Page 99 of Beached Wedding

Fox caught my wrist in a signal to let him speak.

“I promise I won’t be, but thank you, Joanna,” he said sincerely. “I don’t think it will take us long to find our groove. You raised a bright woman capable of making good decisions and I make pretty good ones myself. Eventually.” He winked at me. “I’ll be doing everything I can to make sure we’re secure, but it means the world to me that you’d open your home to us if we were in a bind.”

“I just wish it wasn’t so far away.”

“I was already planning to visit my family in Seattle this Christmas. The dates aren’t firm, but we’ll add a leg to come see you.”

“Oh, that’s too soon. Too expensive if you’ll be starting new jobs.”

“Shane and I fly a lot. I have a ton of points,” Fox said.

“Even so, Seattle to Winnipeg is farther than people realize. Perhaps we could meet you in Seattle.”

“Or California,” I suggested. “Fliss would love that. So would Ryan.” Whit could stay the fuck home. I wasn’t going to forgive her soon.

Oliver came out of the bedroom as the potatoes were starting to boil. He looked for his son on the empty couch.

“They went for ice cream,” I said.

He gave a philosophical shrug. “Need any help with dinner?”

“I was about to start the barbecue,” Fox said, taking the bowl of sauce-coated ribs outside.

“Let me grab my beer. I’ll join you.” Oliver looked for the can I’d put back in the fridge.

I dried my hands on a tea towel and eyed the bedroom door, trying to figure out what I’d say.

“Maybe give her a minute?” Oliver winced as he saw where I was looking. “She’s still upset. Embarrassed. Worried about how Fliss is taking this.” He waved at himself. “She took it out on the wrong person.”

I nodded and Oliver walked outside, then I looked at Mom.

“Should I go talk to her?” I asked.

“I will.” Mom stood, but there was a knock on the main door.

“Izzy,” I said, starting to dry my hands again.

“I’ll let her in. I like him, by the way.” Mom nodded toward the windows where we could see the backward baseball cap on Fox’s head. “Which isn’t to say I won’t cut off his nuts and make it look like an accident if he hurts you again.”

“I’ll let him know,” I said dryly, then impulsively gave her a hug. “Thanks.”

“For?”

“Understanding. Not being mad. Loving me anyway.”

“Always.” She hugged me back, then went to open the door for Izzy.

FOX

Ash made a soft noise of protest when I pulled away from her at five.

“Shh. Go back to sleep,” I whispered. “I’ll be back soon.”

“But you’ll be cold and wet and you feel really good right now.” She snuggled her butt deeper into the spoon of my body.

“You feel really good, too.” Good enough my dick throbbed in protest.Are you sure we have to go? “I want to, though.” I softened my departure with a kiss against her sweet-smelling neck.

“Will Shane be there?” She rolled onto her back to watch me rise and dress in the shorts and rashie I’d left out last night, after checking out of my room downstairs and moving back in here with her.

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