by Linda Seed
His touch made her moan, first low, and then louder. He picked up a rhythm, touching her, stroking, until she cried out, stiffened, and then quivered with her release.
She collapsed on top of him.
Not yet sated, he took her in his arms and rolled her onto her back, never breaking their connection. Looking into her eyes, he found his own rhythm, rising on the tide of pleasure until the waves crashed and he exploded in a peak of bliss.
His body melted on top of her, and then, not wanting to crush her, he moved to her side and enveloped her in his arms.
They slept, their bodies tangled together, as the sun rose, bringing a pale pink glow to her windows.
The next day—Rose’s day off—they were lying in bed, the rumpled covers in a riot of disorder as they sipped coffee and ate the Pop Tarts that were the only breakfast item Rose had in her meager kitchen.
“Don’t get me wrong, I love Pop Tarts,” Will said, appraising the rectangular pastry with its cheerful sprinkles. “But you probably should be eating a more balanced diet.”
“Yeah, yeah,” she said, nudging him with her foot. She brushed some crumbs off of the covers. “So. I hate to bring practical stuff into what has, admittedly, been the best date I’ve ever had. But what are you going to do about the whole thing with Chris? Your job?”
“Don’t worry about it,” he said.
“Why not?”
“Because I have a plan.”
“Really.” She sat up in bed, drawing a sheet up to cover her breasts. “Do tell.”
“Well. First, I’m going to have my stuff delivered to Gen’s old place. Jackson said I could stay there while I figure things out. Then, I’m going to defend my dissertation. That’ll go well—my adviser has seen my work and says he’s sure it’ll be accepted. Then, I’m going to apply for a job at Cal Poly as a professor. One of their biology guys is retiring, so there’s something opening up in the fall. In the meantime, I’m going to teach summer classes at Cuesta College. I don’t need the PhD for that, I can do it with just my master’s.”
She looked at him with interest. “Wow. You really have been thinking.”
“I have.”
“And you figured this all out just since last night?”
“Oh, no. Last night I was busy.”
“Yes, you were.” She gave him a feline grin that nearly melted him.
“I’ve actually been planning all of this since I found out about the baby. A guy who’s going to be a father needs to step up.”
“You’re stepping up,” she said, pleasure in her voice.
“I’m stepping up.” He sipped some coffee, feeling happy with himself, and with life. “Oh, and there’s another thing.”
“What?”
“Once I’m on the faculty at Cal Poly, my dependents can attend part time at a reduced cost. A greatly reduced cost. Nominal, really.” He grinned at her.
“I can go to college?” The excitement in her voice gratified him.
“You can go to college.” He paused. “Of course, it only works if we’re married. Which we don’t have to be, if you don’t want that. I don’t want to rush anything. We’ll take things one step at a time.”
He looked for signs that she might be panicking, but she looked okay.
“One step at a time,” she repeated.
They were still lounging around, lazy and happy, when Will’s cell phone rang. He looked at the display and saw that it was Chris.
He tapped the screen to connect the call, and took a deep breath.
“Hey.”
“Will. Hi. Look, about last night—”
“I’m sorry I didn’t tell you about me and Melinda,” Will said. “I get why you’re upset. I would be, too. But I didn’t make a pass at her. I swear.”
“I know,” he said.
“You do?”
Chris sighed heavily. “Yeah. Once I had a chance to think about things … I know you didn’t, Will.”
Will felt himself sag in relief. “So, what’s going to happen with Melinda?”
“I sent her home this morning.”
Will wasn’t sure what to say. Finally, he settled on, “I’m sorry.”
“Yeah, well. That was never going to be a long term thing.”
“I guess not.”
“So, Will. About your job. I’d like you to come back.”
It felt good to hear it, to get the offer. It was validation. But Will couldn’t move backward at this point. He was ready to go forward. “Thanks. But after everything, I think it’s better if I don’t.”
“Yeah. You may be right,” Chris said.
“Hey. Is it okay if I come over and get some of my stuff? All I’ve got is a tux and my wallet. That’s going to be awkward on the job hunt.”
Chris chuckled. “Of course. Whatever you don’t pick up today, I can have delivered to you. Where are you staying?”
“Just a sec.” He held his hand over the phone and asked Rose, “Hey, what’s Kate and Jackson’s address? Chris wants to know where to send my stuff.”
“Give me the phone, I’ll tell him,” Rose said.
He handed over the cell phone.
“Chris? It’s Rose. Let me give you the address where you can send Will’s things. You ready?” She slid her eyes over to Will, and gave the address. But it wasn’t Kate and Jackson’s address. It was Rose’s.
When she hung up, he stared at her.
“You told him to send my stuff here.”
“I did.”
“Does that mean …”
“You said it last night. We’re a family. So don’t overanalyze it. Just come home.”
Home. Family.
He liked the sound of that.
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Moonstone Beach (Main Street Merchants, Book 1)
Like That Endless Cambria Sky (Main Street Merchants, Book 2)
Fire and Glass (Main Street Merchants, Book 4)
About the Author
Linda Seed is a former journalist who lives in Murrieta, California, with her husband and three children. Linda is a freelance fiction editor who enjoys working with independent authors.