Page 97 of What Started In Deception

He stopped, ready to be done with their first full day in Shoalmans Bay. “Do you want to head back to the house? Maybe we could watch some TV like we usually do.”

She nodded, smiling at him. “That sounds great.”

Lydia stepped out of the shower as the sun began to set, making fast work of drying off. She pulled on a fresh pair of panties, then her blue pajama shorts, before her cropped cami top went on next. Moisturizer was a must—first on her face and neck, then on her arms and legs, something that Grandma Gail had drilled into her head when she turned eighteen and gifted her top-of-the-line moisturizing products. If her skin looked even half as amazing as her grandmother’s did when she turned seventy-eight…

Eager to get downstairs and continue her night with Ty, she put the cap back on the bottle, then headed that way, smiling as he sat on the couch in a pair of athletic shorts after he’d showered first.

He smiled back with his hair still damp. “Do you want to snuggle up?”

She nodded. “I do.”

“Here we go,” he said as he settled back against the plush arm like he always did before she nestled herself between the V of his legs, waiting for him to wrap his arms around her shoulders.

She hummed in her throat as she rested her head in the crook of his neck, then settled her palms on his skin, finding his tough body firm and warm against hers. And of course, he smelled amazing—like Ty and soap. “I missed this, which I know is silly since it’s only been two days.”

He shook his head, wrapping her up tighter, nuzzling his cheek against her temple. “I missed it, too.”

“I guess it does make sense since this is our routine.” Although the snuggling was new—something that they’d added after their trip to DC.

“And we know how you feel about a good routine,” he said next to her ear.

She grinned, giving his arm a soft pinch. “There’s nothing wrong with following a consistent plan.”

He laughed. “Because where would we be without a consistent plan for our television watching?”

Laughing this time, she pinched him again, content that they were together again after spending most of the evening apart.

She’d been disappointed when Asher plunked himself down in the chair next to hers at the dinner table. Yet she’d done her part as one of the Monroe Estate’s polite hostesses, making conversation with him when all she’d wanted was to sit next to Ty and feel connected to him like she had in Oliver Heights.

When he’d walked over an hour later, wrapping his arms around her and nuzzling her neck, inviting her to take a walk with him, she’d been thrilled. Because, ultimately, she loved it when it was just the two of them.

“Stop teasing me about my ultra-organized ways and turn on the TV.”

He chuckled. “I like your ultra-organized ways.”

She tilted her head to look at him, narrowing her eyes. “Now you’re just kissing my butt.”

He laughed as he reached for the remote on the coffee table, stopping before he hit the power button. “I want to say something.”

“Okay,” she said, sensing that he was getting serious as she held his gaze.

“I want to apologize for this morning.”

She frowned. “What about this morning?”

“I feel like I could’ve chosen my words better when we were talking in the gym. I don’t like thinking that I was impatient with you.”

“It’s fine.”

He shook his head. “I could’ve done better, Lyd. I’m sorry that I didn’t.”

She nodded, knowing that he meant it. “It’s okay.”

“Okay.”

She smiled before she snuggled back against him, not wanting to talk or think about anything but the night ahead, especially not the case or the FBI. They always seemed to ruin their perfect moments. “Let’s watch some TV before we fall asleep.”

He turned on the screen, where their usual variety of apps waited. “Are we thinking of a movie or a show?”