Page 59 of That Kiss

“She just needs a minute.” We both sit back down at the table. “Does Juney know you’re here?”

“No, but we talked the other night, and I told her I wanted to speak to you.”

“Well, I hope you didn’t expect to come over here and ask for her hand in marriage, because that young woman is no man’s property.” He says it with such conviction, it makes me laugh.

“Trust me, I know. She said the same thing when I told her about talking to you, and I told her the same thing, which is just that I wanted you to know that I’m serious. I know I was a fuck-up when it comes to women and how I viewed commitment, but those days are behind me. I recognize that it takes some serious trust from both of you, as well as her, and I’m not going to screw it up.”

“Bah,” he waves away my concern, “we’ve all got a past, Deck. Hell, your dad’s would probably put yours to shame.”

“Really?” I laugh. “Do tell.”

Ron spends the next hour telling me stories I’ve never heard before about my dad and uncles.

“Now the real player in your family was your Uncle Hudson. That boy was wild,” he whistles, “and look at him and Devon now, happily married for over 20 years.”

The back door handle turns and it opens slowly, Juniper’s round eyes peering cautiously around it. “What’s going on?” she asks suspiciously when she sees me sitting at the kitchen table.

“Just visiting with your parents.” I say it so casually that she has no idea if I’ve told them anything about us yet. She looks to her dad then me.

“Yes, we were just talking, Juniper, and unfortunately,” he glances at me and I can’t believe he’s about to do what I think he’s going to do, “your mother and I just can’t support this relationship.” I stare down at my mug, shaking my head. “I’m just kidding, sweetie! We are so happy for you.”

“What the hell, Dad?” She chokes back the sob she was about to let loose, then I hear Mary from the other room.

“Ronald Allen Riley, that is not funny!”

“Oh, sweetie, come here.” Juney’s dad wraps her in a hug, laughing as she tells him how not funny and not cool his joke was.

“Deck, why don’t you and I throw some steaks on the grill and crack a cold one? We’ll have our first official family dinner together.”

Chapter 22

Juniper

“Ineed a big favor, Deck.” Celeste pulls him to the side of the beer tent. “I know you don’t want to do the auction, and I’ve accepted that, but we have a huge problem. Terrance Skylark was supposed to emcee tonight, and he came down with a nasty stomach bug, so we need someone to step in for him.”

“Yeah, I can handle that. Don’t worry, Aunt Celeste.” He puts his arm around her. “I won’t let you down.”

My parents are still the only ones who know about Deck and me. It’s not that we’re still trying to keep things a secret, but with the Fest taking up most of our free time, we just haven’t had a chance to tell anyone else since last night.

“Stop looking at me like that.”

“Like what?” I flash him my best bedroom eyes.

“Like you need me to drag you to the back of this tent and set you straight.”

“You should take it as a compliment,” I tease as a pack of customers approach. “I just can’t get enough.”

“Even after last night and this morning?” He shakes his head. “And I was very generous.”

“Guess you’ve met your match.” The tension that hangs between us is palpable—sickening, probably, to anyone who has to be around us, but I don’t care. I’m lovesick beyond repair, but at least I’ll die happy.

He stands closer to me as the customers approach, his hand resting on my ass as he leans down to whisper, “You’re just a little slut for my cock,” right as they reach the table.

I float around the tent like a balloon, completely untethered from the ground I’m walking on. It’s not just about the insane sexual chemistry between us, although we excel in that area. It’s the comfort I feel with him—the security that I can be myself—and I know he’s not going to try to change me or tell me I’m too much.

“Hey,” he walks over to me once the customers leave, “where’s that head of yours?”

“Thinking about you,” I slide my hands up the front of his chest, “about us.”

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