Page 253 of Love in Riverbend
“Oh,” Devan says with raised eyebrows. “Are we talking about cohabitation?”
“No,” Ricky and I say in unison.
Again, he reaches for my knee. “Maybe spending the night now and then?”
“I can’t wait to meet Max.”
Justin rolls his eyes and stabs a giant bite of pancakes.
“What?” I ask. “His sister seems nice enough.”
“I didn’t even know he had a sister until Friday morning,” Ricky replies. “Waking up to strange, as in unfamiliar and sometimes odd, women in my apartment is a recurring theme.”
It’s my turn to lift my eyebrows. “How often does Max meet your dates the next morning?”
“I can say, unequivocally, never.” When I don’t respond, he continues, “I’ve been busy with classes, homework, and my brain-numbing job at the mall.”
“Hopefully, you’ll be able to quit that job soon.” I lift my hand, crossing my fingers.
Justin looks between me and Ricky. “Do you think it’s a good idea to work together?”
We both shrug.
“Why not?” I ask.
“It’s a lot of togetherness.”
“Not really,” I say. “I have my own office, and depending on what Ricky—excuse me, Rich—is hired to do, he could be in a completely different part of the building.” I smile his way. “It might be nice to have lunch together now and then.”
“Don’t you and Jill meet for lunch sometimes?” Devan asks.
“We do. Her law firm isn’t far from Parker and Stevens.”
Devan sighs. “I miss you two. It was great being together last night.”
“You can always come up to Carmel. We can do a girls’ night at my place.” I look around. “It isn’t as big as your home, but the three of us will fit.”
Devan stands to clear the table. I’m a second behind her.
“No,” Ricky says. “You two made this delicious breakfast. Justin and I will clean the kitchen.”
Devan laughs. “Justin cooks. He doesn’t clean the kitchen.”
Justin hurriedly chews the last of his pancakes. “We have this. Go, do whatever you need to do.”
Devan and I look at each other. “Okay, then,” she says. “I’ll shower.”
“Let me know when you’re done,” I say.
“Justin installed those instant hot water heaters in each of the bathrooms. We can shower at the same time and both have hot water.”
“Fancy,” I say with a smile. “All right, boys. Have fun.”
Ricky reaches for my hand and tugs me closer. With his lips mere millimeters from mine, he whispers, “Don’t lock the door.”
Heat sets my cheeks ablaze as I shake my head.
His lips brush mine. Without his saying another thing, his eyebrows jump, and the different shades of brown swirl in his eyes.
