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The same applied to my hearing, my nose… Every single sense had been cleansed.
Erin tugged my hand, and we continued down the path. Other than our shoes crunching over the ground, the world was at peace.
Then we got to thetalkingpart, though we danced around the big topics for a while. We discussed meeting Edwards the next day, then work. Apparently, Henry had called off all flights for a few days. Desert Skies had to repair the damaged balloon and regroup after all the media attention, so Erin and I had more free time than usual.
And boy, did I intend to use it well.
“And after that?” I ventured.
Erin stopped on the first step of her porch and looked at me, her eyes brimming with hope.
“I guess it depends. On how long you plan to stick around, I mean.”
Forever,my dragon said immediately.Tell her, forever.
I shrugged, trying to play it cool. “I’m in no rush to leave. Especially with some new job prospects opening up.” When she tilted her head, I went on. “Henry’s going to need a new ground crew chief now that you’ll be piloting more.”
I could see her excitement, though she kept it in check.
“Not too boring a job for you?” she asked, moving up another step. “I mean, after being an agent and all…”
I shook my head. “Nah. Low-key is fine with me. Although I will need to add a side gig. Maybe work on a ranch somewhere… You got any ideas where I might start?”
Her eyes sparkled. “Oh, I definitely have ideas.”
So did I, but just in case…
“Such as…?” I prompted, waiting breathlessly. A little like Roscoe did around the dinner table, wagging his tail hopefully.
“Well, we could use a hand around here.” Her throat bobbed. “We can’t afford to pay, but we could offer room and board.”
I pointed to the barn. “There’s space in the loft, right?”
She gestured toward her cabin. “I was thinking of another loft.”
I inched a little closer, and my voice went all scratchy. “You got enough space there for two? For more than one night, I mean?”
She shrugged, but her eyes danced. “I’m sure you’d fit perfectly.”
And,whoosh!The innuendo sent heat rushing through my veins.
I stepped closer. Right into her arms, in fact. Or maybe she stepped into mine.
“Oops.” I stopped when we crushed Hopper. “We still have the bunny.”
Erin plucked him out of my hands and set him on a porch chair. “He can keep watch out here.”
With that, she slid her arms around my neck.
“Good idea,” I mumbled, leaning into a kiss.
Erin slid her hands into my rear pockets and pressed me closer, making my dragon groan.
So good…
“Hang on.” She broke off long enough to open the cabin door and pull me inside.
Seconds later, we were at the foot of the steep stairs, leaving the floor littered with clothes. Mostly Erin’s, but she did peel my jumpsuit down to my waist. The dangling sleeves would probably be a liability on the loft stairs, but hell. We’d braved greater dangers together.
