Page 86 of Make-Believe Match

I laughed. “Not even you could close that deal. I have to get back. Tabitha is gone for the rest of the week, so I’m the only front desk employee.”

“Where did she go?”

“Florida, I guess, to visit her father.”

“Can’t say I’ll miss her.” He pulled out gently and put himself back together while I wished I had something to clean up with. The evidence of our afternoon delight was trickling down my thigh as I tugged my panties into place.

He noticed I was uncomfortable and immediately guessed why. “Here,” he said, yanking off his collared shirt and then the white T-shirt he wore underneath. “Use this. Actually, let me.” Dropping to his knees, he carefully and considerately wiped the insides of my legs and between them with his soft white cotton shirt, then put my panties back in place. “Is that better?”

“Yes,” I said softly, touched by the gesture. “Thank you.”

“Of course. I like taking care of you.”

I smiled, my heart trilling like a sparrow.

Eventually, we walked back to the golf cart, and Devlin drove me back to the main lodge. “You good?”

“I think so. How do I look?”

“Like you’ve been thoroughly ravaged by a wolf in the woods.”

I laughed. “Well, you look like the wolf who did the ravaging, so before the next contractor appointment, you might want to fix your hair.”

“I believeyouravaged my hair.” He ran a hand over it. “You maniac.”

“Can’t help it. Not sorry.” Grinning, I started to get out of the cart when he grabbed my arm.

“Hey.” Tugging me closer, he kissed me. “See you later. Wife.”

Fireworks went off in my chest.

* * *

Later that night, Devlin ran a fingertip over the words that stretched from one shoulder blade to the other. “I like your tattoo.Life is either a daring adventure or nothing at all.”

“Thanks.” We were in bed, covers thrown off, still hot and sweaty, the smell of sex on our skin. I was lying on my belly, and he was on his side next to me. “It’s something my dad used to say, although later I discovered he pilfered the line from Helen Keller.”

He laughed. “What’s this beneath the words?” His finger rubbed the spot. “A dragonfly?”

“A firefly. That’s what he used to call me. Firefly.”

“I like that. It suits you.”

“Do you have any ink I haven’t noticed yet?”

“No tattoos on me.”

“You don’t like them?”

“I like them fine on other people. My two older brothers have a bunch. I just can’t think of anything I’d mark on my body permanently.”

“You do have to make sure it’s something you’ll always love,” I agreed.

My eyes were drifting shut when he spoke again.

“Firefly,” he said.

“Hm?”