What Lovers Do
Page 35
Shep? He’s cool. Cool as if he didn’t just kiss me intimately.
“Ready?”
I nod.
Cersei will be sleeping on the floor tonight. No way in hell am I letting that little bitch sleep with me after what she just did.
CHAPTER FIFTEEN
It’s like it never happened.
We take Cersei for a walk. Shep tells me all about his favorite trails and water holes around Sedona. My hand dangles at my side, begging to be taken by his hand, but he never does.
My house has a Jimmy infestation. I have no business dreaming about Shep holding my hand. Yet … I wet my lips repeatedly, hoping he’ll wet them for me, hoping he’ll feel the sudden urge to pick up where we left off before evil Cersei Fucking Lannister decided to be so rude.
He never does.
Evening snacks. Small talk. Fetch and a final pee outing for Cersei.
Then Shep stands from the sofa. “We have an early tee time in the morning. I’ll let you get some sleep.” Shep locks the doors and shuts off all the lights except for the accent lights under the kitchen cabinets and the one in the hallway leading to the master bedroom.
“Okay.” I glance at my watch. It’s ten o’clock. What are we? Seventy?
“If you want to watch TV, it won’t bother me. I can’t hear much downstairs.”
“Okay.” I press my lips together.
We’re going to bed at ten on a Friday night. After he kissed me. What did I do wrong? Why am I being punished? Is this karma for not being kinder to Jimmy?
“Night.”
I nod once. “Night.”
Shep disappears down the stairs.
“Go to bed. On the floor.” I point to the bedroom.
Cersei runs into the bedroom and jumps up on the bed.
“Off.” I point to the floor.
She whines before jumping down and settling along the wall by the air vent. I shower and climb into bed, resting my hand on my abdomen. It doesn’t feel real. I’m not disappointed that I haven’t had morning sickness, but at least it would make this pregnancy feel real.
As I lean over to shut off the light, my phone chimes. I gaze at the screen a few seconds. “Really?” I mumble to myself before answering it.
“What are you doing?” I answer.
“What are you wearing?” Shep says.
“You’re downstairs.”
“I am. That’s why I can’t see what you’re wearing.”
I laugh. It seems to be a reoccurring theme with him. “A nightshirt.”
“Whatcha up to this weekend?”
Curling onto my side, I play along. “Hanging out with a friend in Sedona.”
“Guy friend or girlfriend.”
My face aches because I can’t seem to wipe this grin from it. “Guy.”
“Just friends?”
“Just friends.”
“Is golfing your favorite pastime?”
“No. I like to crochet.”
“So you’re sixty?”
“Says the guy who goes to bed at ten on the weekend.”
“Sorry. I was in a hurry to call you.”
More giggles, the kind that linger in my belly long after the giggling stops.
“What do you crochet?”
“My grandma taught me to crochet hats and scarves, but they don’t come in as handy here in Arizona as they did in Michigan. My current project is a baby blanket for my sister.”
“Oh, is she pregnant now?”
“No … uh … she’s not. But it will take me awhile to finish it, so …”
“You’re a nice aunt. Or future aunt.”
“You have no idea. So is golfing your favorite pastime?”
“It’s up there, but I have to say I enjoy brewing even more than golfing.”
“Brewing? As in beer?”
“Anything.”
“Anything?” I laugh.
“Beer. Ginger beer. Kombucha. Vinegar. Sake …”
“That’s a little unexpected, Shep. I didn’t see that coming.”
“So you’re surprised?”
“I am.”
“Perfect. I like it when I can be a little unpredictable.”
“Oh, Shep … you are anything but predictable.”
We converse for the next two hours. It’s absurd. We’re in the same house. Yet, it’s fun in the way that building a fort and sleeping on a pile of blankets and sofa cushions is fun even if there are perfectly good beds available.
Waking at four in the morning, I can’t get back to sleep, so I slip out back, open the cover to the pool, and turn on the pool’s lights. It glows in the early morning darkness. I shrug off my nightshirt and step into the cool water, wading my way to the infinity edge and resting my arms on it.
“And you led me to believe you weren’t an early riser.”
“Shit!” I glance over my shoulder. “I’m not wearing anything!”
Shep sits on the edge of the pool in his swim trunks, no shirt, like he did last night. “I see that.”
“Yet, you’re staring at me.” I keep one hand on the edge so I don’t sink, and use my other hand to cover my breasts while drawing my knees up to hide my other area.
“I am. How are you this morning?”
“I’m naked.”
“How did you sleep? Naked as well?”
“Would you mind turning around so I can get to my towel and shirt?”
“Our tee time is at six. Want me to take Cersei for a walk while you get ready? Then we can grab breakfast. Sorry. Nothing is open this early, so I hope you’re good with cereal or toaster waffles.” He’s enjoying this too much.