Page 43 of We're One

“How serious are you about our daughter?” Before I can answer, Sia interrupts again.

“I said he’s not my boyfriend. We had a couple... um... dates.” Her cheeks flush again.

“She doesn’t like the boyfriend, girlfriend terms, but she’ll get used to it,” I tell them. Then I look her dad in the eyes. “I’m very serious.” I am serious about her, more than I’ve even admitted to myself. I don’t want to let her get away. I can’t predict the future, and I don’t like that I got her name out of the box on Gramps’s desk, but none of that seems to matter right now.

“That’s good to hear,” her father says.

“Do you have plans today?” I ask them.

“I have golf,” her father says.

“I have a festival meeting that will take all afternoon,” her mother says. I grin at both of them.

“I didn’t want to interrupt family time, but I want to take Sia out, and I’ll make sure to have her back home when you get back,” I say.

Sia grumbles at me. We all pretend not to hear. “That sounds lovely. People don’t initially see the beauty of our town, but we don’t mind as it’s been our own personal paradise for a long time, however there’s a lot to do and see,” Carol says.

“I was going to go to the planning meeting with you, Mom,” Sia says, looking at her mom with pleading eyes.

“Oh, darling, we can’t bring visitors to the meetings. It’s very hush, hush until the festival. You know how rumors spread around here,” her mother says, not even attempting to save her. I give Carol an award-winning grin.

“Good, then it’s settled,” I say as I reach over and give Sia’s enticing thigh a nice squeeze. She narrows her eyes at me, and I’m sure I’m going to get an earful when we leave, but for now, I’m quite pleased with the situation.

“I have to get going if I’m gonna make tee-time,” Ben says as he stands. I rise as well and shake the man’s hand again before he exits the room.

“I also need to get ready. It takes a while,” Carol says. She then gives me a firm look. “You take good care of our daughter.” It’s definitely a command.

“I sure will,” I promise. It’s a promise I intend to keep.

Sia gives me another look before she rises and exits the kitchen with her parents. I have all the time in the world to wait. I lean back and grab another donut. It’s delicious, definitely worth flying down here for the food alone. The company is an added bonus.

It takes nearly an hour, but Sia finally comes back out, freshly showered and wearing shorts that showcase her long, lean legs, and a shirt that hugs her beautiful curves. I want to take her straight back to her room and strip the clothes away. Maybe I can get us back to the cabin. The problem with that idea is the workers are now out and I don’t need more gossip spreading. It’s okay, though, because I need to show her this is about more than sex. I’m sure the need to take her every ten minutes will pass the longer were together. Besides, I already made plans, hoping they’d come to fruition.

Back to the sex thoughts, though. Our summer together the lust never dimmed. I couldn’t get enough of her then, and I have a feeling it’s going to be the same now. Making love to her is different from anyone else I was ever with. My appetite is insatiable. I do want more though. I have no desire to run as soon as I’m satisfied.

“Are you ready for a day of adventure?” I ask.

She nods. “It looks like that’s what’s happening,” she says. I have no idea what she’s thinking, but I’m okay as long as she’s with me. I have a fun activity planned. I need to get her to take down her walls again.

We leave her parents’ house and walk down the block before she speaks. “I can’t believe you showed up at my parents’ house,” she says, keeping her voice quiet. We’re both well aware neighbors could be listening in. It’s so odd to have to be careful with what I say and where I say it. In the city no one cares what other people are talking about.

“I wanted to meet them and needed to make a good impression since we’re together now.”

“What makes you think we’re together?” She stops and looks at me, her hands on her hips. She’s trying to be firm, but I see the spark in her eyes. She’s just as affected by me as I am by her. We’re meant to be together.

I pull her to me and love the small gasp that escapes her pretty pink lips. “The moans you cried last night,” I tell her and give her the kiss I’ve been wanting to give her all morning. She instantly melts against me. I might have to keep her in lust all day as she seems far more receptive to me in this state. I’m good with that.

When I pull back, she’s a bit wobbly on her feet. She takes a moment to pull herself together. Then she glares at me. “I don’t know what game you’re playing, and I’m not going to say I regret last night, but just because we had sex again doesn’t mean we’re a couple.”

I grin at her before taking her hand and walking again. She has no choice but to walk at my side.

“You keep thinking that. I choose to think of us as a couple. I have no desire to be with any other woman, and if a man even attempted to ask you out, I’d have to pulverize him. That makes us a couple.” Her breath hitches at these words. I’m shocking her. Good. I like keeping her off-balance. I’ve never wanted to be in a monogamous relationship before, but considering I don’t see other women except for Sia in my life, it’s pretty clear that’s what this is.

“Well, I can’t keep you from thinking what you want.” She doesn’t pull her hand from mine, though. We’re making progress.

“I will. Now, I’ve rented a boat for us and your friends, so we’re going fishing.” She stops and her eyes light up. Good. I chose well. I might’ve had some help when I called and woke Nikki up, but I won’t share that.

“I do love boating,” she reluctantly says.

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