Page 51 of Thornhill Road

When I woke Fridaymorning, I was on the wrong side of the bed.

I was bewildered by this only until I felt Mustang at my back, his hand resting heavy on my hip.

I remembered the first time I woke up in bed with the man and how I’d snuck away. The last thing I wanted to do was leave him in bed again, but I needed to check my phone—the phone I’d left in my purse while we went at each other after our date.

Only, this time, when I began to carefully roll away from him, his fingers tightened their hold before he grumbled, “Where do you think you’re goin'?”

I smiled, in love with his voice first thing in the morning—low and rumbly from lack of use.

“I need to check my phone, babe. It’s in my purse. I’ll be right back.”

Satisfied with my answer, he gave me another squeeze and then released me.

I found my phone with ease. As I began my return trip to the bed, I saw I had a couple unread text messages, but nothingurgent. I also noted it was a few minutes after eight before I discarded the device on the nightstand I never used and crawled between the sheets with my man.

My man.

The thought made me want to burrow in his chest and stay a while—so I burrowed in his chest, biting down on my lower lip to contain my grin when he immediately engulfed me in his arms.

“Got shit to do today,” he told me, his eyes still closed.

With plenty I’d been neglecting since I left work on Wednesday, I could relate, so I simply replied, “Okay.”

“I’ll make breakfast before I go.”

I reached for his bearded cheek as I said, “Mustang, you don’t have to do that.”

He peeked open one eye and met my gaze. “You gonna eat breakfast if I don’t?”

My smile couldn’t be helped. He’d seen my fridge. It wasn’t always as desolate as it had been the last few days, but I didn’t make a habit of concocting a full spread first thing in the morning.

“Eventually,” I answered honestly, trying to remember if I still had any yogurt left.

He studied me a moment longer, then closed his eye and repeated, “I’ll make breakfast before I go.”

I didn’t argue.

Fifteen minutes later, we got out of bed and Mustang made us eggs and bacon.

My contribution had been the coffee, whereupon I learned my man liked his with two sugars but no cream.

When we were finished eating, he didn’t linger.

I did, however, get a delicious kiss goodbye.

Alone, awake, and not on the clock, I found myself with some real time to process everything that had transpired since I found Mustang on Thornhill Road Wednesday afternoon. It didn’t takelong for me to admit I was happy. It all still felt a bit reckless, given the circumstances, but I wanted him, and he wanted me, and I didn’t have any desire to deny either of us.

However, it did seem like a smart idea to get an outside perspective.

I needed to speak with Jenna.

After cleaning up in the kitchen, I headed upstairs for a shower. While I bathed, I thought of the chores I should do and the errands I should run. Mustang and I hadn’t exactly made plans, but I hoped we’d see each other again the next day, which meant I needed to be productive in the present.

As soon as I was out of the shower, I shot Jenna a text.

Best friend emergency. Not life or death. Just can’t wait.

I had time to get dressed and make my bed—with all the pillows this time—before I got a reply.

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