Page 65 of Down & Dirty

“Cory, hand me the contracts. I’m a big girl. I know what I’m doing.” She paused, huffing out a puff of air, and shaking her head as her lips curled into a warm smile. “And I trust you.”

It was a shot to the heart. Straight on. I almost stepped backwards, like I’d been knocked off balance by four little words.

Without further argument, I held up the envelope and she flipped through the pages, leaning on my truck, signing and initialing in all the right places. Then she did it again on the second copy. Behind the prenups were the forms for the marriage license and a copy of my birth certificate. Her eyes lingered on that page for a long minute.

“I’ll need one of those from you too,” I said, my voice rough with the emotion she’d kicked up.

“Not a problem. I have it back at the hotel.”

She finished going through everything and stacked the pages back into a neat pile, tapping them against the hood. Then she slid them back into the folder and waved it in front of me.

“Start your engines.”

Her eyes were sparkling, a hint of mischief in them I was endlessly drawn to. I wanted to touch her, kiss her. But I held back, appreciating her like you watch fireworks on a black night; slightly awestruck and grateful.

Seeing her so lit up must have triggered something in me, because the next thing I knew words came tumbling out of my mouth. “Do you want to come to Maine with me for Thanksgiving?” I sucked in a breath, startled at the hit of longing I felt as soon as the words left me. “Micah, too. It would be fun. And it would help sell the whole thing for my family.”

That part was probably only half-true. My father and brothers wouldn’t have cared one way or another if this thing with Sky and I was real, but for some reason I wanted them to.

“Micah’s going with Tommy and Geena,” she said, her eyes wide with shock.

She wasn’t expecting my offer either. I was about to take it back, make some excuse about her needing to see her family, but she cut me off.

“I think I’d like that.”

“Really?”

She laughed at the way my voice pitched up. “Yeah. If you meant it.”

“I did. One hundred percent.”One million percent.

“Then okay. Take me home. Show me your stash of medical-grade duct tape.”

My face started to hurt from the smile that stretched across it. And I laughed with her as we headed for the building, snagging her hand in mine just so I could touch her and tug her close.

I hadn’t brought a girl home since I was a teenager. And, as everyone loved to point out, that was a hell of a long time ago.

CHAPTER 22

SKYLAR

Ronnie: You’re not going home for Thanksgiving?

Sky: No

Ronnie: Is this because of Shoe Nation? I told you I didn’t agree to anything

Only my brother would think my holiday plans revolved around him and his idiocy. Talking to a sneaker company had earned him yet another intervention by my father and me, but it wasn’t like I’d avoid my entire family just because I was pissed at him for refusing to listen to anything I said.

No, if I was going to avoid them, it was going to be because of the drama in my own life that I didn’t want to talk about. And I knew if I went home for Thanksgiving, all I’d do the entire weekend was defend myself against childish comments from Ronnie and concerned glances from my parents.

I had no idea what was in store for me in Maine, but it had to be better than that.

Sky: I’m sure you’ll have fun telling Dad that every couple of hours next weekend. Enjoy your holiday

Ronnie: Meeting the family though? With Ellis? Do I need to be actually worried about this thing with you two?

Sky: Nope

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