She laughed. “Because I asked you to go hard and fast?”

“And you were coming. I find it difficult to resist the sensation of a woman climaxing around me.”

“It is a first world problem.”

He was still watching her, as if waiting for something. Then she got it.

“I’m not going to cry,” she told him. “Or say I wish it hadn’t happened or anything like that. I’m glad we did this. I want to do it again, as soon as you’re ready.”

All of which was true. Later, there would be tears and confusion and maybe a little self-recrimination, but not now. Not when everything was so right.

“I brought my overnight stuff,” she added. “I was hoping I could stay with you. Here. In your bed.”

The last of the wariness faded. “You are always welcome in my bed.”

“Even if I forgot to pack a nightgown?”

One eyebrow rose as he smiled. “Even then.”

He bent down and kissed her. She wrapped her arms around him and knew that the first step had been taken.

Ellen stared at the casserole dish on her counter. She and Unity had spent the morning cooking together. Unity had made lasagna, while Ellen had made her chicken parm recipe—the one that everybody loved, especially Keith. The oddness of them both cooking for a man was not lost on her, but while Unity was heading over to Seattle to see if she could seduce Thaddeus, Ellen was trying to get one to talk to her.

She still hadn’t heard from Keith. This was the longest they’d ever gone without speaking. Even when he traveled with the team, he texted her. She knew he was mad, but come on. This was getting ridiculous.

She didn’t like not communicating with him—it didn’t feel right. They were always around each other.

After her shift at the fruit stand, she confirmed that Coop would be hanging out with his friends that evening. She changed into a thong and low-cut bra, then put on a cute summer dress and drove to Keith’s house.

He answered on the first knock, but instead of looking happy to see her, he just glared at her.

“You can’t still be mad,” she said, pushing the casserole dish into his hands.

“That’s up for debate.”

She stepped past him into the house, glancing around to see if Lissa was nearby. When she saw the living room was empty, she turned back to Keith.

“I didn’t know until Medford. I’m sure Lissa has confirmed that. I didn’t want to keep it from you, but I had to. I arranged to room with Lissa so it wouldn’t happen again on the trip. You know I’m telling the truth. You have to understand why I didn’t say anything. It would have been awful for everyone.”

He continued to give her that icy stare of his. She crossed her arms over her chest. “I would have kept it from you even if we hadn’t been sleeping together. It was less than forty-eight hours. Come on, Keith.”