How to Handle a Heartbreaker by Marie Harte Page B

You’re a guy. One shot, you’re done.”
    “Says who?” He rotated his pelvis and nudged her again.
    “Really?” Interesting. She hadn’t realized a guy could go again without waiting at least half an hour to get hard once more.
    “See, this is where your research is shoddy.” Brody started sliding in and out of her again.
    “What about the condom?” she asked.
    “I, ah, might have another in my jeans.”
    “Well? Go get it on.”
    He blinked at her, then grinned. Before she knew it, he’d left and returned wearing new protection. “See? Sometimes being quick isn’t so bad. You can write that down later.” He gently tugged her from the couch onto the floor. “Now we have more room. How do you feel about an encore?”
    ***
    Abby spent all of Sunday in a daze. Brody had made love to her twice. She’d had three— three —orgasms in the span of one night. A new record. And then they’d spent another hour dithering back and forth on her arrangements to watch Mutt. He added a few conditions since he’d performed so well sexually. She’d been too satisfied to deny him.
    What made the entire evening so surreal was that he’d looked at her tenderly and kissed her good-bye with a promise, once again, to keep their new “deal” between them.
    She had exactly what she wanted. No-strings sex. Validation that she did not in fact suck—only in a good way—in bed. Brody hadn’t been demeaning or cruel, the opposite actually. A man she trusted, who turned her on, had wanted her. She felt gooey and warm inside.
    And then the stupid emotional basket case inside her wondered why he hadn’t asked for more. Why didn’t he want to turn their agreed-upon casual sex into a relationship? Maybe if she’d been better or more exciting he— Stop it, Abby!
    She hated overthinking things. One of her biggest flaws. She’d had incredible sex with a guy she liked. No need to turn herself into Mrs. Abby Singer. Especially since she still didn’t know all that much about Brody, truth to tell. Then again, considering he’d wheedled her into agreeing to spend the next week at his place to better care for Mutt, she might be able to learn more about the tricky con man.
    After making sure she’d picked up and cleaned the place to Vanessa’s satisfaction, she made herself a salad and sat down to dinner. On cue, Vanessa arrived at six and gave Abby a thumbs-up on the housekeeping.
    “Ah. It is so nice to come home to a clean, organized house. I love Jeanine, but she’s a slob.”
    “So the trip to Whidbey went well?”
    “I needed it.” Vanessa let out a breath. “Lately work has been a bitch. I’m always playing the bad guy and I’m tired of it. Jeanine lives in Langley, where the pace is so much slower. Plus, I got to ride the ferry, which I love.”
    A relaxed Vanessa meant a relaxed household. Just one more plus to add to Abby’s stellar weekend.
    Vanessa stole a carrot off Abby’s plate. “Anyway, I lazed around.”
    “Meaning you ran five miles each day and only did a few hundred and not a thousand crunches.”
    Vanessa grinned and swallowed her food. “Pretty much.” She tugged her ponytail. “I also read a book and watched the ocean. Saw some orcas on my way to the island. So cool.”
    “I’m glad you had a good time. I had fun too.” Did I. “I organized my room and watched my favorite shows without bossy people telling me to turn the channel.”
    Vanessa snorted. “That dog show, right? Seriously? When you get that training to work on people, then I’ll be interested.”
    “Positive reward for good behavior. It’s basic behavior modification.” She paused. “I’ll be using it next week when I take care of Brody’s dog.”
    “You’re bringing that creature here after what he did to the kitchen?”
    Vanessa had a serious grudge against dirt.
    “Not exactly. I’m going to spend next week at Brody’s place while he’s in Anacortes on a job. I’ll get to keep Mutt in his own environment,