She yawns, but talks over it. “Are you just about done groping my belly and ogling my boobs? You promised me a back rub.”
I give her belly a little nudge. “Roll over some, you killjoy. I can’t get to your back if you’re lying on it.”
She tips over, and I brush her hair over her shoulder. “That feels nice already.”
“You always did like having your hair stroked. You want me to start there?”
She sucks in a quick breath. “Would you?”
I don’t even hesitate. I brush my hand down the length of Katie’s hair. She relaxes, her eyes closing. “Nobody has done this for me in a long time,” she says quietly. “Not since the last time my husband was home on leave.”
Time stops. It’s like someone scratched a record in my head. “Would he be jealous if he knew you were with me?” I ask.
She yawns. “No. I think he’d be happy.”
My hand stalls in surprise, but only for a moment, because she reaches back and bumps me, like she’s kick-starting my strokes. I rub her s
calp, massaging gently, tangling her hair around my fingertips until it pulls tight, and then I untangle it by stroking down again. She yawns and settles a little deeper into the covers.
“Tell me about your husband,” I say.
“Mm,” she mumbles. “Later.”
“You promise?”
She nods into the pillow, and tucks her hands beneath her chin. “I need to go home,” she mutters.
“Okay. Just let me finish this.”
A soft snore breaks from her mouth and I know she’s asleep. She’s soft and curvy and she’s in my bed and my fingers are sliding through her hair and her hips are so round and perfect and she’s full of life and…she’s asleep.
So I continue, like the total perv I am, soaking up all the Katie I can while I have her here, because I know soon enough that it will be over.
23
Katie
I wake up to a dark room and blink my eyes, trying to figure out where I am. I reach behind me, feeling for Jake, but my hand swipes air. The last thing I remember is Jake stroking my hair. I roll to my back and get wrapped up in the blanket someone laid over me.
The hallway light is on, casting a small amount of light in the room. A flash of white on the bed catches my attention. In big, dark letters, there’s a note.
You–sleeping like a really pregnant, debauched angel
Me–on your couch, wishing like a total perv that I was in bed with you
Your kids–safely tucked in their beds, with Sally guarding them
Rest for as long as you want. I’ll watch over your kids.
Oh, my God. I left my kids at home while I fell asleep in Jake’s bed. I turn my wrist over so I can see my watch. It’s two in the morning. Tossing the covers back, I get up and stretch. I can’t believe I fell asleep in Jake’s bed.
My back doesn’t hurt nearly as much as it did before I fell asleep. I make a quick stop in the bathroom and then go to collect my computer.
The kitchen is flooded with light and I find Mr. Jacobson at the kitchen table, where he’s putting together a jigsaw puzzle. “Morning, sunshine,” he says. “Sleep well?”
I smile. “I did, actually.” But I wish I hadn’t fallen asleep.
“Good. You probably needed it,” he says quietly. I close my computer and hitch it under my arm.