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“Hi, Gwen, it’s so nice to meet you,” she said. I’d heard that Lacey had finally met one of her neighbors when Leighton had some car trouble a few days ago, but I hadn’t met her yet.

“Nice to meet you,” I said, shaking her hand.

“This is kind of silly, but I wanted to thank you for giving me the jump the other day.” She held up a paper bag and handed it to Lacey. “I make, um, macarons in my spare time. Just for fun, but I hoped you might like some.”

I almost snatched the bag away from Lacey. I loved macarons.

“You didn’t have to do that,” Lacey said, peering into the bag and then handing it to me. Wise move.

I held myself back from going feral on the macarons, but just barely.

“I know, but it’s kind of a thing I do. Anyway, if you need some sugar or something, I’m close by. Thanks again, Lacey.”

She seemed embarrassed about her gift and ran away before Lacey or I could say anything else to her.

“She seems nice,” I said, looking into the bag and pulling out one of the macarons. It was green and looked like a frog with a little frosted froggy face.

“They’re so cute!” I said.

“Too cute to eat?” Lacey asked.

“Never.” I shoved the macaron in my mouth and savored it.

“Good?” Lacey asked, her eyes on my mouth.

“Very good,” I said, licking my lips.

“Going to give me a taste?” she asked, brushing her thumb across my bottom lip.

“Do you want one?” I asked. I loved playing these little games with her.

“With you? Always,” she said, before our lips met and I dropped the bag of macarons. They’d be fine. I had more important matters at hand.

Lacey picked me up and I automatically wrapped my legs around her as she carried me to the kitchen counter and set me down.

“I’ve never eaten you in the kitchen,” she said, unzipping my jeans.

“That’s an oversight,” I said, breathless as she pulled my jeans and underwear off and threw them on the floor before pushing my legs apart.

Lacey got to her knees and looked up at me.

“An oversight I am going to rectify right now.”

I took her baseball hat off her head and put it on my own.

“I love you, princess,” she said, kissing first one knee and then the other.

“I love you, Lacey,” I said, running my fingers through her hair before gripping it and bringing her mouth to where I needed it to be.

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