Page 103 of Tempt Thy Neighbor

“I’m proud of you, Sutton.”

“For what?”

“For everything. For sticking up for yourself and telling your family to kiss your ass. For being open to change. For taking charge and going after your woman. For beingyou, my favorite nephew.” She pinches at my cheeks. “You know something, kid? When you were born, I was just trying to break out on my own, away from the Barnes name. But when I went to the hospital to see you, when I held you for the first time? It was the only moment I’d ever considered sticking around, because I knew there was something special about you and I thought you might need protecting.”

She almost went back? For me?

“Turns out I was right about one thing—you are special, but you never needed protecting. You’re strong on your own, and it’s not because you’re a Barnes. It’s in spite of that.”

That fucking lump makes its return, and I try my damnedest to swallow it down.

She’s right. We don’t choose what family we’re born into, but we do get to choose the family we keep.

I’m definitely keeping her.

“Jesus, Alma.” I stand, giving her a proper hug. “Are you trying to make me cry in public like a fool? I have a fucking reputation to uphold here.”

“No. Maybe.” She squeezes me tighter. “I just had to say it. It’s been on my mind since you showed up on my doorstep looking like death.”

I laugh and release her. “There’s my favorite aunt. Now go before Holland walks in here and sees me and ruins your whole scheme.”

She gives me a grin and scurries off to find Holland.

I take my seat, flashing a smile at the older women sitting at the other end of the table. Their eyes travel over my body in an approving perusal. They blush when I wink at them.

Just three minutes until seven, I see her.

It’s the first time in weeks that I’ve gotten a real glimpse of her—because I’m not counting when I saw her and Dean squirting me with water guns—and my body is having a less-than-appropriate reaction.

I scoot my chair into the table, hoping to hide my growing cock.

She’s fucking gorgeous as ever.

Even in a plain white t-shirt and jeans with her hair tossed up in one of those damn messy buns and the proof of sleepless nights under her eyes, she’s stunning.

The urge to run to her and swoop her into my arms and crush my mouth to hers is strong.

But I resist.

Barely.

Alma rushes her to their table, which is on the other side of the room, and they take a seat just as the caller takes the stage.

“All right, ladies and poor unsuspecting husbands who have to attend! Oh, and Freddie. Hi, Freddie!” the surprisingly young caller says into the microphone. “I see many familiar faces in the crowd and a few new ones too. I hope everyone is excited for an eventful evening.”

They turn to me and wink.

“We’re going to start tonight off a little differently than normal. The first round will include a special card you’re not quite used to. Basically, if you’ve done what I call out, cover your spot. Got it?”

Many people nod.

“Are we ready, then?”

Several people whoop loudly in the crowd.

“All right.” The caller sticks their hand into a basket full of strips of paper, and I get my dauber ready. “First, we have…oh, gosh. This is a mouthful and oddly specific.” They clear their throat. “Never have I ever competed in a state science fair and lost to a girl who built a freakin’ volcano.”

I mark my card.

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