Chapter 11
Eleven
Reggie
I make it home with exactly fifteen minutes to spare before the kids are due back, and I’ve never been more grateful for good timing in my life.
I practically float through my front door, still wearing yesterday’s jeans, Blayne’s shirt, and what I’m pretty sure is a post-sex glow that could light up the entire valley.
The cottage feels different. Like I’m seeing it through new eyes, or maybe I’m just seeing everything differently after last night. After this morning. After Blayne’s hands were all over my body, his deep laugh in my ear and the way he looked at me like I was the best thing he’d ever seen…
I catch my reflection in the hallway mirror and have to bite back a grin.
My hair looks like I stuck my finger in an electric socket, my lips are still puffy from all that kissing, and there’s definitely a hickey on my neck that I need to deal with before Nia gets home and starts asking questions I’m nowhere near ready to answer.
In my bedroom, I strip off my clothes and toss them in the hamper, but not before bringing his t-shirt to my nose.
It smells like him. Soap and something purely Blayne that makes my pussy melt.
Part of me wants to keep it, sleep in it tonight and pretend he’s here.
That should probably worry me more than it does…
I take the fastest shower of my life, washing away the evidence of our sexcapades while trying to hold onto every single memory.
The way he touched me like I was precious…
He made me feel like the sexiest woman alive.
Cooked me breakfast in just his jeans, all casual and domestic like we’ve been doing this for years.
I’m pulling on clean jeans when I hear car doors slamming outside.
“Mom! We’re home!” Annalise’s voice carries through the house, followed by running feet.
“Kitchen!” I call back, quickly pulling down my top.
She bursts through the door like the tiny hurricane she is. “Grandma made heart-shaped pancakes! And we watched three movies! And she let me have ice cream for breakfast!”
“Ice cream for breakfast?” I give her big eyes, making her giggle. “Your grandma’s gone rogue.”
“I know! It was awesome!” She launches herself on the kitchen counter. “What’d you do? Did you have fun? Did you miss me?”
Heat floods my face. If she knew how much fun I had… “Yes, I had a good time. Quiet.”
“Boring.”
“Sometimes boring’s good, baby.”
Jaylen shuffles in, grumbling. “Jake’s mom made us watch some three-hour foreign movie with subtitles. It was torture.”
“Sounds… educational?” Jaylen’s mom sounds…. fun?
“It was hell, Mama.” He yawns so hard his jaw cracks. “I’m gonna go die in my room.”
Nia wanders in last, looking completely over everything. “Emma’s little sister puked on my shoes.”
“Oh, I’m sorry, baby. You okay?”
She rolls her eyes. “I threw the shoes in their trash.”
“As long as you’re good.” I run a hand over her hair.
“I’m fine. Just traumatized.” She gives me one of her signature looks, the ones that make me think she sees way too much. “You look weird.”
My heart skips a beat. “Weird how?”
“I don’t know. Different. Like… less stressed or something.”
“I slept really well,” I lie, feeling my face get hot.
“Huh.” She shrugs. “Okay, going to my room.”
Once they’re all settled in their space, I flop on my bed and let myself replay everything. Blayne’s mouth on mine, his hands everywhere, the way he said my name while he was inside me. Shit, the man made me pancakes this morning like it was the most natural thing in the world.
My phone buzzes, and my stomach fills with butterflies when I see his name on the screen.
Blayne: Made it home safe?
Reggie: Depends what you mean by safe.
Blayne: All body parts attached? No speeding tickets? Kids haven’t figured out you’re glowing like a neon sign?
Reggie: I’m not glowing.
Blayne: Sweetheart, you could power half the county right now.
Reggie: That’s what good skincare will do for you, sir.
Blayne: Right. “Skincare.” ??
Reggie: Very intensive skincare. The kind that requires lots of hands-on attention.
Blayne: Christ, woman. I’m supposed to be working here.
Reggie: Sorry. Should I stop?
Blayne: Hell no.
I’m grinning at my phone like an idiot when another text pops up.
Blayne: What’s the plan for tonight?
Reggie: Why? You got something in mind?
Blayne: Dinner?
Reggie: You asking me on a date, cowboy?
Blayne: I’m asking if you’ll feed me.
Reggie: Six work for you?
Blayne: Perfect. Should I bring anything?
Reggie: Just you. And that hat.
Blayne: The hat? Why?
Reggie: Because you look hot as hell in it.
Blayne: Good to know. See you at 6, beautiful.
Reggie: See you at 6, handsome.
I toss my phone aside and stare at the ceiling, trying to figure out what the hell is happening. Yesterday I was just trying to survive being a single mom in a new town. Now I’m sexting the hottest man alive and planning dinner like we’re… what exactly? Dating? Hooking up? Something else?
I don’t know what this is, but I definitely don’t want it to stop.
My phone buzzes again.
Blayne: Last night was incredible.
Reggie: Just last night?
Blayne: This morning was pretty spectacular too.
Reggie: I aim to please.
Blayne: Mission accomplished.
I’m typing back when Annalise appears in my doorway.
“Mama, can we make cookies?”
I quickly flip my phone over. “Right now?”
“Please? I wanna practice for when I’m a grown-up.”
The sweet request is such a complete one-eighty from my current train of thought that I almost laugh out loud. “Sure thing, baby. Let’s make cookies.”
As we head to the kitchen, my phone buzzes one more time.
Blayne: Can’t wait for tonight.
Yeah. Me neither.