Page 57 of Finally Moore

“Oh no…”

Scarlett doesn’t need to paint the picture. I see it clear as day now. How she’s playing nice, I don’t know. Because I’m not sure I can go in tomorrow and play happy fiancé, knowing how much they’ve hurt her.

“Yup.” She tries to laugh it off, but I can tell it still hurts.

“I’m sorry.” I wrap my arms around her. I’m relieved when she does the same.

“You have nothing to be sorry for. It’s not like you fucked my sister… unless there’s something you’re not telling me.”

“No. Nope, never gonna happen.” I make sure to slam that door shut before it can fully open. “Still, I can’t imagine how much that must have hurt you and then for them to show up unexpectedly.”

“After everything that happened, I told myself I didn’t need anyone. That happily-ever-afters only exist in fiction. That no matter what, they end in heartache in the real world.”

“And now?” I risk asking. I hold my breath, waiting for her reply.

Scarlett pulls back and looks up at me. “And now.” She smiles. “I’m not so sure.”

My heart pounds, telling me that this is it. Now is the time to tell her what I’m feeling. But the sound of the front door opening and closing interrupts our tender moment. Scarlett squeezes her eyes shut as the steps grow closer. I swear it’s like a scene out of a horror movie, and we’re the horny teenagers just waiting to be murdered. I pull Scarlett behind me, using my body to shield hers. Not that she’s nude, but it’s clear she’s embarrassed.

Letty walks into the kitchen. She doesn’t look at us as she opens the fridge. “It smells like sex and pie in here.” Shutting the door with a beer in hand, she pops the top off, leans against the counter, takes a swig of her drink, and eyes the scene in front of her. An apology is on the tip of my tongue, but it dies there when she smiles. “Jakey-Poo owes me big time. I’m going upstairs and turning on the TV, so you guys enjoy.” With that, Letty exits the room, and Scarlett and I break into laughter.

“Oh my god, I can’t believe that just happened.” Scarlett’s face is beyond flushed.

“We should get going.” I grip her ponytail and angle her head back. “I mean, we can stay if you want.” I lick her jaw. “But there were a few more tricks with a blindfold I wanted to show you, and I thought you might prefer the privacy of your home.”

“Is that right?” She smiles. “You aren’t tired?”

“Of you? Never…”

Chapter twenty-three

Scott

Asconsciousnessseepsin,the haze of sleep clears from my view, and I notice Scarlett at the end of the bed. “What’s this?” I ask as I sit up, grab her around the waist, and pull her back into bed. She lets out a surprised scream, and I roll over so that she’s beneath me. “Good morning.”

“Good morning,” she repeats with a matching smile. I press a kiss to her lips, but her hand goes to my chest to stop me. I pull back and quirk a brow at her. “I have to go.”

“Go?”

Scarlett sighs. “Yeah, Sheila called out this morning. I need to relieve Hannah so she can get some sleep.”

I let her up. As much as I would love to crawl back into this bed with her and fuck the day away, I understand she has a business to run. “What about tonight?”

Her smile grows wider. “Don’t worry, I’ll be there. This is one of the rare times I’m happy the inn has vacancies. My honeymooners check out today, and from my brief conversation with the other two tenants, I understand they’re going to their own family events. I’ve already communicated that the front desk will be closed tonight and tomorrow for the holiday, but that I’d have the phone on me in the event of an emergency.”

“So…” I reach out a hand and trace the line of buttons on her blouse. “Tonight, you’re mine?”

“Barring an emergency, yes,” she says before taking my extended finger and sucking it into her mouth.

“You’re cruel,” I tease.

“Perhaps, but you’re the one who pulled me back into the bed I struggled to get out of in the first place.”

“Touché.” I grin, push to my feet, and offer a palm to help her up. “Now, you go to work and do amazing things.”

“What about you?”

“Well… I guess I should probably go finish making those pies. I was going to make them last night, butsomeonedecided to distract me.”

---