Reckless

For the record, Ethan was totally right about the endorphins. I feel freaking fabulous.

With a contented sigh, I push my nose into his neck, loving how he smells. I could stay in this bed with him for the next year if left to my own devices.

I’ve never even contemplated getting naked with a guy when Aunt Flo was visiting. Jamie wouldn’t touch me with a ten-foot pole. I thought all men were like that. Even though, really, most of what Ethan and I did was in the shower, so there wasn’t a mess. I’d never consider it unless I really trusted a guy, but Ethan makes me want to open up to him. I mean, I’d have to trust him to let him run the red light.

His palm brushes over my stomach, an area I’m less than pleased with this time of the month, but given how we just jumped each other in the shower, I’m too boneless and hopped up on sex to care.

“What time do you need to get up in the morning?” My voice is hoarse from sex. For real, that’s a thing I never really got until this summer. Thank God I don’t share a bedroom wall with the kids.

“Around four thirty.”

With a strained effort, I crack open my eyes to check the clock on my nightstand. “It’s almost midnight. Don’t you need more sleep?” The man has to be exhausted. I don’t know where he gets his stamina.

“Gonna be too hot this week to work in the afternoons, so I’ll need to get more done at night. The upshot is maybe I can grab a nap during the day.”

“Let me know what you need me to do, how I can help you.”

“You do enough, baby.”

Rolling over to use him as a body pillow, I toss my leg over his. We’re both wearing underwear, but our chests are skin to skin, and he’s so warm, I wanna purr.

“Don’t tell anyone, but I’ll be your sex slave,” I admit. “It’s a rough job, but someone has to do it.”

The rumble of laughter in his chest makes me smile. “I happen to have an opening.”

“Lucky me.”

He kisses the top of my head. “I’d say lucky me.”

We lie in silence, the moon casting long shadows through the curtains at the edge of my room.

Drawing circles on his chest, I let out a sigh of relief for how today went. “I’m so glad the judge approved your proposal.”

“God, me too. The guy who provides the livestock is on board, and we’ve worked out that contract. I just hope negotiations with Allison go as smoothly. We spent a lot of time arguing last year, but I thought things were beginning to chill out.”

Hmm. I have a theory.

“I’m sure her finding us half-naked in the back of your truck didn’t help much.”

He heaves a frustrated sigh. “You’re probably right.”

“Sometimes it’s hard for people to move on.” I think back to Vivian’s situation with her ex David, whom she tossed away like a used tissue. When we spoke earlier today, though, you’d think he was the love of her life.

“The only thing I’m concerned about is Allison’s willingness to be a silent partner. She’s never taken an interest in the horses or the business, so that bodes well for us, but having an ex as a partner is not ideal. Logan just wants me to compete again, and he’s willing to do anything to make that happen, even put up with her.”

My hand stills on his chest. Yeah, when I came up with the brilliant plan, I wasn’t really thinking about how that would connect Ethan to Allison even more long-term. This is why I should stick to things like cooking and crafts and bartending.

But I don’t want to compound Ethan’s worry. “Maybe you guys need time for the dust to settle.”

“I hope so, babe.” Turning me in his arms, he lets out a laugh. “I feel like you know my dirty laundry. Please tell me you have a crazy ex story too.”

That’s one topic I haven’t shared this summer, but it’s probably not fair that I know so much about his life, and he doesn’t know this huge thing that happened to me last year.

“I do. In fact, I could probably top your crazy.”

“Really?”

“Oh, yeah.” I nibble on my lip, hating this subject but wanting to have this conversation out of the way. “I dated someone my last year at UT. I guess I thought we were getting serious only to find out the guy lied the entire time we dated. Pretended to be devoted. Pretended he cared. Made all kinds of promises. Until the day I found out the bastard was married.”

“Are you fucking serious?” Ethan’s whole body stiffens, and he shifts us so he can see my face. “What happened? Please tell me his wife caught his sorry ass.”

Shame washes over me, and I sit up, pulling the sheet up and tucking it around me. “Not exactly.” Part of me hates that I never ratted him out to his wife.

Leaning up, he pulls me to his chest. “I’m so sorry he hurt you, baby.”

“That was the reason I didn’t want to work for you. After Jamie, I didn’t date anyone for over a year, until I moved in with you. I felt like I couldn’t trust my judgment anymore because he had me so fooled. When I interviewed with you, I think I was such a bitch that day because you scared me.”

“I scared you?”

I nod, glad he can’t see the heat traveling up my face. “There you were, this really handsome, intense guy.” Closing my eyes, I can see him that day. The way those stormy blue eyes pierced through me. The way our chemistry pulsed in the air like a live current. “You were dripping wet from washing off in the kitchen sink, flashing those abs and tattoos. A girl would have to be dead, dumb, or decapitated not to be attracted to you.”

His quiet chuckle makes me shift around to face him.

“You think this is funny? That I thought you were so hot, I probably subconsciously sabotaged the interview because I didn’t want to work for someone I was into? That, deep down, I liked the fact that you were pissed off that day? That I couldn’t decide if I wanted to slap you silly or ride you next to your commercial range oven?”

He groans. “Option number two, please.”

“Shut up. You made me break my man diet.” I laugh and smack his arm, but he catches my wrist and pulls me down until I’m resting on his chest. “Do I win? Does my ex’s crazy trump Allison’s?”

“You definitely win.”

The way he kisses me makes me grateful I couldn’t stay away from him.

Maybe the worst is behind me and the best is yet to come. If Ethan is a part of my life, I’m becoming more optimistic about those odds.