What Lovers Do

He hums. “Maybe. Tell me your idea of the perfect guy.”

“Perfection doesn’t exist.”

“Tell my ex-wife that.” He frowns.

“I will.” I grin. “My idea of a good guy. Let me see …”

“Dark, wavy hair? Mesmerizing eyes? Lover of animals? Tall and moderately sexy?”

I laugh as Shep drones on with his self-description, yet again. We’ve played this game before. “A guy who makes me laugh.”

“Done.” He winks.

I shake my head despite my grin. “Someone who has a job he loves but isn’t married to it. Someone who feels like I bring out the best in him, but deep down he knows it’s not me. It’s him. He doesn’t need me, but he wants me. Someone who values our time away from each other because it only makes our time together that much better. I don’t want to be the air in his lungs. Just …” I try to find the right word.

“Just his hidden sunshine on a cloudy day. You’re good with being felt, but not always seen,” Shep says.

I nod.

He closes his eyes. “I feel you.”

My heart scrambles to understand this new rhythm it’s found in the presence of Shep. When I realize it’s struggling too much, I stand, carrying my half-eaten dinner to the kitchen. Cersei follows me, plunking onto the cold tile floor in the hallway.

There’s a shift happening. And I’m trying so hard to stop it, but it’s like fighting gravity. His nearness at my back is an invisible touch on my skin.

I place my plate of half-eaten food in the fridge, not wanting to waste it. Maybe later, after he goes to bed, I’ll get the munchies. Shep slides the charcuterie tray in the fridge before I can move. His bare chest presses to my back. The sheer material of my coverup does nothing to block the heat from his skin so close to mine.

I slowly turn.

Baby in your womb. Squatter at your house. Focus!

Shep doesn’t move. He just … gives me this look. He’s good. Too good. “Do you think friends sometimes kiss?” he whispers as his fingers ghost along my palms.

To save myself, I try to imagine how he might look and smell if he didn’t shower for a week. Would his ass be as sexy if it were imprinted in my leather sofa, stenciled in sweat and grime?

I draw in a shaky breath, keeping the rest of my body unmoving. “Uh … my friend Jules has kissed me on the cheek. But it uh …” I start to lose my breath under my fading voice. The rapid thumping of my heart tramples my confidence.

Shep ducks his head, bringing his lips unbearably close to my cheek before pausing. “Here?” he whispers.

“Yeah … that’s my … cheek …” If I could stop panting, I wouldn’t feel so parched.

My eyes close when his warm lips touch my cheek. The kiss is slow and silent. Maybe an illusion. It’s okay to indulge in an illusion, right?

“What about here?” he asks, dragging his lips from my cheek to my jaw. Jules doesn’t kiss me quite like this. It’s the lip dragging that seems a little excessive for friends.

“K …” I can’t even manage the O part of granting him permission to kiss my jaw. Jules has never kissed my jaw. I should tell him that. It’s not fair … to Jules, of course.

“Here?” he whispers in my ear as his lips feather along my earlobe. “Sophie?” His mouth slides down my neck.

I swallow hard. “Yeah?”

“Do you want to be best friends?” His fingers interlace with mine, and he guides me toward him while he backs us out of the fridge, letting the door close behind me.

He works his mouth back up my neck as I ready myself for the moment I know I won’t be able to stop.

Ruff! Ruff!

Cersei not only barks, but she also jumps up on me, forcing me to step back.

Forcing Shep to release my hands.

Damn you, dog!

Cersei’s trying to save me from myself. So why am I so pissed off at her right now?

Ruff! Ruff!

“Do you need out, Cersei?” Shep asks because he’s nice. A real dog guy.

I want to put her leash on and tie it to a post. She wasn’t supposed to be my dog. Car and purse thief bad decision left her with me. Without her and her bad timing, I might be …

Having sex!

“Let’s take her for a walk. The sun’s getting ready to set. We’ll get some views from the trail just down the way.”

I was anticipating naked Shep being the stunning view tonight. “Sure.” I scrounge a smile and pin it to my face, even if it is a little crooked and painful.

“Let me grab a shirt and shoes.”

I nod several times. “Yeah. I’ll get dressed.”

By the time I slip on my shorts and midriff tee, Shep and Cersei are already waiting at the door. I feel fifteen, taking tentative steps toward the door while my first date waits for me.