Page 62 of Call it Reckless

But my brain didn’t cooperate. I had a hard time forgetting how good she felt as she came on my tongue and pulsed around my dick. The sound of her moaning as I sucked on her clit still rang in my head. I’d never had sex with such raw energy. Bristol gave as good as she took, and my back had the nail scratches to prove it.

It was a matter of pride that I didn’t show up at her garage and demand to know why she was ignoring me. I needed to move on and forget about Friday night.

I waited in line at the elementary school to pick up Lexi and Iain. Their banter usually made me laugh. But one look at the frown on Lexi’s face as she climbed into the back of my SUV, and I knew I wasn’t the only one having a bad day.

“What’s up, buttercup?”

She glanced sideways at Iain. “Nothin’.”

That surprised me. Those two were like brother and sister. What was so personal she wouldn’t talk in front of Iain?Oh, crap. Moody. Pre-teen.Had we hit that stage of life already?I wasn’t shy about much but talking about feminine issues with my daughter…I’d have to gear up for that.

I eased out of the traffic circle and headed to town, pulling into an open space in front of The Dogtrot. Emalee stood in the doorway and waved for all of us to come inside.

“Hey, you two.” She greeted both Lexi and me with a hug as we stepped into the foyer of the grand bed-and-breakfast she’d spent years remodeling little by little. “You know where the cookies are.” She winked at Lex. “It’s snickerdoodles today.” She knew that was Lex’s favorite.

“Race ya!” Iain took off toward the kitchen. Lexi followed but at a slower pace.

“What’s up with her?” Em frowned as the kids disappeared around the corner. “She’s usually faster than Iain for those.”

I groaned. “I’m worried it’s hormones.”

Em’s mouth dropped open, then she started laughing. “Have fun with that, Daddy. You better put chocolate and ice cream on your routine shopping list. Wine when she’s older.”

I glared at her. “Just wait until it’s your turn. Stinky everything, girly magazines, condoms…”

She shook her head and grinned. “That’s what Zach is for.”

I flinched. Another reminder that I didn’t have a wife to handle those issues and help Lexi through them.

A gentle hand squeezed my arm. “I’m sorry, Reid. That was insensitive.”

I smiled sadly and kissed her cheek. “No, it wasn’t. I’m glad you have him.”

“I’ll talk to her if you want.”

“We’ll see.”

She squeezed my arm one more time and let go. “Come on back and see the new house. It’s almost done.”

I followed her down the brick walkway and through the gate that separated their house from the inn. I hadn’t seen the once-abandoned caretaker’s cottage since they’d added the addition and relandscaped the outside. Now, it looked fresh and welcoming, perfect for their growing family.

“How are you feeling, by the way?” I asked.

“Tired, but in a good way. Zach hovers a bit. Since he didn’t go through this with me last time, he worries about every little ache and pain. He even bought a blood pressure cuff and makes me check every couple of days to make sure things are okay.”

I bumped shoulders with her. “He’s just protective, as he should be.”

Em showed me around the house. I followed quietly. It was beautiful. Little details from the time period it was built were still visible, but with a lot of updates. Kind of like Bristol’s house, only with more “smart” devices.

“It’s great. Really nice,” I said as she finished the tour.

We headed back to the inn.

“You’re extra quiet today, too. Must be in the air. Bristol. Lexi. And now you.”

“Bristol?” Her name was out before I could stop it. “Is she okay? Is she hurt?” Maybe there was another reason she hadn’t responded.

“She’s fine, but that was quite a reaction. She was just quiet when I stopped by her new business to check it out.” Em eyed me through narrowed lids. “Did something happen between the two of you?”

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