorts, letting the material drop to the floor. Do the same with my T-shirt, which I whip over my head. No boxers or briefs to take off. I prefer to go commando.

The insane, devil-may-care part of me wants to find out what Levi would think if I let her know that we’re texting while I’m naked. Would her cheeks turn the same red as my skin after I step under the hot jets? Would she care that I enjoy our easy banter—that it turns me on, despite the fact that I’m not looking for a fling or a one-night stand or anything remotely . . .couple-y? I’m not looking for it, but for reasons better left unanalyzed, Levi still manages to worm her way under my skin at the most inconvenient times.

In the men’s bathroom at the Golden Fleece. At practice when she’s running drills with the kids and her tits are bouncing.Now, when her son is waiting for me to hop in and out of the shower and take him mini-golfing so that I can learn what it’s like to have fun.

One glance down past my stomach shows my cock on the rise—literally.

Jesus fuck.

It’d be so easy to slip my fist around the thick head and give it a slow, feel-good pump. Tight along the root, then looser, quicker, over the shaft. Imagine what it would be like to have those berry lips of hers pursed and ready to—

No.

No.

I drop my head forward, chin to my chest, fingers white-knuckling the lip of the Genie-blue counter. Suck in a heavy, labored breath. Remind myself that I’m here in Maine to avoid any and all entanglements.

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