She nodded. “You’re right. I was mean and she didn’t deserve it. You didn’t deserve it either. I’m sorry.”

“All right. So, we good in the Caroline department?”

Anne nodded. “I think I could actually like her. Though you know, Royal, it would be easier on a girl if the woman you fell for wasn’t so freaking ridiculous. Not even an overbite or a zit. And she totally uses bad words. Like a boss. I’m unwillingly and yet quite frankly impressed.”

“Sorry not sorry about that part. She’s pretty fun. Plus when she gets tipsy she makes up the best nicknames for things and people. It’s the best party trick ever. Come on. There’s beer. You can probably stay an hour or so. But then, scram. Because I have plans of an extremely graphic nature to concoct with my lady friend.”

Anne wrinkled her nose.

Out in the kitchen, Caroline had opened three beers and a cat sat on her shoulder as they both looked out the windows.

“I can’t believe he’s taken to doing that.” Royal grinned at the sight.

“He essentially steers me with a helpful prick of his claws.” She looked at him carefully. “We all straight now?”

He moved to Caroline, grabbing the cat and setting him down so he could get close. “All straight. Thank you for being so awesome.”

“Not that awesome. But you’re welcome.”

“What do you have to eat?” Anne started to poke around in the fridge.

Caroline rolled her eyes but picked up her beer. She didn’t seem angry or even upset. But she was wary, he could see that much.

“Are you two hungry? I can make sandwiches.”

“No thanks. We just had dinner at El Cid. I am stuffed full of carbs and margaritas.”

To her credit, Anne didn’t stay more than her allotted hour. By the time she left, there was a little more ease between her and Caroline, and Royal was beyond happy about that.

Chapter Thirteen

Royal came back to the house after he’d been working all morning. She watched as he pulled off his work boots in the mudroom off the back porch. He dropped his pants and tossed them into the washing machine, along with his shirt and socks and underwear.

He looked up then to catch her staring. And grinned.

“I’m going to shower so I’m respectable when we go to your grandparents’ for lunch. On the way out, we’ll stop by my aunt and uncle’s place.”

“Okay. But all the soap in the world isn’t going to clean you up, dirty man.”

He waggled his brows as he sashayed his cute naked ass past where she was sitting at the kitchen table getting work done.

She’d already gotten dressed and put on makeup while he was out working. She’d taken over not his bathroom, but one attached to the guest room across the hall. He was so messy and used to living alone that his stuff spilled across every surface.

She briefly considered jumping into the shower with him but realized that would cut it too close because she’d have to get ready all over again, and she didn’t want to have to rush out on his aunt and uncle.

And it was important. She wanted to meet them and was glad they wanted to meet her too. She finished up her work as Royal got ready, finishing about five minutes after the water turned off in the master bath.

Spike hopped up so he could walk over her files and notes, plopping his butt onto her keyboard. He meowed and gave her a you may pet me now face so she gave in to his terroristic threats and even kissed his head because the crazy cat was as charming as his person was.

“Just toss his butt down if he gets in your way.”

Spike snorted and moved to her shoulder, which had become his favorite perch. He rode around on her shoulder all the time.

Caroline turned to tease Royal and ended up struck totally silent as she took him in from his black trousers to the pale blue oxford shirt.

But the belt. Well. She stood. “Your cat is an extortionist so I have to be careful with how much I deny him. Also he’s cute and furry. You, however, look good enough to thoroughly muss up. Is that a new belt?”

Pleasure washed over his face. “Thank you, sweetheart. Please feel free to muss me up for hours and hours anytime you wish. Belt isn’t new, but I haven’t worn it in a while.”

“I really like it.” She didn’t even know why. But it made her hot. Wide, honey-tanned leather leading to a big-ass belt buckle. She slid her fingertips over the metal of the buckle.

“I have this fantasy.” Royal shook his head. “Never mind. We don’t have the time, and if I think about it too much, I’ll be hard and useless for hours.”

She was flushed all over. She grabbed a file folder and used it to fan her face. “Be sure to revisit this topic with me. It’s relevant to my interests.”

“Who knew you’d have a belt-buckle fetish?”

“I don’t think I did until just right now. It’s the whole look. You’re so long and lean, and that belt sort of makes your shoulders look wider and accentuates your waist. I don’t know exactly, cowboy, but I’ll gladly take it.”

He grabbed his keys. “I’m driving. So you can have wine.”

“That just isn’t done. They don’t drink in the daytime. That’s what layabouts do, don’t you know? Oh and me and my friends when we go on our annual vacation. But Abigail would frown at every single detail of those vacations, so.”

“Are there pillow fights or pudding wrestling?”