Page 121 of The Route to You

If she’d realized one thing, it was that Kyle had friends in spades. He didn’t need her friendship.

But he also didn’t seem to want something more, either.

He’d slept in her bed all night and not once had he sexualized it. He’d held her, yes, but kept his hands in all the “proper” places. Hadn’t been suggestive.

And, dammit . . . I slept so much better with him in the bed.

Having him there was better than any home remedy for insomnia. And I’ve tried many.

But she’d be a liar if she pretended it had been just about sleep. His proximity had made her horny, especially last night, when she’d been drinking.

And she’d woken up wet this morning, her mind wandering to memories that only made it harder to consider not crossing that line.

Maybe after what she’d done so many years earlier, she’d need to make the first move.

By the time she got back to the house, she was half-ready to jump him and see where it led.

But Kyle still hadn’t returned, so Sloan let the dogs out and then turned on the shower. She probably needed a cold one, really.

When she finished, she dressed in the T-shirt he’d loaned her the night before, but put on a cute pair of panties—just in case.

He had always said he liked seeing her wear his shirts, after all. More than the lingerie she’d bought to surprise him when she was younger. Not that she had any lingerie now. She’d thrown every last bit of it out after she’d left Evan, because the thought of wearing it for someone else felt gross.

Her heart beat harder at the thought of Kyle seeing her in lingerie.

Maybe I’m not ready for this.

She’d only been in town for a week. What if he turned her down?

Could she really handle something like that?

And . . . where is Kyle? She’d taken a long time in the shower and he still wasn’t back.

Going over to her purse, which she’d dumped on the bed when she got home, she pulled out her phone.

Oh shit.

Her gut dropped. Hard.

Five missed calls from Kyle.

Several texts, too.

She didn’t read the texts, dialing him immediately.

Kyle picked up on the first ring. “Hello?”

“Are you okay? What happened?” Sloan asked, sitting on the edge of her mattress. Charlie and Sadie both seemed to sense her distress and came padding over, chins on her bare thighs.

“Dammit, Sloan. Where have you been? I’ve been trying to call you for the last hour.” The irritation in his voice was thick.

“I’m home. I’m sorry, I had turned my phone volume off when I started the lesson and forgot to turn it back on.”

“And you didn’t check your phone once?”

His anger made her feel sick. “I—no. Are you okay?”

“Yeah, I . . .” He exhaled. “Just been driving all over town. Tara brought a toy with her and left it somewhere and it’s one of those stuffed animals she can’t live without. I called because I wanted to see if she left it at the paint shop and hoped I could get you before you left. But by the time I got back there, it was closed for the night.”