She nodded. “Multiple times, even. With people they have no intention of marrying.”
“And you think we can do that? Be like those people?”
“I don’t see why not.”
He chuckled, and the sound of it made her laugh. Their laughter was the sound of surrender.
“So we just, um, have sex?” he said. “And that’s okay?”
“I’m pretty sure,” Kelsey offered. “Not, like, one hundred percent sure. But pretty sure.”
“I’ll take it,” he pressed a kiss to the top of her head. “Now, any chance you could point me to the bathroom?”
She giggled and rolled off him, pointing toward the hall behind them. “The house is only six hundred square feet. I bet you can find it. We will consider this your first lesson in navigation.”
He tugged on her hair and then stood, flashing his naked bottom on the way to the bathroom. She stretched languorously, feeling an oozing warmth slide from her toes to the top of her head. She refused to second-guess the moment. Her body felt too good for remorse.
Just as her eyes had fallen shut under the weight of her comfort, she heard the sound of the front door opening. Kelsey dove for her shirt.
“Shit!” she hissed under her breath. “Shit, shit, shit!” She jumped to her feet, frantically searching the floor for her shorts. “Is that you, Dad?” she called.
Ross would hear her and realize he needed to stay in the bathroom, she thought, half in prayer, half in fervent belief. With shaking fingers, she located her pants, partway tucked under the couch, and dragged them on. No time for the bra, so she pulled her hair forward in a weak attempt to cover her breasts.
By the time she had clothed herself, her father was already inside the front hall. He held a cardboard box in his arms and wore a gray baseball cap with the Artisan logo on the front pressed low on his forehead. He jumped when he saw her. “I thought you were going to be out all day,” he said. “What are you doing home?”
“You know me, Nervous Nellie.” She forced a laugh. “They were forecasting thunderstorms, so I decided to cut it short. I figure I’ll go to the gym later.”
He frowned. “It didn’t look bad out there to me.”
She shrugged, positioning herself in the entranceway so he didn’t wander into the house. “I know. It had stopped by the time I got to the car. Better safe than sorry, I figured.”
“If you say so. Anyway, our new jackets arrived.” He held up the box. “I thought you’d want me to drop yours off so you could try it on tonight.”
“Oh. Great. Thanks.”
Don’t look behind you. Don’t look guilty.
“Are you sure you’re okay?” he asked, squinting suspiciously. His gaze traveled the length of her, and she felt her shoulders hunch under his regard. “You called Artisan, didn’t you?”
“Not yet,” she said. “Just got home.”
Without invitation, he brushed past her and strode into the living room. She followed a few steps behind. Of course he wouldn’t wait for an invitation to come in. He’d never needed one before.
It took Kelsey less than a heartbeat to see Ross’s T-shirt on the carpet and his shorts crumpled in the corner. She winced, but it was too late to do anything. Her father’s steady gaze moved from the clothing to Kelsey’s face, and then back to the clothing.
“What’s this?” he asked evenly.
From the bathroom, there came a rattle, then the steady hiss of her shower.
“Kels?” Ross’s voice called. “Why don’t you join me in here?”
Her father grimaced. “You’ve got to be kidding me.”
Kelsey squared her shoulders. Her eyes slid away, not meeting her father’s distinctly unamused stare.
“We’re leaving in two and a half weeks.” He threw the box on the ground. “You act like this is some kind of joke. Like this is a game we’re playing.”
“I don’t think that. You know I don’t.”
“Who is he?”
“It doesn’t matter,” she said. “It’s nothing.”
Stay in the shower, Ross. Please stay in the shower.
“First you’re babysitting and now this?” His expression darkened. “You know better than to get involved with someone, especially right now.”
“Of course I know that.”
His face softened. “I’m saying this for your own good. You have to be unencumbered out there—clearheaded. You and I both know emotional attachments lead to bad decisions.”
“Babysitting for a few days and having a guy over doesn’t seem so terrible,” she said, fighting for calm.