Page 188 of My Rules

“I am not meeting your mother smelling like sex, Blake.”

He chuckles. “It’s the priest you need to worry about.”

“Blake.” I laugh. “Stop.”

“You’re totally going to catch on fire in the church.”

“Coming from you, that’s a joke.”

“Yes, it is, coming from me.” He lifts my dress over my head. “Make sure you tell him that.” I stand before him in my white lace underwear. His eyes drop down my body, and then when they rise to meet my eyes, they are blazing with arousal again. “Tell that priest how creamy and wet you are.” He licks his lips. “Tell him how good you taste.” He puts his hand around my throat and pushes me up against the wall.

The dominance of the act sends my hormones into overdrive. Adrenaline screams through my bloodstream as we stare at each other.

Dear lord.

Forgive me, Father, for I have sinned.

The car pulls up at the church, and I look around at the gathering crowd. Everyone is dressed to the nines, and people are laughing and chatting as they see each other. Lots of greetings between long-lost family and friends.

I’m not feeling so brave now.

“Just here,” Blake instructs the driver. The driver pulls over and parks the car. Blake climbs out and then holds his hand out to help me. I give him a nervous smile.

“What?” He frowns.

“Do you know everyone here?” I ask as I climb out of the car.

“No idea.” He looks across the road at the church and all the people. “Not everyone.” He takes my hand in his. “Ready to meet my family?”

I swallow the lump in my throat and nod. “As ready as I’ll ever be.”

We walk across the road, and as we get closer, people turn to watch us.

“Oh my god,” someone pretends to whisper. “Blake brought a date.”

“Subtle.” Blake winces. “My cousins are a nightmare with no idea how to whisper.”

I get the giggles; all families are the same.

“My apologies in advance. We can leave as soon as the speeches finish.” He frowns as he pulls me through the crowd.

“It’s fine.” I smile. It really is fine. The fact that his family is just like mine is somehow comforting.

“Hello.” He nods to people as he leads me along. “Hello, Aunt Patty.” He kisses her cheek. “This is Rebecca.”

“Hello.” I smile.

“Well ...” Aunt Patty looks me up and down. “Aren’t you just adorable.”

“I love your dress,” I tell her.

“Thank you. I have been dieting for a whole year to fit into it.” She puts her hands on her hips. “I’ve been going to WeightWatchers on Tuesday mornings at the basketball center. It costs a bomb, but I really do think it’s worth it because I couldn’t do it by myself. Frank tells me I could save my money, but what does he know?” She gives me an overexaggerated wink.

Blake’s brow creases as he stares at her, and I bite my lip to hide my smile.

“Catch you later, Aunty Patty,” he tells her as he leads me through the crowd some more. “My family are abominable oversharers,” he says over his shoulder. “Please forget everything you see or hear here.”

“Oh,” someone cries. “My shoes are giving me blisters already.” I glance over to see a young girl, perhaps fourteen, all dressed up in a pretty dress with high heels. She’s holding one of her shoes in her hand. “Does anyone have a Band-Aid?” she calls.

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