Page 61 of One Hot Rumor

She taps my chest with one finger. "Ha-ha. I wasn't uptight. I was…dedicated to maintaining my integrity as a teacher."

"Why did you give up your ethics to be with me? If anyone finds out we're sleeping together, you could be sacked."

"I have tenure, so that makes it harder for the university to fire me. They could still do it, but I don't care. My job isn't as rewarding as it used to be." She sits up and stretches her arms above her head. "I've learned there are things that matter more than work or status."

I want to ask her a question, but I don't know if she'll take it the wrong way. Better wait a bit longer before I ask whether I'm the reason she feels differently about her work these days.

Siobhan sweeps her gaze around the room. "If you've never given an erotic massage before, how did you have all the stuff on hand? You know, the oil and candles."

"I've had the candles for ages. Women love a romantic atmosphere during sex." I sit up too, but instead of stretching, I scratch the back of my neck. "I, uh, bought the oil just for you. Took me two weeks to work up the nerve to offer you a massage."

"Just for me? Nick, that's…so incredibly sweet."

"You deserved something special."

She drapes an arm across my shoulders. "I've been meaning to ask. What was that amazing thing you did at the end of my massage? Nobody's ever tried that before."

"It's called kunyaza. The technique was traditionally practiced in Central Africa, but I learned it from an Algerian masseuse. We met at a conference and hit it off, so she taught me her favorite sexual technique."

"Uh-huh." Siobhan's smile is almost a smirk. "And by 'hit it off,' you mean you slept with her."

"Well, yes. I was single, you know."

"I'm not criticizing. Maybe I should send that masseuse a thank-you note for teaching you how to make me come so hard I think I left my body for a couple seconds." She kisses my cheek. "You're the first non-asshole boyfriend I've ever had."

"Not sure if I should be grateful for that comment. I'm not an arsehole? That doesn't mean I'm—"

"You're an incredible boyfriend, Nick, in every way. An amazing man, period."

"And you're an incredible woman." We're gazing into each other's eyes, and suddenly, I can't stop myself from saying something I shouldn't. "I love you, Siobhan."

She opens her mouth, about to speak.

My mobile rings.

"Bollocks," I hiss. "Hold that thought."

I leap off the bed and find my trousers, then dig my mobile out of a pocket. The screen tells me it's Richard ringing me. I swipe to take the call. "What is it, Rick? I'm naked in bed with my girlfriend."

The fact that I'm standing up, not lying in bed, has no bearing on what I said. I'm still naked, after all.

Siobhan smiles, and I can tell she's laughing quietly because her shoulders shake.

"I'm sorry for disturbing your urgent business," Rick says, "but I've been tasked with informing you."

"Of what?" I'm getting a knot in my gut just hearing him say the word informing.

"The American Wives Club have a surprise for you. They've worked bloody hard to set this up, so don't get shirty about it."

"Why aren't you on your honeymoon yet?"

"Maddie wanted to stay to see your face when you receive the surprise. She was instrumental in making this happen. We delayed our departure until this evening." He switches to his big-brother voice. Richard might be only two minutes and thirty-eight seconds older than I am, but he still thinks he's my big brother. "Don't get shirty, Nick."

"Stop saying that, would you? I'm a mature businessman, just like you." I switch to my snarky, slightly younger brother voice. "Though I am a lot more fun than you. Should I get Siobhan on the phone to confirm that?"

The woman herself falls back onto the bed and laughs audibly.

I cup my hand over the phone's speaker. "You're not behaving like a good girlfriend right now. I might need to take back what I said about you."