Page 70 of Delicate Escape

My cheeks just got hotter.

“That good, huh? Let me live vicariously.”

“It’s not like that,” I hissed under my breath.

Sutton’s brows lifted. “I thought you were rectifying that situation.”

“He’s not—I’m not sure if he’s interested in me like that. Sometimes, I think he is. But others…”

“Trust me, honey. That man is interested with a capital I.”

My stomach twisted. “I’m not so sure. He hasn’t even kissed me.”

“Do you want him to?” Sutton asked, cutting right to the point.

“Yes,” I answered. It was as simple as that. Only I wanted him to do a hell of a lot more than kiss me.

Sutton straightened, her hands going to her hips. “This is the twenty-first century. Women run billion-dollar companies, the government, heck, they fly to the freaking moon. We sure as hell can make the first move.”

I took an instinctive step back, shaking my head. What if Shep rejected me? What if I messed it up and made things awkward for the next couple of months he was living with me?

“Thea,” Sutton said. “He likes you. But he probably instinctively knows you’ve been through some hard stuff and doesn’t want to rush you.”

“He knows,” I whispered.

Sutton’s face softened. “You told him?”

I nodded.

“I love that you felt comfortable sharing that with him. Shepis one of those miraculous good ones. That means he’s going to take it slow.”

“So slow I’m about to crawl out of my skin,” I grumbled.

Sutton burst out laughing, then pitched her voice low. “Honey, that’s what a vibrator is for. Take the edge off.”

“I’m pretty sure I’d have to buy a jumbo pack of batteries.”

Sutton only laughed harder, and it was infectious, bringing me under, as well.

“You two look like you’re up to no good. I want in.”

I turned at the voice that sounded like it smoked five packs a day. Lolli, Shep’s grandmother, stood just inside the door, clutching a wrapped package in one hand and a purse in the other—a bag that looked like a bejeweled version of a pot leaf.

It fit. Lolli Reynolds was a character and a half with her hippie dresses and necklaces that weighed half her weight. But she was also the apple of our cook, Walter’s, eye.

“Hi, Lolli,” I greeted.

She beamed at me. “My darlings. How are you both?”

“Good,” Sutton said, moving to give her a hug. “You?”

“Fabulous. I’m planning a trip to Peru. Going to do one of those ayahuasca journeys. Open my mind.”

My brows about hit my hairline. “Isn’t that the drug that makes you hallucinate?”

Lolli made a tsking noise. “Psychedelics are the future. You should join me. I can sense you need some energetic opening.”

“I think I’m good with those pathways staying closed,” I muttered.

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