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Somehow that felt like cheating, and I didn’t want to insert myself in the middle of a deal I wasn’t supposed to know about or be factored into. Faber would have to tell all sooner or later, and now I had a good idea of what was coming. “No.” I took her hand in mine and started walking. “Let the chips fall where they may. We’ll know soon enough.”

I had a little money put away from the Airbnb business, so I knew I’d be okay. But maybe it wouldn’t be an awful idea to start looking for a job. Maybe Elizabeth Draper could use another dog walker. Maybe Sean could put me behind the bar at Ronnie Roo’s. The shape of my life was definitely changing, and it was time to find a way to accept it.

I turned to Kyle, trying to do a better job of asking for what I needed rather than shying away from what scared me. “Want to come over tonight?”

She turned, arched brow signaling her intrigue. “I’d love to. I get to see your place?”

I smiled and held her gaze, shoving trepidation to the side. Baby steps. “I think it’s time.”

Chapter Eighteen

A Friendly Place to Work

Dark hair fanned out across my pillow, and Kyle’s bare shoulders on display beneath the white and purple plaid sheets brought me a sense of calm as I watched the morning arrive. This was what I would call more than a good start to my day, giving me hope that all would be okay. I sat next to where she lay, sheets still wrapped around me, my body still happily sore from the night before. I needed to get to the store by eight, but Kyle wasn’t on at the hospital until noon. No reason to wake her. I took one last look at her peaceful features, placed a soft kiss on her temple, and hopped in the shower.

When I’d finished my cup of coffee before heading to the car, she emerged from my bedroom in nothing but a gray T-shirt that saidSoulmateacross the front in blue script. She kept an extra bag of clothes in her car for when she was on call at the hospital. It apparently also doubled as a handy overnight bag. I shook my head, peering at her from around my mug. “It’s not at all fair that you look this good in the morning.” Even her bedhead came off as tousled chic.

“I don’t know what you’re talking about.” She walked toward me with purpose, all gorgeous legs and bright eyes. “But I wanted to be here to say goodbye. You sure it’s okay if I stick around until work?”

I made a sweeping gesture to my living room. “Have a leisurely morning. The back patio is especially nice for watching Mrs. Watson garden, which she occasionally does in her underwear. Consider yourself warned.”

She looked to the back door. “Frisky neighborhood.”

“This isn’t the big city. We put it all out there, Kyle. Think you can handle it?”

She wrapped one arm around my waist and pulled me close. “Are you kidding? You and I are going to give Mrs. Watson a naked run for her money. We should start soon.”

“I think naked gardening might challenge my demure sense of self.”

“Good thing I’m here to corrupt you.” She brushed her lips across mine and then came back for more.

We didn’t seem to be just one kiss kind of people, and holy hell that was okay with me. There weren’t too many things that could make me agree to be late for work, but Kyle’s lips topped that list—just as she’d topped me the night before.Hey-o!

“You sure you have to leave?” she asked, and kissed me softly just below my earlobe. “The groceries would probably understand. I could write you a doctor’s note.”

My skin tingled and a shiver ran through my body. “Oh, you can’t play the sexy doctor card when I’m trying to save a grocery store.”

“Now who’s sexy? I have such a thing for female superheroes.” She tugged softly on a strand of my hair. “God, Savanna. Why do you have to be so hot?” Her hands snuck beneath my blouse to the small of my back, sending me places I had no business going unless I wanted to scrap my entire morning. Tempting.

“I’m not. I’m hideous.”

That earned a laugh. Kyle leaned back against the counter. “I really, really like you.”

I pointed at her. “Okay, well, you have to like me from over there.”

Kyle grinned and folded her arms. “I will do my best to exercise restraint so you can go about your workday.”

I softened when I realized we were about to say goodbye. “Will I see you soon?”

“Yes. I will need groceries. Lots of them. More groceries than any human has ever required.”

I liked the sound of that. “And I might sprain my other ankle. And then a few fingers.”

“Maybe we can spare the fingers?” She tossed in a wink, and I decided that this was the way I wanted to start every morning from here to eternity. How did I make that happen?

I watched her, content, warm, and happy. “This is good.”

“I agree,” Kyle said, nodding. “This is really good. It’sus.”