“She’s one of us,” said Stevie. “Any chance you’re feeding us, Lil?” Morgan asked with a hopeful expression as she surveyed the island counter. She ambled closer to examine the contents of a large blue bowl, and her leg brushed against Emilia’s.

“I’m feeding Angie and Emilia.”

“We’ve landed in enemy territory,” Stevie said to Morgan. “If we abort the mission now, we may still have time to get burgers.”

“I’m glad you stuck around,” Morgan said, ignoring Stevie and fixing those flawless eyes on Emilia again.

“We’ve decided you can’t have her all to yourself,” said Angie.

Morgan placed an arm around Emilia in a show of playful possession.

“Careful, Donovan,” said Lillian. “Angie’s holding a knife.”

The banter—and Morgan’s proximity—left Emilia feeling dizzy.

Morgan dropped her arm, but let her hand linger on Emilia’s lower back. The touch drove all thoughts of dinner from her mind, and while a moment before she’d been basking in the overwhelming warmth of this kitchen, now she desperately wanted to be alone with Morgan. Her body reminded her unequivocally that it had not forgotten the pressure of Morgan’s fingers through her jeans, nor forgiven her for the ruthless teasing. Smiling at her sister and her friends while she wanted nothing more than to straddle Morgan right there in the coffee shop had been agony.

Agony she would happily relive again and again.

Lillian’s salad, she reflected a few moments later, was worth the temporary deprivation.

“What did you do to these vegetables?” she asked.

“She’s the vegetable whisperer,” said Angie.

“It’s unbelievable.”

“That reminds me.” Stevie launched into an elaborate story involving one of the clients they’d seen that day. Emilia followed along as best she could, but she kept glancing over at Morgan. Her clinic polo showed off her muscular arms, and a bit of sunburn colored her fair cheeks. Her eyes drifted to meet Emilia’s, and she raised an eyebrow almost imperceptibly in a question that sent a shiver of anticipation through her.

“Oh,” she said as casually as she could after adding her dish to the dishwasher. “I brought back the shop vac.”

“I can grab it for you.” Morgan walked to the front door. Emilia and Nell followed.

She caught Morgan’s hand as soon as they were hidden from view by the clinic truck and pushed Morgan up against the warm metal. Morgan grabbed her by the hips and held on as Emilia kissed her, all of the frustration she’d felt since Sally’s boiling over into the embrace. Her hands were underneath Morgan’s shirt and feeling the line of muscle down her abs before she remembered they were still visible from the road.

“Stay the night,” Morgan asked when Emilia let her up for air.

“What about your friends?”