Rough Tumble by Keri Ford

was embarrassing.
    My God . He brushed a hand over his face. The night replayed over him as he recalled blowing his wad with her for the first time in her hand. In. Her. Hand. What was he, fifteen?
    The doorknob twisted and clicked. In peeked the woman he wanted wearing a big smile and a shirt that fit in all the best ways possible. Her hair was down. He frowned, wondering if he’d ever seen her in the diner with her hair down. Rarely was it ever down at all, but especially not in the diner. It was a food hazard, as he’d heard her explain to nearly every new employee who stepped foot in the kitchen.
    “Thank God you’re in here.” She pushed the door closed and leaned against it, her hands behind her back.
    “Looking for me?” He lifted his phone and didn’t see any messages or missed calls from her.
    “I was coming here to check on things. I saw your truck in the back and was hoping you were in my office.” She was breathless. Cheeks were flushed too.
    “Samantha said you’d stepped out for a few minutes. Are you all right?”
    She swallowed and nodded. Then pulled in a long, slow, deep breath. It all whooshed out of her in seconds. “It’s done. I told Lucille. And as bonus, Charlene was there. They both know. Everyone will know soon.”
    “Already?”
    She nodded and walked to him, her hands coming up to cover her face. Fingers shook a little against her cheeks. “I called first thing this morning and got a hair appointment. I usually always call last minute and it’s at least a couple days. She had a highlight cancelation though and got me right in.” She rung her hands, paced the small office. So small that she made about two steps before turning and making another pass of two to three steps and then back. “I just can’t believe it’s over. It’s done. Out of my hands. All this time and it’s done.”
    He smiled at her, wondering if he’d ever seen her this…happy before. It was everything about her. The bounce in her step. The ringing over her hands. Not to mention the big, broad smile on her face. Hell, it didn’t matter how they turned out, he was happy for her. After all this time, he knew it wouldn’t be an easy thing to do. “No regrets?”
    “Are you kidding?” She took another big breath and stared up. “I should have done that ages ago. It’s just this huge weight unloaded off my back in the span of twenty minutes. I can hardly believe it. I keep thinking to myself that’s it’s not real. That I didn’t get the courage to finally do it. That I’m going to wake up any minute. And you know what?” She quit pacing, turned on her heel and faced him. “It’s not a dream. I’m not going to wake up.”
    He reached forward and caught her hands, pulled her forward until she stood between his parted thighs. He pulled more. Pulled her over so that she bent at the waist and forehead landed on his. “I’m glad you’re happy.”
    She closed her eyes and nodded a little. “Happiest day of my life in a long time. I finally quit peddling in place.”
    He tipped his head back and found her mouth, sealing his lips across hers. He didn’t have to tug anymore. She was on him. Over him. Stepping over his thighs and sitting on his lap. The heat of her center sat against his zipper and the damn thick denim barred him.
    All these clothes. Another horrible position to get out of them. Why did they keep ending up like this?
    And yes, he knew they were in her office. And no, he didn’t give a shit. That door locked when it closed. Nobody was coming through it. Anyone who was here was busy working. She opened for him and he tasted something strange.
    He stopped, pulled back, smacked his tongue in his mouth. “Why do you taste like grass?”
    She tipped her head back and laughed. “Payment for telling my secrets. I had to drink some nasty spinach soy thing. I’m not sure what all went in it, but it wouldn’t surprise me if grass was included.”
    He rubbed a hand over his mouth. “You taste