Page 162 of Curveball

I nod but tears fill her eyes again. “What’s wrong?”

“I don’t care about the money. It’s my mom. She needlessly suffered for such a long time. If I was given this when he died, things would have been easier for her.”

“I had the same thought. My initial instinct was to tell them to shove their money up their asses. Then I was thinking you should take it and donate it all to Layton’s group home or some other worthy charity. While I still believe you should donate a lot of it, I think you should also open a softball academy for your mom. Consider all the young girls that will benefit from it. Teaching softball to them is her passion. She’s obviously very good at it. We can find space near her apartment and build her whatever she needs. You can also buy her a bigger place if she wants one.”

She smiles widely. “Mom is planning to move to Philly. Into Dutton’s house.”

Now it’s my chin that drops. “For real?”

She giggles. “Yes. Apparently they’ve been talking for nearly a year. She’s really into him. Let’s do it. Let’s buildit here. My whole team will pitch in. It will feel good to pay my mom back for all the sacrifices she made for me. She’ll get to pursue her passion.”

“I love it. I told Pierre he had forty-eight hours to fix the situation or you’d pursue twenty-nine years of interest on your share of the money. You should expect averybig check, Ms. St. James.”

She runs her fingers through my hair. “Thanks for looking out for me.”

“Always. I’m sorry about Pierre and Colette being assholes.”

“I had already realized after I met with them that a real relationship wasn’t happening. Honestly, I wasn’t that upset.”

“I know you were excited at the prospect of having a bigger family.”

She softly kisses my lips. “I already have my family. You and Kaya are my family now. Arizona is my sister in all the ways that truly matter.”

“That better not make me your brother.”

She smiles. “I definitely don’t think brotherly things about you.” She wraps her arms around my neck. “You and Kaya are my everything.”

I turn us around so I’m seated on the hot tub bench and she’s straddling me. Grinning, I say, “This is exactly how we started.”

“Thirteen years ago. It’s been a long journey, but I feel like the circle is complete. I think we’re finally where we belong. I love you, Quincy. I loved you that night and every single night since.”

I nuzzle her cheek with my nose. “I did too, I was just too stupid to realize it. I’ll never take your love for granted again.”

She nods as her lips find mine. First brushing over them and then latching on in her unique way.

Before it deepens, I break the kiss and mumble into her mouth, “There are too many clothes between us, just like that night.”

Her eyes light up. “Don’t you dare come in your pants again.”

I chuckle. “I still can’t believe you knew.”

I pull off my sweatshirt while she slides down my sweatpants and boxer briefs before re-straddling my lap. I slip down the straps of the top of her turquoise bathing suit until her full tits fall free. They’re so sexy and perfect, just like her.

Reaching for her glass of wine, I pour some of it over her chest before grabbing her tits with my hands. Squeezing them together, I alternate between her nipples, circling them with my tongue, licking off the wine.

She moans in delight as she runs her fingers through my hair. I’ve missed the way she worships and tugs at my hair. I know it turns her on.

My eyes glance sideways as I catch a mirror-like reflection of us in one of the large, folded glass doors. Without removing my hands, I release her nipple and motion my head in that direction. “Look at us, Shortcake.”

She turns her gorgeous face and takes in the same reflection. The corners of her mouth turn up. “We look pretty good together, Abbott.”

I blow out a breath and shout into the night sky, “Finally, she admits it.”

She giggles as we continue to take in our reflection. She’s topless on my lap with her hair up and her curls falling forward. Her fingers are in my hair. The steamfrom the hot tub is in the air around us. It’s very erotic looking.

Her nipples pebble as the pace of her breathing intensifies. My cock leaks from the tip. Neither of us want to tear our eyes away from the scene before us.

I rub my thumb over her soft cheek. “You are so damn beautiful. I love you so much.”

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