Page 21 of All It Takes

“Of course. I haven’t been out to his place,” I belatedly replied.

“Whenever we go, we can leave from here. I can drive, or you can.”

Ross interjected, “I like Wes’s SUV.”

Tiffany shrugged. “Okay, but why?”

Ross glanced over, his lips curling at the corners. “Because it’s cool.”

“My car is cool,” she protested even though it was obvious she wasn’t the least bit offended.

Ross nodded in agreement. “Sure, but his is taller and it’s black.”

She chuckled. “If Wes doesn’t mind driving, that’s fine with me.”

About two hours later, Tiffany cleared her throat, and I glanced over. “Yeah?”

She looked at her watch before her eyes shifted back to mine. “It’s after ten.”

“Ohhh,” I said slowly. “Past bedtime.” I wasn’t used to paying attention to bedtime.

The reluctance emanating from Ross was powerful. Although, it was also obvious he was tired. Tiffany must have texted Chase because at that moment Chase said through the headset, “All right, guys, I gotta sign off. It’s bedtime for me.”

I knew I’d have to thank him later for that one. In short order, Ross did his bedtime routine. He brushed his teeth and changed without any prompting.

After he was in bed in the room Tiffany had set up for him, I walked back down the short hallway to the living room and kitchen area. Tiffany’s apartment looked out over Main Street in downtown Willow Brook.

“Nice little apartment,” I commented as I glanced around.

“It’s not a long-term place, but it works for now. I’m grateful there’s a second bedroom.”

Her apartment had hardwood floors and an angled ceiling with the kitchen to the back of the open area. A short hallway led to two bedrooms. One bathroom was off Tiffany’s bedroom and the other was in the hallway.

“I had an idea,” she said.

“What’s that?”

“We can decorate Ross’s bedroom at your place to match this one.”

She had asked him what he wanted when we’d driven to Anchorage and somehow had already gotten it ready. It was a car-themed room fit for a middle schooler into race car games.

A slow grin tugged at the corners of my lips. “I like that idea. Just tell me where to order what you got, and I’ll do it.”

“I’ll text you. I got it in Anchorage. I went back the day after we went with Ross.” She waggled her eyebrows.

We were standing by the kitchen counter, and I could feel a magnetic pull to step closer to her. I rested my hand on the counter as if I could anchor myself in place there. She turned, resting her hips against the counter.

“The smoked mozzarella mushroom and spinach pizza was really good,” I commented.

“It’s one of my favorites.”

“I’m not so sure Ross is into vegetables,” I teased.

She grinned. “It’s okay. That’s not unusual for his age.”

“I hated them all the way through high school, according to my mom. I had a cereal phase when that’s all I ever wanted.”

Tiffany’s husky laughter sent a sizzle through my system. My eyes traced the winding path of one of the curls resting against her neck, shifting down to follow the collar of her blouse. The little bow at the center, just at the valley between her breasts, was unbearably tempting. It wasn’t revealing, yet I felt my teeth clench. The temptation to lean down and untie that bow with my teeth was powerful

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