Page 83 of For Better or Hearse

She’s never been looked at that way. Ever. Partly like she’s roadkill, but also…with wonder. Wanting.

What does it mean?

Ash walks across the patio into her bedroom.

Nothing. It means absolutely nothing.

It has to. Today, that kiss can’t ever matter.

On the nightstand, her phone lights up. She scrambles to answer. Pretends not to be disappointed when the name on the screen isn’t Nathaniel’s. OrTall Asshole. She should be disappointed in herself. When did she go fromfuck that guytoI want to fuck that guy?

A text from Tessie:I can’t sleep. Again.

Calling you.

“Hi. You okay?”

“I’m so restless,” Tessie murmurs. On the other end of the line, the rustle of sheets. “This baby is using my bladder as a trampoline. I swear, she only respects me like 50 percent of the time.”

“Are you feeling okay?” Ash sits on the edge of the bed. Aprickle of worry needles its way beneath her skin. “Have you been to the doctor?”

Tessie laughs. “You don’t have to worry about me. How was your day?”

“It was…fine.”

Even three thousand miles away, her cousin sees right through her. Tessie gasps. “You kissed him.”

“What? No.” She covers her face with one hand. Then she mumbles, “We kinda, sorta, did more than that.”

Remembering Nathaniel’s long fingers inside her, the feel of his hard body against hers, sends a rush of heat to her core. Clandestine. Intimate. She wanted it all. Especially him.

It felt good. It felt right. Did he enjoy it as much as she did?

Tessie cheers. “Ash! Does this mean the truce is over?”

“It’s a new truce. To maybe sometimes kiss.” She’s never been good at holding back her emotions. While Tessie’s a lockbox, she’s always worn her heart on her sleeve. “It’s not complicated. Get in and out. Like a drive-through.”

Not like she’d categorize it as getting finger-fucked under a waterfall.

It was…more than that. He gave. She took. And he wanted nothing back. Even if she was close to taking the heavy weight of him in her mouth. Because she wanted to.

God, and that orgasm. Sheorgasmed.

Ash lets out ammm.

Tessie’s choked laugh breaks her out of her daze. “That good, huh?”

“Shut up.”

“I still demand you tell me everything.” Over the line, a door shuts. “Solomon is full-throttle snoring. I need some romance in my life.”

Ash fights to keep her features, her tone neutral. “I mean, if you want to get all technical, Nathaniel Whitford is a bionic superhuman hiker with above-average kissing skills.”

“And he’s a doctor.”

“And he’s a doctor.”

“What about his laugh? Is it a red or green flag?”