Page 51 of Love's Hot

“You say that now,” Alesha groans. “You wait until we get there, and she’s going crazy about feeding you all, acting the Bridezilla mother that we’ve been seeing lately, then switch personalities to the patient loving grandmother with the kids. Then tell me how wonderful she is.” Alesha’s shoulders sag. I thought this wedding organizing thing was supposed to be fun for the girls, but watching Alesha, I’m not sure she’s really enjoying it like she should be.

“It’s okay, baby, we’ll all be there today, safety in numbers. Plus, your dad will control your mom. He won’t let her get out of control. Just relax and enjoy having everyone together. It’s not often we have all our closest friends and family together, and I have a feeling it won’t happen again until the wedding, so just concentrate on enjoying it.” Xavier looks at me in the rearview mirror knowing that I will be disappearing shortly. I know he worries about me.

When we arrive, I notice that Lilly’s car isn’t here yet. I chuckle to myself. It would be a minor miracle for her to be the first one here. Not her style being early, plus I’m sure she likes to make the grand entrance. After we meet everyone else and have our first bottle of beer placed in our hands by Mitch, we head out to get a tour of the farm and just finish in the shed when I hear a car pull up outside. The twins were with us but shot out the door at the sound of someone new arriving for them to get some attention from. I have Thomas and I’m busy picking him up and putting him up on my shoulders. This little boy is so cute. I’m not normally into little kids, but he’s taken a shine to me and his smile and little laugh have sucked me in. It’s like he doesn’t see anything bad inside me, just me smiling at him. The innocence of a child is awesome.

I hear her voice before I see her, and my heart is already beating a little harder. This woman has so much power, it’s probably good she has no idea how much. Exiting the shed, our eyes meet and there it is. That feeling where she just captivates me. My siren.

“Look, Daddy, Aunty Lilly is here. Can we eat now? I’m starving, and Meme won’t let me eat anything.” Samuel looks up to Zach almost pleading like he was going to starve to death.

“So, I see. You will have to ask Meme that question. She’s the boss today. Go and tell her Aunt Lilly is here and see what she says.” Samuel is already halfway across the yard before Zach is finished talking, with Sophia not far behind him. That kid is hilarious.

Thomas spots Lilly and starts wriggling on my shoulders to go to her. We all exchange hellos and then I kneel in front of her so she can take Thomas for a cuddle. The smirk on her face looking at me on my knees for her and my face level somewhere I think we would both enjoy it being. My wicked little Red has other things on her mind. While I’m here worrying how I’m going to end this arrangement, the first five minutes of being with her already have my heart fluttering and my dick on fire with her seductive looks. Man, this whole thing sucks.

In what feels like less than thirty seconds, Sammy is back telling everyone it’s time for lunch and to make it snappy. Luke starts chasing him across the yard to an outburst of giggling. The two of them seem to have a special bond, which I see when they’re already at the table with their plates loaded by the time we enter the house.

“You’ll never beat those two to the food,” Meme says as she comes up behind me. “It’s become a bit of a tradition for Sammy that he has to be the first to the table. He and Luke race every time. Of course Luke lets him win, but I also think he uses it to his advantage to get first go at the food table.” Her laugh is warm and deep. One that reminds me of my own mom. It’s a laugh that’s full of love and kindness but also with years of experience behind it. “You better get in quick, this crew won’t leave much and they never worry about the visitors. I did raise them with manners.” Placing her hand on my arm, she softly pats it like she’s known me forever.

I feel a tingle up my other arm as the touch I know so well has me turning to see Lilly standing next to me.

“Don’t listen to her, Kane. There will be plenty of food, plus she’s telling lies. She never taught us any manners, we were very naughty children. She let us run wild. I mean, look at the way Grant acts now, it just shows what hooligans we are.”

Meme just rolls her eyes at her and heads off towards Mitch who is quietly standing back and surveying his family with pride. Everyone around the table is laughing out loud at Lilly’s comments about her mom. I highly doubt that’s the case, but it sounded good. Placing food on my plate, I hang back not really knowing where I should sit. My body wants to be as close to Lilly as I can, but my head is telling me that is not such a good idea. I’ll just give away the connection between us. Xavier saves me by pulling out a chair next to him and signals for me to take it. Nat sits on the other side from me looking a little stressed. I was expecting Jordan to be sitting near us, but he ends up on the other side of the table opposite where Nat is sitting. I hear her groan under her breath.

“You okay, Nat?” I whisper in her ear. Nat and I are close. She’s like another sister to me. Being Xavier’s twin, it’s like she comes as part of the friendship package.

“Yeah, just not sure how much longer I can do this.” Shit, hang on, what have I missed? Her eyes are looking down at her plate but when I look up, I notice Jordan looking like he wants to eat her for lunch. Holy shit, I wonder if Xavier knows what’s going on here. Shit, Jordan’s married.

“Can I help? Do you need me to tell him to back off?”

Her face whips up quickly to look at me. “What? No. I mean, what are you talking about?” Her face is flushed.

“Knock it off, Nat. Your brother may be blind but I’m not.”

“Shh. Keep it down. I’m okay. That’s all you need to know.”

“Okay, okay,” I say holding my hands up like I’m surrendering. “Discussion for another time, hey.”

“Yeah, like the one about you and Lilly.”

Now it’s my turn to choke on my beer. “What?”

“Just like you said. I’m not blind either.”

“Fuck,” I mumble under my breath to myself.

“Oh, I bet you have been.” She giggles a little and at least it has her smiling slightly. “At least more than me.”

We both start laughing, and I put my arm around her shoulders and give her a hug. Looks like we have something in common at the moment. An attraction we can’t do anything about. Lilly’s voice breaks our connection.

“What’s so funny?” There’s a feeling of daggers being thrown in the tone of her voice. When I look at her, Jordan also looks like he’s about to launch over the table and take my hand off Nat. Well, this is one for the books. Jealousy is in full flight on that side of the table from both of them. Oh man, this is going to be messy for both of us, I can tell. I make a note to talk to Nat tomorrow before I go off-grid.

I think quickly on my feet. “Just laughing at Xavier who used to think he was the king of funny but is now in a family with lots of comedians. He’s getting his karma coming back to bite him in the ass.”

“Wow, thanks guys. You two are supposed to be on my side, not joining the enemy.” Watching Lilly and Jordan, they seem to relax a little at the explanation, but it takes me moving my arm off Nat’s shoulders to see Jordan finally relax completely.

Lunch is a noisy affair, with lots of wedding talk. Meme gets wound up about things she wants to get sorted until Gruffy steps in and reminds her that we’re here to have fun, or to let us poor kids eat without being badgered. Lilly, the cock tease, is sitting eating one of my cupcakes. Licking the icing off her finger very slowly moaning and saying how good it tastes. Next time, mental note, no icing.

As much as Alesha and Xavier are getting annoyed, I see the love and excitement in Sophia’s eyes at her daughter being so in love. She just wants it perfect for them. Little Sophia is sitting on Lilly’s lap after we finished eating, talking about how pretty her flower girl dress is going to be. She has Lilly’s full attention and her eyes are bright and sparkling. Sammy is already moving around the kitchen talking to everyone or anyone who wants to listen to him. Thomas is crashed out in Zach’s arms. The excitement got to be too much. He could probably put him to bed, but he just looks so content sitting cuddling his son.

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