Page 16 of Securing the Odds

She was playing with her phone, a mug of coffee in front of her. “You found all the fixings for coffee, I see.”

She looked over her shoulder and the smile she gave him… Yeah, he’d never grow tired of that, either. “All except milk. I meant to say something last night, but I got sidetracked.”

A soft glow hit her cheeks, and he knew she was thinking aboutwhathad distracted her. Personally, he hadn’tstoppedthinking about it and couldn’t wait to get her under him again.

“I drink my coffee black and don’t use milk often enough, it usually goes bad before I can make a dent in it.” He closed the distance between them, took her chin between his thumb and forefinger, and tipped her head back. “I didn’t like waking up and finding your side of the bed empty.”

Her eyes grew big, and her lips parted. “I have a side?”

“You do now.”

“Don’t you think that’s moving a bit fast?”

“Sweetheart, I’ve been waiting two years. That’s not fast.”

“I meant, we’ve only been together one day.” Another blush hit her cheeks, and she rushed to say, “Nottogethertogether, I mean we’ve only just reconnected. Beingtogethertogether would be even crazier than me having a side of your bed. And that’s just—”

He stopped her rambling with a kiss. He’d meant it to be a quick one just to stop her nonsense talk, but as soon as his lips touched hers, they had another idea, and the quick kiss he’d intended turned into a long, deep one.

Her eyes were glassy and unfocused by the time he’d finished, and he took advantage of her dazed state. “We’re verytogethertogether. Have no doubt about that.”

She blinked then blinked again. “Okay.”

Unable to resist, he gave her another kiss but this time made it a light peck before forcing himself to move into the kitchen.

He felt her eyes following him before he heard her say, “What, um,” she cleared her throat. “What do we have planned for the day?”

She was changing the subject. He’d give her that. He turned to face her. Her cheeks were still pink, but she appeared a little more composed. “I’d like to visit a few of the asshole’s friends. See if they’ve heard from him or know where he might be.” At her smile, he couldn’t help but ask, “What?”

“Do you know, you’ve yet to use Kevin’s name.”

He scowled, grabbing a coffee cup from the cupboard. “Why would I when asshole, scumbag, prick, dick, and shithead fit him so much better.”

She chuckled. “Point made.” She picked up her coffee cup but then set it back down just as quickly. “You called his sister. Why aren’t we calling his friends?”

He leaned his ass against the counter, crossing his legs at the ankles, and took a sip of his coffee before he answered. “His sister, I knew she wouldn’t lie if she’d seen him. His friends, I’m not so sure. I want to read their faces when I question them.”

She nodded, but a worried frown pulled at her lips before she covered it with her coffee cup.

“What’s bothering you?” He set his cup down and crossed the kitchen, stopping across the counter from her.

The shrug she gave was barely discernible. “I haven’t seen any of his friends since the divorce. They had to know what he was up to while we were married, and I don’t even know if what we’ve found out so far was the worst of it.” She lowered her eyes to run a finger around the rim of her cup. “I guess I’m just embarrassed, and seeing them, with them knowing what I now know they know, just makes my embarrassment worse.”

Jake rounded the counter, stopping behind Tammy and spinning her around on her stool until she faced him, her legs tucked between his. His hands moved to cradle her face. “There’s nothing for you to be embarrassed about. Your ex was an idiot, and his friends, if they’re not idiots, know that. If they are, well, what the fuck do you care what they think? Remember, the only opinion thatevermatters is yours.”

“Well, I think I’m an idiot.”

“Then I have some work to do to show you that you’re not.”

Her eyes grew soft, and it was all he could do not to lean his head down and kiss her. But he knew if he did that, he wouldn’t want to stop at just a kiss, and they had shit they needed to do. “Now, go get dressed before my resolve slips, and we spend the afternoon here with youundressed.”

She grinned slyly. “I think that sounds better than interviewing Kevin’s friends.”

He released his hold on her and took a step back, pointing at the stairs. “Go!”

She giggled but jumped off the stool, and he smacked her ass as she hastened past.

She stopped at the bottom of the stairs, upper body twisted his direction, one hand on her hip, the other on the railing, and all sass filling her expression. “Was that your way of telling me to get my butt in gear?”

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