Page 85 of Tattered Edges

“It’s nothing serious. Logistics, really.”

I nodded and tried to focus, the fog of my arousal still looming in the air.

“I’m planning on driving to my parents’ house tomorrow night for dinner,” he continued. “I usually stay the night in their guest room—but if you want to come, I’ll book us a room at a hotel for a bit of privacy.”

My spine stiffened as I pressed my hands against his chest and pushed him away, far enough so I could make out his entire face.

“Nothing serious? Driving an hour and a half into the country to have dinner with your parents—that’snothing serious?”

He frowned.

“It’s only dinner.”

I coughed out a humorless laugh and reached for his face, holding his bearded cheeks between my palms as I emphasized, “With yourparents, babe. That’s not nothing.”

He shrugged. “If you don’t want to go, it’s okay. We’ll spend the night apart. No big deal. You can meet them when you’re ready.”

“No—that—that’s not—” I stammered and then took a beat as I tried to find the right words. “That’s not what I meant.”

I grazed my thumbs across the smooth part of his cheeks as I asked the question that would give me the answer I was really looking for.

“You’re ready for me to meet your parents?”

“Why wouldn’t I be?”

“Oh, I don’t know,” I said mockingly. “Maybe because we’ve only been seeing each other for twenty-three days—not that I’m keeping track or anything.”

He flashed me his half-smile, and it had its usual effect.

“Don’t smile at me, I’m trying to concentrate.”

“Stop being intolerably adorable, and maybe I will.”

I scrunched my face as I tried to resist the urge, but it was no use.

I kissed him then. A long, hard, closed-mouth smooch.

How could I not?

When I pulled away, I touched my forehead to his, keeping my eyes closed as I murmured, “Babe—you know I don’t have the greatest track record when it comes to parents. Introducing me to yours might not be a big deal to you, but it is to me.”

“Sawyer, look at me.”

I opened my eyes but didn’t move my head away from his—both of us cyclopes until he pulled back, aiming his blue gaze straight at me.

“I think we’ve established this thing between us, it was never going to stop at friendship. At this point, we’re all or nothing, you and me, yeah?”

I nodded.

“Right. So tomorrow night, when they ask me what I’ve been up to since my last visit, I won’t keep you from them. That’s not the kind of relationship we have. And once they know about you—about the beautiful, blonde haired, gray eyed American I can’t seem to get enough of—they’re going to want to meet you.

“Whenever you’re ready, darling. Whether it be tomorrow or next month, or the month after—I’ll be more than happy to introduce you.”

I dropped my hands down to his shoulders, resuming my slouch as I replied, “Who’s the annoyingly sweet one, now? You know I can’t saynoafter that, right?”

“Does that mean you’re coming with me?”

“Yes. Of course, I am,” I muttered as I began to shift my way out of his lap.

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