Page 85 of If Tomorrow Never Comes

“Now, where were we?”

Jamie made love to her once more before they got out of bed. Elliott’s legs were a little wobbly, and he chuckled when she slowly made her way to the kitchen.

He handed her a cup of coffee with a smug grin.

She arched a brow. “Proud of yourself?”

“That I’m a little dehydrated, my back hurts, and you’re having trouble walking? Hell, yes.”

She pursed her lips and sat at the kitchen table. Hank was by her side right away and lay his head on her thigh.

Jamie sat across from her and frowned. Hank looked up and flicked his brown eyes between them for a few seconds, as if trying to decide who he should sit by.

“I know, bud. I don’t like this, either.”

Jamie stood and scooted his chair next to her. He took the coffee mug from her hands and set it on the table before grabbing her by the waist and hoisting her onto his lap, then dragging the cup to sit before her again. “Better.”

Elliott spun around so her legs dangled to the side and sipped her coffee, admiring his disheveled sex hair over the rim of her cup. His glasses perched on his straight nose, and she couldn’t decide how she liked him best. He was sexy as hell with them, but when they’d been inbed last night and he’d looked at her with those hazel eyes so close and unobstructed ... that had been pretty wonderful, too.

He appeared to be studying her, too, and the curve of his lips and spark in his gaze made her feel warm and beautiful. Resting a large hand on her hip, he took a drink.

She tried not to worry about crushing his legs. “What time do you have to be at work?”

“As luck would have it, I’m off today.”

“I have you all to myself?”

He hummed into her hair. “Do you work at Starbucks today?”

“No.” She had other stuff she could work on, but ... it could wait.

“Can I take you out tonight?”

She bit her lip. “Like,outout?” There was nothing she wanted more, but there were a lot of people around town who knew him. Knew Carly. She didn’t regret coming here last night, or everything that happened after ... but she wasn’t quite ready for the world to know.

He studied her for a few seconds, understanding dawning. “Thinking we should lie low for a while?”

She lifted one shoulder, glad he didn’t seem offended. “Maybe?”

“You’re probably right. I wish I could take you out, though. On a real date.”

She leaned into his chest. “I don’t need that.” His body was warm and solid, and she could have stayed there all day.

“Why don’t we do it here? Get dressed up and have dinner and drinks. Pretend we’re out in Old Market doing the same thing.”

She tipped her head back to look at him, grinning. “I love that idea.”

“I can’t cook, though.” He sounded so disappointed in himself, she laughed.

“We can order takeout. That Indian place down the street.”

“They have the best tandoori.” His thumb slipped beneath her shirt to sweep back and forth over her skin. “I can’t wait to see what else we have in common. And how we’ll handle things we don’t.”

“Like the cheesecake thing?”

“Exactly.” He looked over at the coffee table, and she followed his gaze to the bright-blue cover of the book about ocean animals. “Can I have that book of pies now? I might find something in there I want Blythe to make.”

“I’ll think about it.”

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