Page 80 of Ridin' True

I needed to. And I would. Soon.

I was focused intently on a task when a knock at my closed door interrupted me. I opened my mouth to call out to whoever was on the other side when the door opened, revealing Jed.

“Hey,” he greeted. He held up the paper sack he had in one hand and inquired, “Hungry?”

“You brought me lunch?"

I recognized the logo on the bag as the one belonging to the coffee shop across the street. He—and the Stallions who’d been keeping an eye on me—knew it was my go-to spot.

“I’m definitely hungry now,” I insisted as I stood to meet him on the opposite side of my desk.

“Also thought I’d check in. See how you were doin’ after givin’ notice.”

I smiled up at him, admiring him for a second before I boldly proclaimed, “I really like you.”

He smirked, then leaned down to press a kiss against my lips. The familiar tickling sensation of his biker ‘stache against my skin was more than welcome.

Pulling away slightly, he muttered, “Right back at you, gorgeous,” and then kissed me once more.

As we sat in the two chairs in front of my desk, he unpacked our lunch and I filled him in on my morning.

“I’m doing okay. I got a pretty genericbest of luckresponse. Jacob said he hated to see me go, but he didn’t try to convince me to stay. It just solidified my decision. Here I’m just a cog in a machine, you know?”

“On to bigger and better.”

“Yes. Precisely.” Unwrapping my sandwich, I said, “I’m going to miss being two seconds away from this place, though.”

I took a bite as he finished one of his.

“We should talk weekend plans,” he told me. “You need to make a trip to your place?”

I nodded as I finished chewing then asked, “About that. How much longer do you think we need to worry about me not being alone?”

“Hard to say. It’s been real quiet. I’d say too quiet. It’s only been a few days. I’m not ready to take that chance yet. You got shit to do this weekend, just let me know.”

“I probably should stop at my place. Swap out some clothes. I could stand to do some laundry, if you wouldn’t mind me using your machine.”

He scowled at me, as if to say I was being ridiculous.

“Right. Okay,” I laughed.

“I’ve got the kids next week. We’ll tell ‘em you’re gettin’ some work done at your place and you needed somewhere to crash. I’ll take the couch so we can keep up the friend facade.”

It was my turn to scowl.

“Jed, you’renotsleeping on the couch. I won’t kick you out of your bed. I’ll take the couch.”

“Or,” he began to say, leaning toward me with a conspiratorial smile. “We both take the bed, and youpretendyou’re takin’ the couch. It’s summertime. My kids aren’t up before seven-thirty, and even then they’re only up cause I won’t let them sleep all mornin’.”

“Mmm,” I hummed, meeting him halfway, the tip of my nose a hair’s breadth away from his. “I like this plan.”

“Then we’ve got ourselves a deal.”

He tilted his head and brought his lips to mine, lingering a little longer this time.

“Well,hello.”

Pulling away from Jed with a gasp, I turned to see my sister standing in the open doorway. Her eyes were wide and bright as they shifted from me to Jed then back at me before finally settling on Jed.