Naked Love(25)

“It is.” Addy kisses the top of her head. “Elena loves the water. Her twin, Ben, gets so seasick. Go figure.”

“There’s my girl.” Jake grins, showing all those perfectly irritating teeth.

“Jake,” Elena whispers, hiding behind Addy.

Oh my gosh. She’s blushing.

Addy chuckles. “My darling daughter has a crush on Jake, much to her father’s disapproval.”

“We’ve got time to get your dad’s blessing on our marriage in another decade.”

Elena goes from pink to chili pepper red when Jake kisses her on the cheek.

“Eat up, Avery. We’re leaving soon. I fed Swarley while you two ladies were upstairs talking about me.” He gives me a pointed look while passing by to head up the stairs. “I’ll grab your luggage. Don’t forget to tip the bellboy.”

“Yes, come eat.” Addy motions to the kitchen. “I’m going to pack you some food to go as well.”

“Oh, you don’t have to do that.” I start to inhale the food.

“I insist.”

I don’t argue. I’ll need my strength to bring down a two-hundred-plus-pound fighter who thinks he can manipulate me with lies. Before I take my last bite, Satan stabs my happy bubble with his pointy trident.

“Ready?”

I ignore him. “Addy, is this quartz or granite?” I rub the white countertop.

“Avery, chop chop.”

Addy grins as her gaze ping-pongs between us. I turn my last bite into five, like a mouse nibbling cheese.

“Quartz.”

“My dad built my mom this house to get her back.” Elena grins, picking sliced strawberries off her avocado toast.

“Is that so? Tell me more.” I shift my stool toward Elena kneeled on the stool next to mine.

“No time for more. I’m leaving without you in five minutes.”

Poke. Poke.

I’m going to stab that trident up his ass. He just doesn’t know it yet.

“You have a lovely home, Addy. I can’t thank you enough for your generosity. It’s hard to find truly kind people these days.”

Addy hands me a bag. “You are welcome anytime.”

She won’t think that when I murder her business buddy. “It was nice meeting you, Elena.”

Elena ignores me because her dreamy Jake is in the room. Poor girl is headed down the road of heartbreak. She will cross a million Jakes in her life, and most of them will be dick cheese.

“Taking off?”

Hold. The. Phone.

God has appeared.

Dear Heavenly Father,

I had no idea you were Latino in your human form. Good choice! Are you here to save me from Satan?

“Yes.” Jake gives Latino God a slight smile.

Addy married a god. I want to high-five her, but we haven’t known each other long enough to celebrate snagging a really hot guy.

“Quinn, this is Jake’s friend, Avery. Avery this is my husband, Quinn.”

Jake grumbles something under his breath at the mention of our friendship. I’m right there with him, but I don’t grumble because I’m too busy sighing a dreamy breath of envy.

“Nice to meet you, Avery.” Quinn holds out his hand.

It takes me a moment to shake it since I’m in a daze from his sexy accent. I need a guy with an accent. Okay, I don’t need any guy at the moment, but if I decide to entertain the idea of male companionship again, he will need to be Latino and upfront with his feelings about chocolate.

“Very nice seeing you—uh, I mean meeting you.” I cringe behind my smile.

Super smooth.

He pulls his hand from mine because I don’t let go. I like his hand and all that goes with it.

Very nice seeing you.

Geesh. It’s as if we’ve met before. Nope. I meant it in the most literal sense. Seeing, staring, gawking at Quinn is very nice. Seriously, would it be too weird to high-five Addy? I want to give her a slow clap for a job well done.

“You for thank everything.”

Addy chuckles.

I said that. Gah! I’m tongue-tied over a man while standing in front of his wife.

“Or …” Jake grips my arm, pulling me out of the kitchen. “Thank you for everything.”

“Yes …” I nod, mildly grateful for my translator. The gratitude will wear off by the time we get in his truck.

We make it out the door without any further embarrassment, load up Swarley, and take off for our next destination. Dear God, please let it involve a room key, running water, and thick terry cloth robes. What are the chances my asshole driver knows other ridiculously rich people between here and L.A.?

“Just so you know, I’m done talking to you. What you did was unforgivable.”

Keeping his eyes on the road, Jake nods. “I’m totally good with you being done talking to me, but I’d hardly call what happened this morning unforgivable.” He turns up the music.

As minutes and miles pass, my bladder fills—mourning each rest stop we pass. If Swarley would speak up with a simple whine, Jake might pull over for a pit stop.

Nope.

Swarley’s asleep.

Bump. Bump. Bump.

After four hours, we hit a stretch of road that’s in need of new pavement. I could ask him to pull over, but I made a vow of silence until he apologizes to me. If I urinate in his truck, will it expedite his apology without me saying more than “oops?”