She was quiet for a moment, but I could almost feel her swelling with pride. “Do you really think so?”

I nodded. “Yes. What are you majoring in again?”

“Accounting.”

I laughed. I couldn’t help it. “Whose idea was that?” Janie made a face. “My dad’s.”

“I think you should be majoring in creative writing.”

“I wanted to, but…” She shrugged.

“But?”

“It doesn’t exactly pay the bills.”

“Honestly…I think you’re good enough right now.” I smiled at her incredulous look. “What you need is an agent. Do you have anything else you’ve written?”

She nodded. “Lots.”

“What’s lots?”

“Four novels. Probably hundred of short stories.”

“Are you serious?” I gave a low whistle. “Are they all erotic?”

“No.” She smiled.

“But they’re all as good as that story was, aren’t they?” I asked.

“I don’t know…” She flushed. “I guess so.”

“Amazing.” I took a deep breath, thinking about her future, stretching out before her. So much potential, so many possibilities.

“I could sleep here,” she murmured, snuggling in closer.

“Why don’t we?” I suggested, kissing her forehead. “TJ’s crashed upstairs.

Help me pull out the sofa bed.”

We got the couch bed pulled out and were back in it within minutes, wearing just our t-shirts now. I pulled the comforter over us as Janie turned in my arms, spooning, her back to my front. She was already drifting off to sleep. I kissed her cheek, remembering her as a little girl but experiencing her now as a woman. The juxtaposition was surreal, and I closed my eyes, listening to the soft sound of her breath, the only sound in the room. I couldn’t sleep for a long time, thinking about Janie, about what had happened, about the past…and the future.

I couldn’t quiet down until I’d worked it out-but when I finally had an idea, and decided I’d talk to the Baumgartners about it first thing in the morning, my whole body finally relaxed against Janie’s, and I joined her in sleep.

Chapter Eleven

I woke up sandwiched sweetly between Janie and Gretchen, the three of us spooning, Janie’s back to my front and Gretchen behind me, her arm draped protectively over us both. I kissed the top of Janie’s head and she smiled sleepily, her body slowly waking, tensing as she stretched, cat-like, in my arms.

“Know what I want?” she murmured, not opening her eyes.

“I can’t possibly guess,” I replied, feeling Gretchen waking, too, snuggling closer.

“Ronnie’s special pancakes!” she exclaimed. “I haven’t had them in years.

Gretchen tried to make them after you left but…yuk!”

“You got it,” I agreed, laughing at Gretchen grumbling behind me.

I was in no hurry to get out of our warm bed, though, with Janie’s bottom perfectly shaped against my thighs, and I found myself considering the idea I was going to propose to the Baumgartners. I hadn’t consulted Janie, or TJ for that matter-but Doc and Mrs. B were the place to start, I decided, sliding my hand over Janie’s hip, feeling her wiggle and press back against me.

“Well…that’s where you were all night. Good morning, ladies.” I glanced up to see TJ standing in the doorway, his hair tousled but his eyes bright as he looked at the three of us snuggled together on the sofa bed. I smiled up at him, seeing it in his eyes, that dark look of lust, and knew how much just finding us together like this turned him on. Proof of that fact tented his boxers almost immediately, and he turned, excusing himself to use the bathroom.

“You’re so lucky,” Janie murmured, her eyes closed again. “He’s such a hottie.”

I smiled. “He is, isn’t he?”

“You damned well know he is.” Gretchen squeezed my ass, making me squeak. “And I think you should share.”

Janie turned in my arms, her eyes brightening. “Now that’s a good idea!”

“Hungry girl.” I kissed her nose and then, still smiling, crawled out of bed and headed toward the kitchen, calling: “Time for pancakes!” When TJ joined us again, wearing jeans this time-something that would cover up his obvious arousal a little better, I noted with a smile-I was up to my elbows in flour, Gretchen was nursing her first cup of coffee, and Janie was sitting at the kitchen table, complaining about her growling stomach.

“How’d you sleep?” I asked TJ, mixing the pancake batter like I always did-by hand.

“Like the dead,” he said with a snort. “I didn’t even know where I was, or that you weren’t in bed with me…until I got up.” His eyes met mine and I smiled, knowing he was remembering just where he found me when he got out of bed.

“Although now I feel like the living dead. I’ve got a kink in my neck you wouldn’t believe.” He rolled his neck with a groan.

“I’d give you a massage, but my hands are full,” I said with a shrug, holding up my hands, still covered in flour.

“I’ll do it.” Janie smirked as she got up and slid in behind TJ’s chair, her hands going to work on his neck and shoulders, making TJ groan even louder.

“My brother says I give the best massages of anyone he knows.” I bet he does, I thought, moving around Gretchen to wash my hands.