Page 86 of Finding Redemption

“He took my panties.”

“How’d he get them?” I swing the door wide with my toothbrush in my hand.

“He asked, I allowed him to take them.” His mouth pops open. “I was mortified. I had those things on for a while,” I say before shoving the brush in my mouth.

“Helluva man, brave if nothing else.” He chuckles as I spit.

“Anyway, I’ll be home tonight and give you all the details.” I wander into my closet, tossing clothes.

“Did you eat? Where’d he take you?” he asks.

I step out with grey slacks and a black shirt on. “He cooked. And kissed me a million times this morning.”

“This morning? No wonder you didn’t get laid. He didn’t try last night?” A line forms between his eyes.

“No, but it’s the way it should’ve been. We had a ton to talk about.” I twist my hair on my head, grab my makeup bag and rush to the door.

“You talked? All night?” He folds his arms over his chest.

“We did. Well, until I fell asleep.” I kiss his cheek. “I gotta run. Dinner? I’ll text you.” I wave over my head as I run to my Jeep.

19

Isettle in, getting straight to work. My phone buzzes. I grin, picking it up to see what Reese has sent. I hit the button. Only I hear Riley, not Reese.

“Who in the hell did you have pinned against a Jeep this morning?”

“Son of a bitch.” I fidget, knowing it’s coming.

“I think I saw red but your big ass was in the way.” He laughs.

“Whatever. I’m not saying anything.”

“I’ll call Ava. You know she’ll call Reese.” He has a point.

“We’re just getting to know each other better.”

“Bullshit. It was seven in the morning,” he huffs. “Spill, fucker.”

“I made a peace offering, I might have kissed her and I cooked.” There, short and sweet.

“Details, Walker. You’re an attorney. You know this is the important part and Ava will want them,” Riley grumbles.

“We talked, it was good. I made dinner and we fell asleep.”

“Where? Couch? Bed?” Riley asks.

“What the hell? Can I not have a little privacy?”

“No,” he says bluntly, making us both laugh.

“Fine. I went in with a peace offering with the intention of asking her to dinner.” I swivel in my chair, spinning from time to time. “We kissed while at the center and I knew then I needed to up my game if I was gonna have a chance. I went all in, asked her to follow me back to my place.

“We talked and I ended up telling her everything about Thayer. We discussed her family and watched movies until I woke up around one in the morning. I carried her to bed and slipped in beside her. We did not have sex. But we did break the kissing record, I believe.”

“I’ll be damned. You’ve never told anyone about Thayer,” Riley mutters.

“There’s something about Reese. I want to tell her everything.” I lay my head back, thinking of her red hair lying across my pillow when I laid her down. I traced her soft lips, using all my strength to not kiss her.