Page 37 of Trust Me With Forever

She smiled warmly at me, and it helped to settle my nerves a little.

Everyone—even West, once Emmy elbowed him in the side—raised their glasses and cheered.

Once I’d sipped, or more like gulped, my wine, Rafe spoke up again. “I’d like to have a big party with family and friends soon, to celebrate our marriage. I hope you all will come.”

Zach spoke up. “Have karaoke and beer, and I’m there.”

My brother winked at me and mouthed, “Nice catch.” I couldn’t help but laugh and shake my head.

Avery said, “Can we do karaoke and try some wine? I’m eleven now.”

West snorted. “Nice try, but no. You’re not trying wine yet. Maybe in a few years, since my parents let me try some at fourteen.”

Beck snorted. “Let you? More like you stole a bottle and got pissed-face drunk.”

West replied, “Not as bad as you. I swear you threw up for days.”

Avery scrunched her nose. “I don’t want to throw up for days.”

Aunt Lori spoke up. “That’s only if you have too much, and a sip or two won’t do that to you, child. Keep at your dad, and he’ll let you try it, at least. Whether you’ll like it or not, we’ll see.”

West grunted. “Don’t encourage her.”

Aunt Lori shrugged. “Your family runs a winery. I can’t see the harm. And if we don’t let her try it, she’ll do it on her own and might end up like her father, passed out in the barn, using a pile of horse crap as a pillow.”

Zach laughed. “I barely remember that. Weren’t you also mostly naked? I always felt bad for the horses.”

West growled. “I didn’t touch the horses, asshole.”

Zach whinnied, and West threatened him again. As they bickered, Rafe leaned over and whispered, “I think it’s going be okay.”

The heat of his breath on my skin nearly made me shiver. Once his hand squeezed mine under the table, I decided to ask quietly, “Did you really find me crying when my car broke down?”

He paused and then said, “Yes. I remembered a little more from that day, but not all of it. We can share what we each remember once we’re alone.”

I nodded, and a tendril of hair escaped the bunch settled at the top of my head. Rafe’s eyes traveled to where it lay against the top of my breast. Even though he wasn’t touching me, my nipple beaded and my heart raced. What would it feel like to have him take me into his mouth? Torture me with his teeth and tongue? Make me squirm, and then repeat it all over again on the other side.

I made a small noise before I could stop myself, and Rafe’s gaze met mine again. At the heat there, I leaned forward a little and parted my lips.

Zach’s shout prevented me from replying. “Do you two need a room for some newlywed alone time? Because there’s an empty guesthouse out back you can use. Much closer than racing home or trying to make it work in a car—it’s not as easy as it sounds.”

West sighed. “My children are here, Zach.”

“What? I didn’t swear or anything.”

West shook his head, but before he could speak, Emmy pulled his head down and gave him a kiss.

Katie said, “Oh, good idea,” before kissing Nolan.

To my surprise, Beck kissed Sabrina, and Katie kissed Nolan again. Before I could debate whether to follow suit, Rafe gently turned my head, lowered his lips, and pressed his mouth to mine.

It was soft, gentle, and not the all-consuming type of kiss from earlier. And yet, heat rushed through me and the urge to climb onto his lap again was strong.

Wyatt made gagging sounds and said loudly, “Ew, stop it! No kissing at dinner! I don’t want to puke.”

It snapped me back to the present, and I pulled away. However, I caught Rafe’s eyes, unguarded for a second, and noticed they were filled with longing. But what for?

His expression quickly shuttered, and he answered Wyatt, “One day, you’ll probably have your own person to kiss.”

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