By the next day, everyone was talking about Luke discovering Hunter and Penny pulled off the road and half naked…again. But the couple didn’t care, because they had taken the sentiment “making up for lost time” and turned it into a marathon endeavor. Aside from work, and a quick trip to the airport to drop off Penny’s brothers, they’d hardly left the bedroom.
Which is where they were on Tuesday morning, snuggled up in Hunter’s king-sized bed, and Penny drawing little hearts on his chest with her finger.
“So, I’ve been thinking about our first date,” Hunter said.
Penny lifted her head, and gave him a puzzled look. “Our first date? Don’t you think we’re a bit past that?”
“Hey, if I want to take you out on a date, then I don’t want to hear any sass about it. I owe you dinner. Maybe even a movie if you don’t chew with your mouth open.”
Penny kissed his chest slowly, making her way down over his abs. “You know, we don’t have to go out to dinner. We could just stay in and I could eat off of your—”
“Damn it, woman, is that all you ever think about? I am not a piece of meat.”
Her lips hovered right above the sheet, which was tented, and she grinned. “Apparently, someone didn’t get the memo and is very interested in my idea of dinner.”
Hunter grabbed her, and rolled her beneath him, his handsome face fixed into a mock scowl. “He is not in control. I am and I want to take my beautiful, amazing girlfriend out to show her off.”
Penny’s heart stuttered at the g-word. “Well, who in their right mind would argue with that logic?”
“Good. Now, when is your last day at the Grizzly?”
“I’m going to work there until Vince can find a replacement.”
Hunter pulled up, and she waited for him to ask about San Diego. They hadn’t talked about whether she was taking it, hadn’t talked much at all, actually. She was pretty surprised he hadn’t brought it up.
“So then you’ve decided which job you’re taking.”
“Yep.”
“And…”
“And what?”
Hunter squeezed her hips and shook her against the mattress. “Don’t toy with me.”
Penny traced the outline of his full lips with her fingers, enjoying the suspense. “I’ve taken the job in Red Lodge.”
Hunter let out his breath. “You have no idea how glad I am to hear—wait a second! You’ve already taken it?”
“Yep.”
“And you didn’t tell me sooner?”
“Nope.”
He laid his head down next to hers with a groan. “You are pure evil, you know that, right?”
“And yet, I’m still here in your bed. So you must have a thing for evil.”
“I have a thing for you. Evil or sassy, I’ll take you any way I can get you.”
Penny would never get tired of hearing him say that.
“But I don’t like you working all day in Red Lodge and coming home to work until two in the morning at the Grizzly,” he said.
“I know, but I couldn’t leave Vince in a lurch. He’s been good to me.”
Hunter grumbled a bit. “You’re going to be working at the sanctuary and coming home to work at the Grizzly indefinitely?”
“No, I told him I’d give him three weeks.”
“So, the only time I’ll be able to get a date with you is on…”
“Well, I am working Thursday, Friday, and Saturday, so the only day I have free is Sunday.”
Hunter kissed her, and she slid her hands into his hair, enjoying the tingles his mouth always created.
“I’ll take Sunday, but it’s going to kill me not being able to see you now that you’re mine.”
“Hmmm, I love it when you get all possessive.”
“Really? I remember something about you not being a prize.”
“Well, I don’t want to be treated like an object, but I do enjoy that growly tone in your voice when you say my name or call me your girlfriend.”
“Hmmm, you do, huh?” His mouth traveled down until it brushed the top of her breast. “Since we got the plans for the first date out of the way, I’d like to revisit what you were talking about earlier.” His tongue dipped into her belly button and her toes curled. “Only, I’m thinking I eat breakfast off of your…”
He buried his mouth between her legs and she arched off the bed. “I am totally okay with that.”