Page 37 of Embracing Easy

“When I get back, we're christening every inch in this house.”

Her cheeks flush pink, but the watery look is now replaced with heat. Good, that’s exactly what I wanted. “Promise?”

“You can fucking count on it.” Forcing myself to let her go, I head for my bike. If I don't leave now, I know that I never will.

As I swing my leg over my bike, I look back at her standing in the doorway. My shirt hanging off her shoulder, her lips still swollen from my kisses.

Mine.

Two days, I remind myself. Surely, I can survive two days away from her.

Even with the little pep talk, I know they're going to be the longest two fucking days of my life.

Chapter Fifteen

Lexi

“You're kidding me!” Amelia's eyes sparkle with amusement over her coffee cup. “He actually said that? Christening every inch?”

Heat floods my cheeks as I pick at my club sandwich. I’m not sure why I told her that. It just sort of slipped out. “He did.”

“Oh, honey.” She leans back in the vinyl booth, a mischievous grin spreading across her face. “I might just have to put that in a book.”

I can't help but laugh.

Having lunch with Amelia at Dori's is exactly what I needed to distract myself from Shawn being gone. If I didn’t already love him so much I’d hate myself for being one of those women. It’s only been twenty-four hours and I don’t know what to do with myself.

“Speaking of books,” I rub my hands together, “how's the new one coming along?”

“Actually...” She glances around the diner before lowering her voice. “That's part of why I wanted to meet. I was hoping you might let me pick your brain about your experience being an ol’ lady. You know, for character research.” She waggles her brows.

I blurt out a laugh. She’s full of it. The ol’ ladies in her books are phenomenal. Seriously! Her Ghosttown series are the bomb.

Before I can say as much, my phone buzzes on the table and my heart leaps as I pick it up, hoping it's Shawn.

My excitement plummets when I see it’s just another one of the weird emails I’ve been getting.

“Everything okay?” Amelia asks, picking up on my disappointment.

“Yeah, it’s just...” I hesitate for a moment before deciding to confide in her. “I've been getting these weird emails. They're probably nothing, but—” What I don’t say is how they started at the same time of the ordeal with my rental that went to shit.

“But your gut is telling you otherwise?” She sets down her coffee cup, all traces of her earlier playfulness gone.

I nod. “Ever since that jerk Randall Brodrick scammed me, I've been jumpy about every little thing.”

“Have you told Easy?”

“No.” I fidget with my phone. “He's got enough to worry about, and the last thing I want is him thinking I can't handle being alone for two days.”

Amelia's expression turns serious. “Lexi, honey, that's exactly the kind of thing you should tell your man about. These men—they need to know everything. Even the small stuff.”

I know she’s right, but I feel like since the second I knocked on Shawn’s door, he’s been taking care of me. I don’t want to be a burden on him.

“It's probably nothing,” I repeat, not sure if I’m trying to convince her or myself.

The bell above the diner door chimes, and I glance up to see Trigg walking in. He gives me a subtle nod before taking a seat at the counter, where he can keep an eye on the entrance and our booth.

“Your shadow seems dedicated,” Amelia observes.

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