It was more than a mistake now—more than just an error in judgment and a lapse in self-restraint.
And he knew it would happen again.
There was no point in denying it anymore.
They stood in the kitchen eating pizza straight out of the box while rain began to drum softly against the window. The winds were picking up outside, indicating that the Weather Channel had been correct about the impending storm. It had been unseasonably warm, and after a hot summer, some rain was just what the earth needed.
The sound of raindrops, the rhythmic munching of pizza, and the electric hum of the refrigerator were the only noises in the otherwise quiet kitchen until Emma said, “We should go mudding tomorrow.”
Ed laughed. What they should do was put some clothing on, but he was enjoying the sight far too much to suggest it. Instead, he said, “I have to work tomorrow.”
“When was the last time you took a day off?”
“A couple of years ago, my family went on vacation to Jamaica.”
“That’s different. That’s a vacation. When was the last time you just took the day off?”
Ed thought about it. Five years ago, maybe, when he’d had a wicked flu bug.
“And not because you were sick,” Emma stipulated.
“Then never.”
“Never?”
“Never.”
Emma narrowed her eyes. “I bet you never cut class either?”
“I needed good marks to stay on the basketball team. And to run for class president, I needed teacher references.”
Emma threw back her head and groaned. “Oh, you were one of those kids.” She grew serious. “So, tell me, Ed, have you ever done something that wasn’t expected of you? Have you ever done something just because you wanted to?”
He didn’t understand. “What do you mean?”
“I’ll take that as a no. You dreamt of being a basketball player, but instead, you got good grades and then went into the military. You were probably a perfect son, a perfect student. I know you were the perfect soldier. You’re probably the perfect employee, too. So tell me, Mr. Perfect, have you ever done something wrong? Something frowned upon? Or are you always so goddamn perfect?”
Of course, he wasn’t perfect. He was incredibly flawed, but he refused to admit to that and instead offered, “I used to smoke.”
“Like weed?”
Ed frowned. “No. Cigarettes.”
“Gasp! Oh no!” Emma covered her mouth with her hands in an exaggerated show of disbelief. “You obviously don’t smoke anymore. When did you quit?”
“A couple of months ago.”
Emma polished off the last of the slice she’d been chewing on and tossed the crust back into the box. She clapped her hands together to rid herself of any lingering cornmeal. “Call in sick tomorrow and go mudding with me.”
“I can’t do that.”
“Why not? You don’t want to? You don’t like mudding?”
“I’ve never been. But that’s not the point.”
“When was the last time you did something fun? Something you wanted to do?”
Ed motioned to the broken table. “I just did. Against my better judgment.” Emma crossed her arms and glared at him. He asked, “When did you last do something sensible?”
“I just did you.” Emma slashed her hand through the air. “I’d say I was pretty thoroughly filled up with sensible.”
He hated this warped version that she had of him. “That’s not what I meant. Sensible like getting a job.”
He knew it was a touchy subject, but she brushed the topic off rather than get mad as he’d been expecting. “Work aside, would you want to go mudding with me if you could?”
He’d never been mudding before, but he’d seen videos of people doing it. Going out and getting stuck in the mud did sound like fun. Getting dirty, not sweaty and dirty from work, but coated in the mud from the land sounded appealing. Ripping through the backwoods, with no speed limit signs and no restrictions, would make for a good day.
It would be something different, something fun. And he’d get to be with Emma. He could imagine her coated in mud, smiling, and looking more like that little girl holding her first catch than the tormented young woman she was now.
“I think that would be fun. Maybe one day we can.”
The corners of her lips kicked up, and he knew he’d made another mistake.
“I’ll make you a deal,” she started.
Yep. He’d made a mistake.
“You play hooky with me tomorrow, and on Tuesday, I will go out and get a job.”
“What if you renege?”
She stepped forward. “I swear I won’t. I need a job. I know I do. But I want one last day of freedom. To do whatever I want, whenever I want. And I’d like to spend that day with you.”
It was tempting.
She was tempting.
Spending a day having fun with Emma.
Maybe he could swing one day.
“Monday we spend going mudding. And Tuesday, you get a job?”
“Right.” She nodded.
He reached out his hand. “Deal.”
“Deal.” Grinning ear to ear, she shook his hand. “But what are we going to do tonight?”
Ed looked her over. Her hair was a little tangled from their earlier adventure. Tomorrow morning she’d probably have bruises on her back and ass from when the table collapsed. Hell, her skin was probably already darkening. Mischief sparkled in her eyes. Every beautiful inch of her skin was exposed, bare and flawless.
Thunder rumbled in the distance.
She was such a temptation. He had plenty of ideas for how they could occupy their evening, and not a single one involved the clothing scattered around the room.