Jodie walked out of the building where she was doing her internship. The July sun beat down on her skin. It was about the perfect day. A long weekend for Independence Day. The office was done at noon, in anticipation of the holiday.

The biggest decision she had to make this weekend was how much time she’d spend on the beach versus naked in bed with Logan. Given he was a lot happier than her with how round her belly was, she was more likely to opt for naked in bed, than trying to fit in a bathing suit.

Their parents took the pregnancy news better than expected. Oddly enough, it seemed to go over more smoothly when Duke figured out the baby wasn’t Logan’s.

Her good mood soared as she approached her car in the parking garage and saw him leaning against it.

The moment she was within arm’s reach, he gripped her hips. “Hey, gorgeous.” He kissed her on the cheek, then spun and lifted her to sit on the hood of the car.

“Hey, yourself.” She pulled him closer, to slide between her legs, and draped her arms around his neck. “I thought you had class this afternoon.”

He had picked up a few summer-school teaching spots. Despite her insistence he wasn’t financially responsible for anything, he wouldn’t let it go. “No one is focusing, so we called it a day.” Between each word, he laid another kiss along her neck, her jaw, and then the edge of her ear. “And I have good news I couldn’t wait to share.” He undid a button on her blouse, and then another.

She wore a camisole underneath, so it wasn’t as though he was exposing her. It still felt naughty to be letting her boyfriend undress her in the middle of the office parking lot. “Does it have anything to do with why you’re taking off my shirt?” she asked.

“Nope. I’d be doing that anyway.” Logan traced his mouth over the lace of her undershirt, teasing the top of her breasts. “I talked to my dad this morning.”

She rolled her eyes and pushed him back. She was grateful he made things right with Duke, so both their parents were okay with Jodie and Logan dating, but that didn’t mean she wanted to make out while the folks were the topic of discussion. “And…?”

“They can’t use their reservation in Portland this weekend. Something came up.” Despite being at arm’s length, Logan trailed his finger along the edge of her ear, then down her jaw. “He doesn’t want it to go to waste, so… I packed us some bags, and if we drive straight through, we can be there before midnight.”

She leaned into his touch and dropped her arm, to let him in closer. “I don’t know. I had plans for the weekend.” She kept the teasing in her voice. The idea of getting away sounded fantastic.

“Oh.” Despite his disappointment, he dipped his head to kiss along her shoulder. He moved one hand under her blouse, glided it up her side, and teased her breast. The way they were positioned, most of his actions were partly hidden from view of anyone approaching. “I guess I’ll have to go alone.”

“Really?” She hooked a finger in his waistband and pulled him between her legs again. “What are you going to do alone in Portland?”

“Play with my toys by myself.” He grabbed her wrist and moved her hand to below his waist, to cup his erection.

She laughed. “You’re horrible.”

“Is that a bad thing?”

“No. I love it. I love you.” The words slipped out without thought, tasting sweet. She realized what she’d said when Logan’s fake pout melted into a smile. It was the first time she said that. He’d been patient with her, like he promised. That didn’t stop her from fretting that the moment was never right—from overthinking her first I love you to the point it made her a little nauseous. Now that it was out there, it felt incredible.

“Yeah?” He searched her face.

She nodded. “Yup. Truly and completely and totally. I love you.” She locked her fingers at the base of his neck and kissed him hard. His erection pressed against her mound, teasing. If they were anywhere but her workplace garage, she’d consider letting him strip off her slacks and fuck her on the hood of the car.

“Best thing I’ve ever heard,” he murmured against her lips. “Second best thing, though, would be not making me go to Portland alone.”

She giggled. “I guess maybe I can go.” She wrapped her legs around his waist and pulled him in tight. “But we need to stop at home first.”

“I can do that.” He didn’t make a move to pull away. “Or—”

“No. Not here.” The words didn’t come out with the strength she intended. She forced herself to push him back. “Home.”

He nipped at her earlobe. “Fine. But then we get hot, intense, headboard-banging I-love-you sex.”

“Sounds amazing.” She slid her hand into his and let him tug her toward his car, a few rows over. This felt right—the last few months together, everything about the way she and Logan clicked, and how even his most innocent touch made her pulse race. She was looking forward to finding out what came next, with him by her side.

 

THE END

 

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If you enjoyed meeting the sexy fun in Reluctant, check out the rest of the Your Ad Here series, including .

In , Andrew Newton owns one of the largest chains of adult content sites in the world. Spending his days looking at dirty pictures should be the ultimate dream, but only one woman matters. Mercy Rowe is the one who got away. Her wedding is his chance to put the past behind him. He doesn’t expect her younger sister Susan, to be far more trouble, temptation, and innocence than Mercy ever was.

 

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