“You have everything you need, Roger?”
“Yup, all good.” He looks over my shoulder to where Palmer has retired in my bedroom. “Dude, I’m so sorry again.”
I shake my head. “Don’t be sorry, it’s fine. I honestly had no idea she was going to be dressed like that—we were stunned together.”
“I know, but I feel like I’m cockblocking you.”
“Nah, I wouldn’t have taken it that far anyway. She’s emotionally raw right now, and I want to respect that.”
“Okay, well, I’ll be out of here early to catch the first ferry. Thanks again.”
“Anytime.” I give him a quick nod and then turn out the lights as I head back to my bedroom, part of me still in disbelief over who is waiting inside. As I step in and gently close the door behind me, I find Palmer sitting on the edge of my bed, wearing one of my button-up shirts now, nibbling on her lip. We already got ready for bed—she took the bathroom first while I situated Roger on the couch. “You okay?” I ask.
She stares at the bedroom door. “Are you sure you don’t want to share the bed with Roger? I don’t mind taking the couch.”
I lightly chuckle and pull my shirt over my head. I fold it and drape it on my dresser. Her eyes take in every last inch of my chest before focusing back on my face. “Yeah, pretty sure I’m good with not sharing a bed with my cousin.”
She looks away. “I’m really embarrassed. I know Roger was cool about everything, but I still feel foolish. I chastised Laramie for the ridiculous idea.”
I walk up to her and tilt her chin up, meeting her eyes. “First of all, it wasn’t foolish. If Roger wasn’t with me, I would have had a really hard time keeping my hands to myself. Second of all, don’t feel embarrassed and don’t chastise Laramie. What you did was really sexy, and I’m just mad Roger missed his ferry.”
“You’re not just saying that?”
“No,” I say, taking her hand in mine. I kiss the back of it. “Promise.” I bring her to the side of the bed and lay her down. I pull the covers over her and then go to my side, where I crawl in and turn the light off. The rain outside isn’t as heavy as it was before, but it’s still steady, offering the perfect lullaby. I move in close to her and rest a tentative hand on her stomach as she stares up at the ceiling. “How’s your wrist?”
“Sore.”
“Did you take the pain medicine I left you on the bathroom counter?”
“Yeah,” she whispers. “Thank you.”
“Let me know if it hurts in the middle of the night, okay?” I say, my hand spanning her stomach, my heart pounding at her proximity. She shifts lightly beneath me, moving a little closer.
“Okay.”
“Just wake me up.”
“And how do you propose I wake you up?” she asks.
“A little tap will do,” I say, tapping a finger on her stomach. “A whisper will work too,” I say, lowering my voice, my breath tickling her ear.
She lets out a deep sigh and then pushes the blankets down to her waist.
“Everything okay?” I ask her.
“Yes.” I hear her swallow. “Just hot.”
I smile to myself. Hot or turned on? My guess is going to be the latter, given how I found her when I came back up to my apartment, Roger in tow. I still can’t get over the fact that she was naked in one of my lab coats. I’m not ashamed to say I’ve had similar fantasies before. When I used to come home to visit and catch a glimpse of her, my crush still strong, and I always wondered what it would be like to find her waiting for me when I got home.
Can I just say it’s better than I ever expected?
“Hot, huh?” I say, feeling brave. “Let me help you with that.” I move my shaky hand to the top button of the shirt she borrowed and undo it. “Did that help?” I attempt to swallow back my nerves, but Jesus, I’m in bed with Palmer Chance and she wants me, just like I want her.
“No, still hot,” she says, her chest rising higher than before.
“What about this?” I undo the next button.
“Worse,” she says, squirming under me.
“Hmm, what about this?” I undo the next two buttons. Pause, and then the last few, leaving just the bottom one clasped together. Then, gently, I push the sides of the shirt open just enough to expose her skin but nothing else. “That better?”
She shakes her head. “No.”
“Strange,” I say playfully. “I’d have thought that would do the trick. At least it was a good attempt, right?”