Page 85 of Smooth Sailing

Fuck.

Oh yeah.

Motivation to scale mountains.

“Awesome,” she replied. “So, we’re just gonna ride this however it plays out while everything else plays out, is that our plan?”

“I’m down with it if you are.”

More bright in her eyes and more body contact with her pressing close. “Totally.”

He cupped her jaw and stroked her cheek with his thumb, and…damn.

Holding her, touching her, free to do that after wanting it since he laid eyes on her, it felt fucking great.

“I’m going to text Dad and say yes to dinner,” she informed him. “And if he asks you to join us, you probably should know?—”

He stiffened and cut her off. “Baby, like I said, don’t.”

Her expression grew confused. “It’s not good, but you should know.”

“I know it’s not good. I know it’s not about me. And now I know he didn’t take care of you through it, which is why you two had your thing.”

She bit her lip.

Mm-hmm.

“So I can’t know how he didn’t do that, because it’s gonna piss me off to extremes. I don’t wanna be sharing a phenomenal kiss with you one second, and losing my shit about your dad the next, and maybe freaking you. I gotta be in the right place. More importantly, you gotta be in the right place. And you gotta agree that is not here and now.”

She scrunched her nose and muttered, “You’re right.”

“We just jumped our first hurdle and landed on our feet. I don’t need your dad throwing a leg out and tripping me up.”

“I don’t want that either.”

“So later on that, yeah?”

She nodded.

“Wanna take a shower before Big Petey shows with donuts, I scarf a few down and then get some decent shut-eye?”

Her eyes grew round. “Shower together?”

He felt his face get soft. “No, baby. Later on that. When we get there and you’re ready. Yeah?”

She nodded again, but he liked it a fuckuva lot she looked disappointed.

He bent and touched his mouth to hers.

Those green eyes were fucking sparkling when he lifted away.

“I like this new us,” she decreed.

Fucking hell, he hoped he knew what he was doing.

“I do too. Now, scoot. Pete said he won’t be here for a coupla hours, but Suzette might be up any time. She’s seeming more comfortable with me and being out in the common space, and we don’t need to be making out on the balcony when she comes out.”

Diana frowned.

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