Page 263 of Small Town Firsts
Did you lose your watch? You’re past business hours.
I am, unavoidably so. Are you engaged?
Miss Moon:
Like to be married? Hell no. Why?
There was no stopping my smirk. Or my sense of relief. Wasn’t going to try to explain that one.
Some things defied all sense.
I meant are you currently engaged in an activity that precludes you from speaking to me.
Miss Moon:
Yes.
That was it. Just yes. No explanation. No apology. I hadn’t apologized for texting so late either.
We were just a pair of unapologetic, inappropriate individuals.
Was that why I’d sought her out tonight? Because I was tired of coloring within the lines, and I could already tell Ryan Goddess Moon did not let anything stop her, let alone rules.
But apparently, she wasn’t going to talk to me now. And if I was disappointed, I would just turn off my damn phone and go take a shower.
I certainly wasn’t going to swallow hard when an audio file appeared on my screen some ten minutes later. I still hadn’t moved.
I pressed play and sinuous, sexy music started to play. After about thirty seconds, feminine laughter rolled over the track.
Hey there, gods and goddesses. It’s time for another episode of the Tarot Tramps. Featuring me, la-la-Luna, and…
My forearm tensed where it rested on the arm of the swing. Husky laughter joined the lighter, frothier version from la-la-Luna.
Ryan Moon, goddess of all things creative, sexual and free.
I wasn’t smirking now. Her voice on the podcast was a seductive tease. Low, deep, with a bit of a rasp as if she’d smoked a full pack of Camels and followed them up with a whisky chaser.
I pushed a hand through my hair. Shifted on the swing. Wanted to turn off the damn audio because it was getting hot out here and not even the chilly breeze could cool me off.
How did April think a woman who sounded likethiscould work for me? It wasn’t right.
I wasn’t supposed to notice her voice. In fact, I’d felt a hell of a lot more comfortable when Ryan had been a man.
Or so I’d believed.
I gripped the back of my neck to keep myself from hitting pause. And possibly setting my phone on fire so I wasn’t tempted toeverlisten to this again.
She continued talking and I found myself leaning toward her voice. Desperate for more even as I knew I should turn it off.
So, what’s new with you, baby? Tell us all about your new job.
La-la-Luna—that could not be her real name—laughed and tapped her mic.
Is this thing on?
You know it is. Stop stalling.
Okay, okay, the new job is fab. I forgot how much I liked retail. People are so fun, you know?
