Page 58 of Engaging with Her Enemy

“Should give her at least fifteen.”

Nash squared his shoulders. “I give Becky, Eliza, and Ms. Iris twenty percent or more.”

“And me twelve?” Hugh's scowl deepened.

“Yes. You're old enough to figure out why.”

The crowd laughed. Hugh's face grew red.

Nash slapped Dewey on the back. “See you tomorrow morning. Six. We need to till the cotton fields to get them ready for planting in a little bit.”

Dewey sighed. “Great. There goes that hot date I had planned.”

Hugh gripped Carrie's hand. “I'm taking her to Tanya's.”

“Jimmy said he'd take her when he was done,” Dewey announced, his hand running over Carrie's curls. He seemed so at ease with her. Was it because Carrie was Eliza’s daughter? Why had the other two guys dismissed the notion so easily? At one time, Eliza might have acted like a little sister, but she’d been gone for nearly ten years. Things change.

“No telling when Jimmy will be done.” He took Carrie’s hand and walked to the door. He paused and called over his shoulder. “Try not to burn the diner down.”

A moment later, Grayson's head popped out from the kitchen. “I have that to-go order ready.” He walked out, wiping his hands on a towel. “What are you talking about?”

Cameron nudged Hudson. “About when our women plan on having kids.”

“Alright.” Grayson turned around on his heel and slammed open the kitchen door with two hands. “Let me know when you want the to-go order.”

“Chicken!” Hudson shouted after him as Cameron made chicken noises. That was one conversation he'd never had with Becky. He had no idea if she ever wanted to have kids.

* * *

Sixteen hours ago,Becky had left the warmth of her bed to go shopping. Now, she crawled over a big guy to get to what she'd officially named as her side. Somewhere between Juliana's joy at trying on a wedding dress and Eliza's pensive look when she thought no one watched her, she'd decided that her relationship with Hudson was precisely what she wanted in her life.

No serious commitment, but they were together.

His strong hands stilled her hips as she tried to slide away. “It's not nice to crawl all over a man and then leave.”

She kissed his lips. “I'm rude and have no manners. Sorry.”

“No, you're not.” She heard the smile in his voice. “Becky Gallagher is unapologetic.” He rolled over, pinning her underneath his body. “Becky Gallagher has a sharp tongue behind a set of gorgeous lips.” He nipped at her bottom lip as his hand skimmed down her body. She almost purred at the contact, arching her body. “Becky Gallagher is the only woman I'll ever love.”

She grimaced. God, she should tell him. Now would be when anyone else would lay it out there. Someone says it, you say it back. Easy.

“Does that still bother you?” He asked, his whispered voice muffled against her neck.

She took a deep breath. “I love you, too.” The words tumbled from her mouth.

His head shot up.

“Donotmake this a big deal,” she snapped.

He grinned. She could barely make out his features in the darkened bedroom. Luckily, he didn't say anything. Nothing. But he didn't have to. Every touch, caress, feeling he put into making love to her, she knew he gave her everything.

And when they finished, he whispered the words to her again, and she could say them back, just a little bit easier.

21

Today. She'd find out her the final grade of her academic career in a few minutes. The professor told the students it would be online by five that afternoon. Too bad she'd started checking at lunch, thinking he might put them up on the website early. Nope. That man loved rules and released them at five on the dot.

After waiting until Eliza took over at the diner, Becky sat down in her car and refreshed the page on her phone.

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