Page 69 of Sunshine & Sinful

Not that it should be weird. But it’s… Sunshine. Sola was right. He’s the embodiment of hot daddy vibes. Not that I’d ever tell him or her that. I’m taking that to my grave and into my next life… and so are you.

“I hear you’re a real couple now,” Sola announces far too loud so everyone can overhear, not giving a single damn she’s sitting at a bar, drinking in a workout bra and men’s boxers.

“Soon to be married,” Sunshine casually relays before sipping his craft beer like he didn’t just drop another bomb on my group of sisters.

I nudge him hard in the ribs, and the bastard snickers. “Colton,” I whisper-hiss under my breath. It elicits a rough, panty-melting laugh from the man I’m using as a seat, who decides cupping my breast in public is a perfectly normal response than using his words.

Enjoying this far too much, Till loses it and breaks intoa fit of laughter. Sola’s not far behind. Before long, we’ve drawn a small crowd. Sugar, in her apron, has joined us, along with a few other sisters, and they’re all watching the Sunshine-Kali show in living, breathing color, including the fondling and ewy-gooey neck nuzzles.

This is not how I expected today to play out. Then again, I woke up this morning wrapped in a sexy man and showered with said sexy man before we decided to stop by the apartment to drop Penelope’s basket off and check in with both the sisters underground and those working Dark Delicacies.

Polishing off my glass, Till’s poised and ready to refill it when I return it to the bar top. “You gonna give her a property of cut?” she asks Sunshine as she pours the sweet red and discards the empty bottle in the recycling.

I feel him shrug. “If she wants one.”

This man has all the right answers.

“When are you tying the knot?” Sola asks from the stool beside us, twirling an umbrella in her drink that she loves because they’re colorful. She’s the only person I know who puts umbrellas in every beverage. Even water.

“Whenever I can get her to agree.” Sunshine squeezes me around the middle as if urging me to put him out of his misery already.

Drawing the edge of my glass to my lip, I speak against the rim before sipping. “Can we talk about this later?” I beg, not wanting my sister’s input on such a big thing.

Sunshine pats the side of my leg in silent agreement that he’ll drop it for now, but I know, from how often he’s mentioned it, it’ll be up for discussion again soon. Possiblytonight. Tomorrow. The next day and then the next. Something tells me this agenda of his won’t be evaded for long. A gigantic part of me is terrified to consider the question beyond a passing amusement, a funny what-if, while a small part of me, the innocent part that grew up like most girls, longing for a soulmate, someone to grow old with, to trust, to love, to ride or die with... that part… that lives in the soft underside of my heart, beyond the broken, blackened bits, is ready to leap into the unknown because it’s not the unknown. This is Sunshine. Colton. The man I trust most in this world. My forever ride-or-die. He’s safe.

Blending in with the group, we carry on like old friends because we are. Nobody cares that my man plucks my nipple through the cotton of my tank top or the fact my still sore pussy is wide awake. I’m simply a decoration on Sunshine’s lap as everyone else chats about Sola’s leaving for a new job soon, Till’s new shipment of craft beer, and the chocolate croissants Sugar is prepping for tomorrow.

Before too long, the warmth of the wine soaks in, relaxing me.

Sugar leaves for a beat, and when she returns, she sets a plate of chocolates on the bar top with a smile and a wink, knowing how much I love her creations. Scooting the dish closer, I share them with Sunshine because he loves chocolate almost as much as I do. It’s one of the thousands of things we agree on. Till swaps out his beer for one that compliments the yummies.

Biting a turtle in half, Sunshine hums in appreciation when I feed him the other piece. “So good.”

My sentiments exactly.

Sogood.

Like being here.

Spending time in my store with people I love.

When the bar fills with regulars, I greet the ones I recognize and introduce them to Sunshine. Despite his leather cut and tattoos, which can be intimidating to some, they treat him like he’s one of us. He chin lifts with a soft smile, and they return the sentiment. He starts a casual conversation about nothing important, and they’re right there with him, commenting on how the plants look in the bar or the new selection of spring beer. Or how the farmers' market will open soon. It’s simple, small-town chatter that feeds your soul.

Wanting to leave space for paying customers, Sunshine, Sola, and I eventually move to a low top against the wall, away from prying ears.

Once again, Sunshine pulls me into his lap, not allowing me to sit on a normal chair, and resumes cupping my breast as he converses with Sola. “I heard Dark’s the one who got this new job for ya.”

She twirls the umbrella in her rum and Coke. The ice clinks against the side of the glass. “New, yes. But it’s not unlike ones I’ve done before.”

He hums.

“The setup reminds me of that job I did for your prez years ago,” I add, looking over my shoulder to Sunshine.

“Which one?” he asks, caressing the underside of my breast before he dips under my shirt to do the same skin-on-skin since I’m not wearing a bra. Stiffening in his lap,my back goes ramrod straight, and I suck in a quiet breath.

“Relax,” he whispers in my ear and presses the center of my stomach, willing me to calm down and settle against him.

I can do this.

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