Free Seal All Exits (Tangled Web #3) by Jade C. Jamison Page B

the road.  It was covered in evergreen trees and the sky above was a light blue, clean and clear.  He could see why Johnny wanted to live here.  Regular worries were gone, far and away, and it was like regular shit just didn’t matter.
    Heather stopped walking, so Kiefer slowed and turned to face her.  “Um...I have a proposal for you.”
    He raised an eyebrow.  “Yeah?”
    “Yeah.”  She drew in a deep breath and looked in his eyes, but he could tell it was hard for her.  “I, uh...I don’t want or need a relationship.  But I’m so glad you’re my friend.”
    Kiefer smiled.  “Ditto.”
    “So...just so we can get it out of our systems...why don’t we, uh, explore our attraction, but...when we leave here, things go back to the way they were.”  Kiefer drew in a long, slow breath.  Was she saying what he thought she was?  “That sound okay?”
    Honestly, no , it sounded like a copout.  He thought some of telling her that, but he wanted her.  He wanted her to continue to be a part of his life and he also wanted to step it up a notch after what they had experienced last night.  This might be his only chance to convince her that a more intense relationship could be a good thing.  So he nodded.  “Yeah.”  On impulse, he took her hand in his.  He wanted to start now .
    Heather had other ideas, though.  “Not here.”  Kiefer couldn’t help the look of confusion that he knew appeared on his face.  She let go of his hand but got a little closer, almost as though she were afraid someone would be able to hear her.  “If we’re going to go back to the way things were after this week, then I don’t want to give anybody here any bright ideas, and I don’t want to answer any questions or deal with any looks.”
    He nodded, saying nothing.  He could live with that.  And that also gave him several days to see what he could do to change her mind.
     

 
     
     
    Chapter Seven
     
    HEATHER COULDN’T BELIEVE she’d actually suggested a friends-with-benefits relationship for the few days they were going to be together at Katie and Johnny’s.  She couldn’t help it.  Kiefer was irresistible and what made it worse was she knew what a sweetheart he was down to the core.  Now that she’d scratched that itch once...and it would be okay, as long as they went back to the way things were when they went back to their respective lives.
    He really was gorgeous.  She knew him on the inside—sweet, thoughtful, and kind—but in person, holy shit.  He was one of the hottest guys she’d seen in recent memory, and even though they’d engaged in hot and sweaty sex (thus, fucking with low expectations), he’d been pretty damn good for having had a few drinks and not knowing a thing about her (well, not realizing he knew something about her).
    At first, he’d seemed a little shocked, but he rolled with the punches and appeared to be okay with her proposition.  They’d started walking back toward the house when he asked, “So, uh…when do we meet, or…?”
    She pursed her lips, trying to contain a smile.  Finally, she said, “I’ll find you later.  Sound okay?”
    Kiefer still looked shell shocked but nodded his head as they walked inside the house.  She smiled at him before walking toward the kitchen to find Katie.  Her old friend was scrubbing a skillet when Heather walked in.  “Need any help?”
    “Nope.  Just finishing up.”
    “I thought your man was going to help you clean up.”
    “He did, but when Sage showed up wanting some food, Johnny set him up and then he and Mickey went off to do something.  Don’t ask what.  I have no idea.”  Katie pulled the plug and rinsed out the sink.  “You ready for the grand tour?”
    Heather grinned.  “I can’t believe there’s more to show.”
    “Are you kidding?  I barely scratched the surface yesterday.  You have no idea.”
    “Geez.  Then show me.  I can’t wait.”
    Before leaving the kitchen, Katie wrapped her arms