Page 38 of Love Deep

“Good? Dinner?” Rosey asks. “We want more details than that! Did you kiss? We know there’s chemistry between you, but was therechemistrybetween you?”

I glance at Byron, but he just shrugs as if to say,There’s nothing I can do, mate.

“It was good. And, yes, I’d say there was chemistry.”

Rosey’s eyes open wider. “So, the kiss was good. When are you seeing her again?”

“You need to manage your wife’s expectations,” I say to Byron.

He shakes his head. “Sounds more likeyouneed to manage my wife’s expectations.”

“Seriously, Rosey,” I say. “I’m here for a few more weeks. And then I’m back in New York. Juniper is lovely, but she has a life here in Star Falls.”

“So what?” Rosey asks. “You’re just going to write it off before you’ve even begun? Byron and I live between Star Falls and New York.”

I laugh at her thinking that people living between New York and Star Falls is an everyday occurrence. “I’m saying, we both know this isn’t going to turn into a long-term thing. But I like her. I think she likes me. I’d like to hang out some more.”

“For the record,” Vivian says. “Pardon the pun.” She lets out a small laugh at her own joke. “I don’t want to rain on your parade, Rosey, but Fisher, you don’t need to be babysitting me in Colorado. If you need to be back in New York City, then you should go.”

“Vivian!” Rosey exclaims. “That doesn’t help.”

Vivian shrugs. “Just saying.”

“Seriously, Rosey, you’re hoping for something that isn’t going to happen,” I say, ignoring the fact that Vivian just gave me permission to leave. I made a promise to her manager, not her.

It’s just a fact of life that I’m not moving to Star Falls permanently, and Juniper has a kid and a job and an entire life here. She’s not moving, either. No matter how much she makes me laugh. How good she feels naked. How incredible I think she is.

Rosey shrugs. “Five more weeks.”

I shake my head, but I don’t say anything. There’s no point. I’m going to have to keep doing this to and fro with Rosey until I leave. Juniper is wonderful. I meant what I told her last night. And I hope she and I are going to enjoy each other’s company while I’m here. But as much as my thoughts today might be all about her, I need to be realistic. We’re a short-term fling. That’s as far as it goes.

FOURTEEN

Juniper

My head is a jumble of thoughts this morning.

“Do you have to bring that pirate costume in today?” I call out to Riley.

She pops up from right behind me. “No need to shout, Mom.”

“I thought you were cleaning your teeth. Pirate costume is today, right?”

“No, next Friday,” she says, looking at me like I’ve lost my mind. “It’s for the assembly, which is next Friday.”

“Oh, that’s right.”

“Did you not sleep good, Mommy?” she says. “And why did Fizzy have a sleepover?” she asks.

“No, I didn’t get enough sleep. It’s made my brain fuzzy. That’s why I always tell you it’s important to get enough sleep.”

It isn’t just the lack of sleep that’s made my brain fuzzy, although it doesn’t help. Every time I try and focus on something, my thoughts drift to Fisher. How he seemed toworship my body. How incredible he felt over me, under me, inside me.

Maybe it’s just because I haven’t had sex for a long time, but last night was like something that I’ll never forget for as long as I live. He was so in control and commanding, but at the same time so incredibly attentive to what I needed and wanted from him. He was an equal mix of masculinity and fragility. He was just completely perfect.

I’d thought he was hot and fun before last night, and now? He’s… special. A special man.

“Mom,” Riley calls, pulling me out of more thoughts of Fisher.