Page 81 of Ridin’ Dirty

I felt the beginning of a blush at the base of my neck.

It was a lie—one I’d been hanging onto since I moved back home.

It was easier to be Carmy’s baby sister than to explain the whole truth.

Returning to Missoula was like hitting the reset button. Whatever assumptions people made, I didn’t go out of my way to correct them.

Is that why he calls me angel? Because he thinks I’m somehow pure wandering amongst the wild?

“Speak up, babe. We good?”

“Oh, yeah. I mean, yeah, I’m clean,” I stammered.

Before I could say more, he replied, “Good. Cause the way I remember it, when I want to fuck, I got a wife for that. If you’re the only pussy gettin’ my dick, don’t see why I need to wrap it up.”

For a breath, I was stunned silent.

There was a promise in there.

A vow from a husband to his wife.

It was silly to get my hopes up, but I did it anyway.

There was so much undiscovered between us. What we didn’t know about the other could break the us barely tied together with wedding bands and secrets. But we were here. Together. Naked on our brand-new couch.

Afraid of the fragility of what was developing between us, not wanting to screw it all up before it could turn into something real, I merely nodded my agreement before steering us in another direction.

“I don’t normally see you in the mornings. Do you ever sleep in?”

“No,” he declared matter-of-factly.

I narrowed my eyes at him, trying to make sense of the man.

“Okay. So, you’re an early bird. An early bird who doesn’t need coffee. Unless—wait, are you one of those guys who goes and sits with his dog and sips coffee at a café, watching the sun come up?”

“No,” he chuckled and shook his head, as if he found me ridiculous.

The muscles of my face relaxed, and I caught myself smiling back at him.

I didn’t care if he was laughing at me. He looked damn good doing it.

“What, then?” I probed.

“Been wakin’ up at dawn every mornin’ for the last three years. Can’t help it. Doesn’t bother me. Now that I’m out, I make good use of the time. Hit the gym first thing. Leave time for breakfast before gettin’ on with the day.”

I trailed my fingertips lightly across the Wild Stallions logo inked on his outer right bicep. “You worked up a sweat before now, with me—any chance you stopped for breakfast while you were out?”

“Got sidetracked. On the list of shit I gotta do soon as I hit the shower.”

It wasn’t merely the confirmation breakfast was coming that made me smile; it was knowing it was on his list.

I was on his list.

“Let me guess what’s on the menu today…” I paused to think, grazing my hands over his shoulders and up the back of his neck, until my fingers felt the hair at his nape. I honestly didn’t care one way or another what he brought, I merely wanted another second with him on top of me. “Bagel? Egg, cheese, sausage?”

He smirked down at me, and the sight made my sex clench.

His smirk turned into a smile as he slowly pulled out before standing to his feet.