The Family You Make (Sunrise Cove #1)(70)

With a low chuckle, he wrapped his arms around her, nuzzling at her neck. “Sorry, no. But I’ve got some PowerBars and water.”

She wriggled in closer, loving the feel of his hard body beneath hers. And he was hard. Everywhere. “How about another condom?” she whispered.

This got her a sexy, heated smile that she took as a hell, yes. This time when they came together, it was slower, deeper, and just as shockingly good. And with it was the unspoken agreement that this, whatever this was, would continue to their mutual pleasure for as long as it worked.

Or for as long as they were both in Tahoe.

Because as she reminded everyone as often as she could, she was going to be gone soon. There would be no future. She’d made him promise her that. And hell if it wasn’t both a huge relief and her greatest regret.

THE NEXT MORNING, Jane jerked awake at the rude sound of her alarm. She’d set it early to get a ride from Mateo out to her car. Fumbling for her phone, she hurriedly slapped snooze, not ready to rise and shine.

She and Levi had stayed up on the Tahoe Rim Trail until two thirty in the morning. Which had been three short hours ago.

Basking in the wonderfulness of that, she staggered into the shower. Ten minutes later, she was back in her room, hunting for clothes, when Levi called.

“Just wanted to make sure you’re okay.”

The sound of his low, sleep-roughened voice had her smiling like an idiot. “I think you know that I am.”

He gave a soft laugh.

Silence.

Memories.

Longing.

“So . . .” she managed. “Are we going to be uncomfortable around each other now?”

“Does it feel uncomfortable?”

She let out the breath she hadn’t even realized she’d been holding as relief flooded her. She loved his candidness and felt grateful for it. “I’m glad nothing’s changed,” she said softly.

“Not even if we made this real.”

Her heart stopped at the thought of doing just that, and because it did, she forced herself to joke away the odd ache his words had brought. “Oh, sure,” she teased, “you say that now, but before I knew it, it’d be all healthy food and anal sex.”

She heard a choking sound.

Then a rustling and a good amount of swearing.

“Levi?”

“Just snorted coffee up my nose.”

She laughed.

He was quiet a moment and she assumed he was mopping himself up. Then he asked quietly, “Any regrets?”

“No,” she said, and meant it.

“Good. Your car’s out front. I charged your battery. You should be good to go.”

“Wait— You did? But . . . you must have gotten up hours ago.”

“Did it after I drove you home. Mateo gave me a ride out there.”

That he and Mateo had skipped out on sleep to do such a thing for her boggled her mind. But maybe it shouldn’t. Levi had already proven he’d do just about anything for her. “Thank you.”

“Anytime. Later, Jane.”

“Later,” she whispered, wondering why it sounded like a promise. She went down to the kitchen and straight to the coffee maker, staring at it until it produced twelve ounces of blessed caffeine.

As she slurped it as fast as she could without burning the skin of the roof of her mouth off, Charlotte stepped into the room. She took one look at Jane and said, “Whoa.”

“What?”

“You’re wearing a smile. In the A.M. hours. What’s that about?”

Jane had noticed the smile when she’d brushed her teeth, but she’d been unable to get rid of it, so she shrugged.

Charlotte studied her more closely and gasped. “Oh my God.”

Jane did her best to ignore this, pouring herself a bowl of cereal. She made a big production of adding milk and searching for a spoon. When she looked up, Charlotte gave her a brow waggle.

Jane gave her a prim look. “I don’t know what you’re trying to say.”

“Yeah, you do.”

“Fine.” Jane tossed up her hands. “Yes, Mom, he got to first base, okay? In fact, we had a couple of home runs and several victory laps. Are you satisfied?”

Charlotte’s laugh was infectious, and Jane sighed and stopped fighting her ridiculous smile.

Coming close, Charlotte cupped Jane’s face and looked into her eyes. “I’m happy for you.”

“It was just one night.”

“It could turn into more if you let it.”

For a single second she allowed herself the luxury of wanting more. “You know I’m not built that way.”

“Jane.”

She grabbed her keys and turned back to her landlord, her roommate, her friend, and one of her favorite people on the planet. “I’m not.”

“People change.”

Jane pointed at her. “I will if you will.”

“Hey,” Charlotte said. Sighed. “And fair.”

Jane stopped to refill her cup and then went still at the sight of a trophy on the counter. She had no idea what the original plaque said because it had been marked by what appeared to be a Sharpie, and now read: Head in Charge of Everything and Ruler of the Annual Moreno Snowball Challenge Jane looked at Charlotte.

Charlotte was suddenly fascinated with making her own cup of coffee.