“Wasn’t gonna, don’t worry,” he said, laughing, his words muffled by her hand. “What’re your words?” he asked when she removed her hand.

“Moist—clean or dirty—I hate it.”

“Erin’s moist pussy is delectable. See? We were meant to be. Even our words go together.”

Her face burned with embarrassment. “I cannot believe you just said that.” Though she loved hearing he thought they were meant to be.

“Yes, you can,” he said, laughing.

“Least favorite punctuation?”

He raised his brows. “You have a favorite and least favorite punctuation?”

“Doesn’t everyone? This is a very serious question, so think carefully before you answer.”

“I’ve never been so stressed out.” He paused before he said, “My least favorite would have to be the semicolon.”

“Oh thank God,” she said with a dramatic sigh of relief. “Any other answer would’ve been flat-out wrong.”

He blew out a deep breath with equally dramatic flair. “My relief is overwhelming. And just for the record, what’s your favorite?”

“The exclamation point. Isn’t that everyone’s favorite?”

“Of course it is. Why did I even ask?”

Smiling at his reply, she said, “Cats or dogs?”

“Dogs. Cats creep me out.”

“Oh my God! Me, too! Worst job you ever had.”

“EMT. Loved the job, hated the suffering we encountered every day. How about you?”

“My foray into hairdressing was very unfortunate for everyone involved.”

Laughing, he asked, “What about your best job?”

“The one I have now.”

“Being a lighthouse keeper is very cool.”

“It is, but that’s not the job I’m talking about.”

“You have another one?”

“Uh-huh. I write a nationally syndicated advice column called Ask Erin.”

His eyes nearly bugged out of his head. “That’s you? Ask Erin is you?”

“Why? Have you seen it?”

“I read it every day. I’m a huge fan.”

“Come on. No way.”

“I’m not kidding. I love the practical advice and the way you’re nice to even the stupid people who deserve their problems because they’re too dumb to know that their own behavior is their biggest issue.”

Erin stared at him, agape. “You really do read the column!”

“Yes,” he said with a laugh. “How have you never told me this? I can’t believe that’s you. I’m sleeping with Ask Erin.”

“You say that like I’m Judge Judy or something.”

“I have a secret crush on her, too. I love smart, sexy women.”

His use of the word love did crazy things to her insides, resurrecting the lighthearted, giddy feeling she’d experienced earlier. She returned her head to his chest, and he resumed playing with her hair.

“Hey, Slim?”

“Hmm?”

“For a very long time my life has been spinning out of control. When I’m with you, the spinning stops. I thought you should know that.”

“That might be the nicest thing anyone has ever said to me.”

Chapter 17