“We just do.” Jonah pressed another kiss, hard, to her mouth.

She slid her hands down his back, delighted in the shiver he couldn’t suppress. “Is that it? We just do this without rules?”

“No.” Jonah bent and met her lips again. He murmured against them, “When something happens and we need to clarify rules, we do it then. Until then, I’m all for just having fun.” He hoisted her up in his arms, her legs wrapped more firmly around his waist. He asked, “How about you?”

“I’m thinking I like how we fit.”

Jonah walked them inside and to the bedroom. He laid her down, pulled the sheet free, and leaned just above her with one knee braced on the bed. His other leg was still on the floor. He held his weight, resting on a hand next to her shoulder so he was half over her, half holding her captive. Her heart was picking up speed. She wasn’t so sure about the ‘captive’ part. Biting down on her lip, she fought against pulling him on top of her. Her eyes darted to his.

“I like how we fit, too.” He traced her lips with his thumb, then cupped the side of her cheek. He lowered himself down at an aching pace until his lips softly found hers.

Dani slid her hand down his chest, savoring the hard contours of him. He was hard in all the right spots. She felt his strength, especially how he was still holding himself above her. Smoothing her hands down to his waist, then around and up, she felt his back muscles rippling. They were shivering from her touch, and she wrapped one leg around his thigh. The ache was there and growing deeper each moment he held himself away from her. She started to pull him down with her leg.

Now.

This.

She wanted him on top of her. She wanted to feel his weight. She wanted to feel every inch of him.

It wasn’t long before his kiss deepened, and she was writhing, gasping, and begging until he slid inside. She woke later, and felt his searching lips and fingers on her once again.

Jonah was gone when she woke again.

It was nine in the morning, and she’d been a no-show two nights ago. It was time to find Mae. She had an apology to issue. The bar was almost empty when she entered, but the restaurant side was bustling. Mae was knelt down behind a stack of boxes on the bar counter.

“Hey, ho.”

Mae popped out. “Did you just call me a whore? And after you not showing up the other night? I thought you were coming to help out.”

Dani grimaced. “Sorry about that. Some stuff happened.” She indicated Barney and a few of Mae’s regulars. “And I was making a lame joke. You kinda have six dwarves who sit in your bar, and you take care of the seventh back at your cabin.” She pointed to herself. “Me. You take care of all of us.”

Mae frowned. “You’re not a dwarf.” She nodded to the others. “Neither are they, but I’ll take the Snow White reference. It’s a compliment compared to what I used to be called.” She eyed her. “Where’d this good mood come from?”

“I have surrendered to the chaos in my life.”

She made the decision last night. Her life was a mess. She was going to embrace it, and she ended up embracing Jonah right after. That was a sign, right?

Mae barked out a laugh. “That just means you have a life.” She slapped a hand to her hip and sashayed a two-step. “Folk like me are supposed to have ‘messes’ for lives, but I don’t. I got no life except my favorite niece, this bar, and that restaurant. Sometimes I think this business got a better life of its own than mine.” She narrowed her eyes, studying her niece a bit longer. “If I didn’t know better, I’d say you have a glow. You’re glowing.” The ends of her mouth tipped down. “Why?”

Subject change. Dani reached for one of the boxes. “Can I help with anything here? What are you doing anyway?”

“No.” Mae slapped away Dani’s hand. She pulled some of the towels out from the first box. “I’m not letting you turn yourself into an unpaid volunteer who works here full-time. If you work, you get paid. My rules.”

“Then pay me or consider this in exchange for the cabin’s rent.”

Mae cursed. “That cabin is yours. It’s been yours for a long while. You’re just never around to be told that. You’re not working for rent. I pay well for my staff.”

“Fine. Pay me. Put me to work. I’ve got nothing to do right now.”

Mae was putting the towels under the counter, but stopped. She leaned against the counter and cocked her face to the side. Her arm rested on top of the box. “You know.” She gave Dani a knowing look. “I came by the cabin the other night. Real late that night. Wanted to check on you, since you didn’t show.”

Well.

Fuck.

Her aunt knew. And she knew that her aunt knew, so now Mae knew that she knew that her aunt knew. Still. Dani rolled her shoulders back. She was going to do a Mae. She was going to try and bullshit her way out of this one. “Yeah?” Her tone was casual. “I was up. You could’ve come in for a drink.”

Mae snorted. “Stop lying.” She grabbed hold of more towels from inside the box. “I know what you were doing last night. Don’t think I didn’t notice when you changed the subject five seconds ago either.”

Dani held her breath. It was out. “And?”

“And what?” Mae shook her head. “And nothing. About time you got underneath that man. He’s like a stallion, just asking to be ridden. Besides, have you forgotten who I am? Sex is healthy. I know that more than others.” Mae paused, and her face softened. “Just watch out, though. I might not know what you went through, but I know you went through something. If your heart’s vulnerable, guard it wisely.”