Page 53 of Boarded Hearts

“Okay, I’ll take Felicity back inside, but let me know if you need anything.”

“Felicity?”

“Yes, Mr. Morgan?”

“Please call us James and Jennie, and it’s great to meet you. Never did I think I’d see the day when my son brought a woman home.”

I hear Adam snicker from behind his dad, and Jon low groans.

“You too M…James.”

CHAPTER TWENTY-FOUR

JON

“Are you into hockey?” Dad asks Felicity.

Lunch was incredible and Mom thankfully kept it light. Homemade chicken noodle and French onion soups, grilled cheese, and salads. I had visions of us sitting down to a Thanksgiving meal but being the incredible cook she is, she can pull off anything and make it five-star. Mom taught me everything I know in the kitchen, and when I was younger, if I wasn’t playing hockey with Dad, I'd be helping Mom prep food.

So far, I’d say Felicity has handled the occasion well, although as she sits next to me, I can feel the tension rolling off her. I kind of feel bad throwing her into meeting my parents so last minute, but she’s been a champ and smiled through the afternoon. My parents, especially Mom, can be overwhelming, to say the least, and as the day’s worn on, she’s not reined it in at all. If anything, she’s becoming giddier at the thought of me having a girlfriend. I can only hope Felicity isn’t scared away, which is a real possibility, and that thought cuts through my bones, leaving me cold.

“Yeah, well sort of. I’m getting more into it now that I have a season ticket to the Scorpions. I got it for my son, Jack, when he turned eighteen. He’s playing college hockey and is totally obsessed.”

“Oh great. How’s his season going?” Anything hockey and Dad’s all ears.

She sets her water glass down. “A bit mixed. He seems to be finding his stride though. He’s fast on the ice, but his technical skills need work. Although recently they’ve come on, so he tells me. I’m going to one of his games this weekend.”

I look over at her. “You are?”

“Yeah, I’m going to drive over and watch. He needs someone in the stands for him.”

“That he does.” I smile and squeeze her thigh under the table.

She looks incredible this afternoon; black leggings and a fitted cream fluffy sweater showcase her gorgeous hourglass figure and her hair falls in waves across her shoulders, her scent is driving me crazy. But not as crazy as the knee-high black leather boots she wore out.

Jesus.

When she stepped out of her bedroom, I wanted to turn her around and take her straight back in, lay her down on the bed, and unzip them with my fucking teeth.

I want her so badly.

The taste I got last night has only served to drive me to the edge of my sanity. It took everything in me to hold back from going further last night, and I don’t know how much longer I can hold out. I want to be inside her; I need to feel her squeeze around my cock. I need to bury myself in this woman and claim her as mine. I just hope she won’t make me wait much longer because I’ll wait a lifetime for her. Even if she’s my undoing.

“Can I help you with the dishes, Jennie?” Felicity breaks through my haze of dirty thoughts I absolutely should not be having at the table.

Waving a dismissive hand, Mom starts collecting empty plates. “Oh thanks, honey, but no, you’re our guest. Jon, why don’t you show Felicity the rest of the house? I’m sure she’d be intrigued to see your old room.”

Adam chuckles from the side of the table, his head buried in his phone, but he hears everything that’s being said.

“Yeah,” Dad cuts in, “We’ve taken down most of the posters in there, but there’s still one or two left up. I’m sure she’d enjoy seeing your previous interests.”

The “posters” he’s referring to are of my boyhood crush, Pamela Anderson. Given the fact they’ve only lived here six years, I’m confused as to why those posters have made a reappearance. I swear to God my parents collectively set out this morning to embarrass the shit out of me. Too bad at thirty-four I've passed that point, but I guess this is the first chance they’ve had to make me blush in front of a girl since I’ve never brought one home before.

Plastering on an unaffected smile I place my hand on Felicity’s lower back and guide her out of the room. When she’s out the door and safely out of eyeline, I turn back to face my family and flip them the bird. Dad throws his head back in laughter, practically choking on his water.

Instant karma.

I glance at my watch and notice it’s now five. Shit. I need to be over at Zach’s in an hour. I spent the last thirty minutes showing Felicity my old room. She asked me about every single one of the trophies and medals stacked in my cabinet, carefully reading the engravings. I was going to store them at my place, but Mom wanted to keep them here, a reminder of what I achieved when I was younger. True to form, two posters had been hung back up and it wouldn’t surprise me if it was Adam’s doing. I’ve got to hand it to him, he’s always had the knack of winding me up; call it sibling intuition.

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