Second Time Around by Beth Kendrick

Author:Beth Kendrick [Kendrick, Beth]
Language: eng
Format: epub, mobi
ISBN: 978-0-553-90712-4
Publisher: Random House Publishing Group
Published: 2010-09-18T04:00:00+00:00

Well, that was …”

They lay absolutely still on the hard, scratchy carpet, staring up at the water-stained ceiling tiles. The sweat on their skin glistened in the sunlight pouring in through the window.

Cait rubbed her cheek against his chest. “Mmm.”

His breath came in short, raspy bursts. “There are no words.”

“That’s what you say now.” She trailed her index finger along the thin line of hair that started at his navel. “You know you’re going to write an epic poem about this later. Probably win a Pulitzer.”

He laughed. “I did have a few transcendental moments there.”

“Me, too. And bonus, no black eyes this time.” She winced as she shifted position. “Although I think I may have rug burn in some very delicate places.”

He clapped a hand over his eyes and groaned. “I’m the worst wooer ever.”

“Oh, I disagree.”

“I’m supposed to give a lecture about Jonathan Swift in twenty minutes. I have nothing to say about Jonathan Swift. My mind is a complete blank.”

“Here, have a boudoir biscuit.” She rousted herself just long enough to snag the baked goods from the desktop. “It’ll help you regain your strength.”

His eyes widened as he bit into the biscuit. “Did you make this?”

“No, I can barely make toast. My housemate is the culinary wizard. Anna McCauley, remember her? She was an English major, too.”

“She missed her calling.”

“She’s answering it now, actually.” Cait filled him in on the restaurant-renting endeavor. “She thinks she’s going to leave us after her catering career takes off, but she’ll never escape. We’re spoiled rotten now from all the cookies and cupcakes. We’ll lock her up in the attic if we have to, along with a rolling pin and a Viking oven.” As the word “lock” left her mouth, her thoughts returned to the mysterious steel padlock in Gavin’s hallway. She was trying to decide the best way to broach that topic when he brushed a strand of hair back from her forehead and asked, “So what are your long-term plans? Are you going back to Connecticut after your sabbatical’s over?”

She pulled back, letting more hair fall into her face. “Should we really be having this discussion while naked?”

“It doesn’t have to be a discussion,” he said. “No pop quiz, no essay portion. Just wondering.”

“Right. Well.” She fidgeted. “I haven’t really thought about it. I’m just trying to live in the moment for a change.”

“It’s the book,” he said knowingly. “Right now, you’re not thinking past the next chapter, right?”

She flinched at the mention of the book. “Pretty much.”

“How’s it going?”

“Um, good.”

“What’s it about?”

“Oh, you know, lots of things.” Cait gestured vaguely with both hands. “It’s very involved.”

“But what’s the main plotline?” he persisted. “The overarching theme?”

She located her sweater and pulled it over her head. “Don’t you have to get ready to teach?”

“Nah, I have my notes ready.”

A rap on the door startled them both. Gavin rocketed into a sitting position. Cait tucked her knees up under the hem of her sweater. They shared a look of pure panic.

Another knock at the door.

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