Page 8 of Stick Play

“No, I guess not.” She turns the light off and pulls the bottom of my shirt, guiding me to the stairs that lead up to her upstairs apartment. “So, I guess in a way, I did pay you back.”

“Are you saying sex was payback for my repair work?”

She thinks about it for a second. “Payback, no. Not really. I guess it can’t be when we both got something out of it, right?”

“What exactly are you saying, then?”

“That I want to cook for you and if you don’t consider that payback, maybe there’s something else I can do to thank you.” She lets go of my shirt and starts up the stairs. My gaze zeroes in on her perfect heart-shaped ass, and as I watch her climb, I’m pretty sure I know what she’s talking about.

“I’m going to need clarification.” Why the hell are you even asking that, dude. Just fucking go for it. “I mean, you just said it’s not payback when it’s mutually beneficial.”

“Mutually beneficial,” she mumbles. She stops, glances at me over her shoulder and gives me a grin full of promise. “That’s what I’m hoping.”

What the ever-loving hell is happening? I’m not sure, but I should leave, turn around and never come back because I know this is a bad idea.

Why then am I hurrying up the steps two at a fucking time?

3

Gina

Do you have any idea what you’re doing, Gina?

No, I really don’t. All I know is that I’m tired. Tired of being alone, of doing things alone—in and out of the bedroom—and when it comes to Ash, I don’t think I’ve been that fair to him. After that one glorious night last summer, I put distance between us. While I think he’s a good guy, he does have a reputation, and everything about him is larger than life. I once fell for a man who was admired by all, and he hurt me badly. I don’t want to get hurt again, and I have my daughter to protect. I can’t make another mistake.

While I might have brought Ash into my bed—or rather, my kitchen—I can’t bring him into my life, or my daughter’s. What if she grew attached? He’s not a man to settle down, not that I’m looking for anything like that, but still, I don’t need anything to complicate my simple life.

When it comes right down to it, I’m happy with the way things are going now. I have my daughter and my café, and I don’t want to ruin what I have by bringing a man every woman wants a piece of into it. I simply want to keep low profile, but dammit, I’m lonely. I glance at him over my shoulder as I climb the stairs, and can’t help but think we could at least be friends.

Friends with benefits…ooh.

I’m about to shut that inner voice down, only to stop because didn’t I just suggest sex where we both got something out of it? Honestly that was so out of character for me. This man, combined with my body which is aching to be touched, is clearly messing with my decision-making skills.

Go for it, Gina.

I consider that for a second. We’re both consenting adults, and if I’m only bringing him into my bed, not my life or my daughter’s life, and if we keep it a secret, maybe we can have a little fun and I can poke a hole into the bubble of loneliness engulfing me.

Poke.

I laugh. Jeez, I sound like Melanie telling the story of when Brady nearly poked her with the fireplace poker. I never would have guessed that those two would have married and had kids. But they did and are so happy. It’s not like a little fun between Ash and me will lead to happily ever after. It was different for Brady and Melanie. For as long as I’ve known them, Brady was in love with her. Ash is not in love with me, and vice versa. We simply had a hook-up. And unlike Melanie, my life is unconventional. I’m a nurse who’s running a café, and raising a little girl alone—a little girl whose needs will always come first.

Who’s taking care of your needs, Gina?

A little groan crawls out of my throat, because dammit, I want Ash to be that guy. For a little while, anyway. Or at least until I feel less lonely—and a whole lot sated. Just then, his hand lands on my hip and the heat from his big palm trickles through my body and settles deep between my legs.

“Hey, are you okay?”

Hell no, I’m not okay. If he keeps touching me like this, I might not ever be okay again.

His mouth is near my ear, and the warmth of his breath, combined with the deep tenor of his voice, sends shivers through me. I clear my throat. “Yeah, I was just thinking I haven’t been to the grocery store in a while and I don’t even have a beer to offer you. I have wine.”

“Wine is good, but I can run to the store if you need anything. I’m sure it’s hard to get anything done with three kids in the house.”

Honestly, he’s always so helpful, always going out of his way to make sure I’m okay. A girl could fall for a guy like that, and that’s something I can’t do. Nope. Not going down that road again. Not getting involved with a man who has a harem of women.

“Wait, why aren’t they in school?”

“Tate is only two and Zoe and Camryn are off for February break this week. Brighton was reluctant to leave without them this weekend, but she really needed a break so I insisted.”

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