Page 86 of Mine to Love

“I guess it depends.” She shifts the rice bag on her lap.

“On?”

“If you’re only coming over here for sex and food.”

She is as hesitant as I am to take the next step in our relationship. “I like the naps too.” When in doubt, go for humor, even though I’m not known for my jokes. That’s Reese’s department.

She chuckles then tosses the rice bag next to me and yawns.

I’ve kept her up long enough. I get up and turn off the kitchen light. The only light in the condo now comes from the muted television. “I could use a nap.”

I lift the blanket off her and crawl behind her, so my back is against the couch, and curl her into my front spoon-fashion. I cover us with the blanket and thread my fingers through hers.

“Sleep. And wake me if you need anything.” I kiss her shoulder and give her a gentle squeeze.

“You’re staying?” her voice is small and timid.

“Would you rather I leave?”

Reese shakes her head. “I like you here.”

“I like me here as well.”

CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE

It’s been too long since I hung out with my brothers. Just the three of us. Not since Holden’s bachelor party. Skylar is doing something with her girlfriends for the weekend, and Nick managed to get a night off work. While I don’t want to miss any time with Reese on a Saturday, I figure if my brothers can manage a few hours away from their wives, I can pull myself away from Reese for a few hours.

We occupy a table on the back deck of the Tavern on the Marsh and are three beers and two plates of nachos deep when we start comparing how badass we are.

“I knocked my wife up in my office at the bowling alley, twice. You’ve had the pleasure of busting Holden’s ass, quite literally, in the back of his Impala. Ten bucks says your office space has never had such fun.”

“That would be a losing bet, my brothers.”

“Your high-rise office in Austin is a gold-digger’s dream. Was it a pretty intern? That isn’t your style.”

“I’m not talking about my office in Texas.”

---