Stripped Down (Tap That)

“That picture doesn’t do you justice,” she said. “You’re much better looking in person.”

“Thanks.” He gave her a slow, sensual smile that might move this process along a little faster. “So I’m free to go?”

“Yes. Sloane says you’re on the up and up.”

“Good, because standing on Tom’s property probably isn’t the smartest thing I’ve ever done, and my little sister is up on the sidewalk and I need to get back to her.”

“That little girl trying to ride her bike belongs to you? Saddest thing I’ve ever seen. She has zero coordination.”

Rick led Kate out of the backyard and past Maribeth, who only moved slightly. “It’s okay. Her intelligence makes up for her lack of agility.”

“Sloane wants to talk to you.” She held the phone out to him.

“Hey, beautiful, what’s up?”

“Are you nuts?” she screamed in his ear. “You drove to Minneapolis to steal my dog? Are you insane?”

“Something like that.”

She exhaled in his ear. “Is she okay?”

“She’s fine. Just exhausted and hot and a little scared.”

“Thank you,” she said, her voice breaking. “You don’t know what this means to me.”

His chest felt tight. “You’re welcome.”

“Are you sure she’s okay? You wouldn’t lie to me, would you?”

“She’s fine, I swear. I wouldn’t lie to you about that.”

“Oh, my God, this is such a relief.”

“I’ll have her back to you in a couple of hours.”

“Thanks, again, seriously. I owe you something extra special,” she said, her voice growing husky. “Anything you want. And I mean that.”

If she was offering sex, he was taking it. He’d spent three days tortured by the memory of Sloane on his bike and he felt like he’d slipped backward in time. He was jerking himself off in the shower to thoughts of her. She was still the hottest girl in Beaver Bend.

But he’d started to freak himself out that he was feeling too much.

This was different though, right? If she wanted to show her special appreciation who was he to say no?

“We can discuss that when I get back. I just have one question—do you still have your cheerleading uniform?”

If he was getting offered fantasy sex on a platter he was going with his oldest fantasy. Sloane in her tight cheerleading top and short ass skirt.

She gasped. “Oh, you are a di

rty son of a bitch, Rick. I like it.”

He cleared his throat. “I’m handing the phone back now before we get in real trouble.” Trouble that had nothing to do with trespassing and everything to do with phone sex with a witness.

She laughed softly. “Kiss Kate for me and I’ll see you soon. Thanks, Rick. You are the best.”

That made him ridiculously proud. He expanded like a puffer fish.

But while he was busy patting himself on the back Maribeth was swearing under her breath. “Take the leash off of Kate and let her loose. The asshole is home!”