“Crap.” Her eyes slide closed. “I need to leave soon. Molly is coming over at five to get ready for tonight.”

“The event doesn’t start until eight.” An event I’m not looking forward to going to but am obligated to attend because Hoffner—the man hosting it—is a major donor in the political world, so Billy expects all of us to show up. And unfortunately, with Jamie being back at work this past week, she will likely be there this evening, which could get messy, since Billy’s wife will be there too. It’s something I already warned Franny about at lunch.

Though, like I told Franny, ever since Jamie’s been back at the office after Billy’s announcement, she’s been different. She’s kept her distance and been nothing but professional. I haven’t even seen her seek Billy out, making me wonder what’s going on there. And I also wonder if Franny was right—if he told Jamie that his relationship with his wife was on the rocks in order to sleep with her, and then she found out that wasn’t the case, so she cut him off.

“I know, but unlike you, I need to do more than just get dressed in order to look presentable. I need to shower and do something with my hair and my face, which is a whole process.”

“You look beautiful all the time.”

“Whatever you say, big guy.” She laughs, then adds, “Molly also asked me to do her makeup and help with her hair, so that’s going to take time, too.” She studies me for a long moment, then asks softly, “Do you want to drive together?”

The way her question comes out—tentative, almost shy—pulls my answer out of me without hesitation. “Yeah.”

“Cool.” She seems to have to force her gaze off mine. “I guess I should go.”

Fuck, it feels good that she’s as reluctant to leave as I am to let her go, which happens each time she’s here.

As she gets up off the couch, PJ—who fell asleep on the dog bed I got him for my place—lifts his head to watch his mom as she grabs her cell phone. “Are you ready to go home?” she asks him, and he drops his head back to his paws. “I guess not.”

Laughing, I get to my feet, and she tips her head back to look up at me. “I’ll bring him down with me when I come to get you.”

“Are you sure?”

“Yeah, I’ll take him out and let him run for a bit in the back of Clay’s, so he can burn off some energy.”

“You’re the best.” She rests her hands against my waist as she leans up on her tiptoes, and without thinking, I dip my chin and press my mouth to hers.