Page 37 of Hooked on Marshall

“But…what about Marshall,” I ask softly. “I don’t want anything to happen to him.”

He squeezes my hand when I say this. The chief just smiles and chuckles.

“Let me do some digging into this Jonas Freeman,” he says as he rises. “Then we’ll know exactly what to do if he’s stupid enough to show his face here.”

I nod, but I’m not any more at ease. Marshall rises and walks him out. I start to pace. Then my phone rings again. I’m just leaning over to look at the screen when Marshall reappears.

“Is it him again?”

“No,” I say with a smile. “It’s my mother.”

I answer as he stands behind me and slides his arms around my waist. He hears her ask if they can all come in for dinner tonight, and he nods. Then she asks if his parents can come as well so they can officially meet. I suck in a sharp breath, but Marshall responds so she can hear him.

“I’m sure they’d love to,” he says. “I’ll call them now and have Lana get back to you.”

Before I end my call, Marshall initiates his. In less than five minutes, our night is planned. He kisses me thoroughly. But before I get back to work, I make a simple request.

“I want to help you close tonight,” I say as he holds me close.

“Oh?” he smirks. “And why is that?”

“You know why,” I laugh.

“Maybe,” he chuckles. “But maybe I want you to tell me. Just so I can be sure I give you exactly what you want.”

My body thrums with desire. And even though I’m not prone to dirty talk, I find myself speaking the words easily.

“Because I want to do everything you said earlier,” I breathe. “I want to be naked and at your command. I want to give you pleasure, Marshall. Then I want you to take your pleasure from me.”

“Lana,” he growls as he cups my face in his hands. “You’re forgetting something.”

“What?” I frown.

“I will never allow you to pleasure me and take my pleasure from you without also giving you pleasure,” he says firmly. “You willalwaysfind your pleasure with me. I promise you that.”

I smile. And he kisses me. And I’m already wet for later.

Twenty-Seven

I’m not sure what lit a fire under Lana, but by the time our families arrived for dinner, she’d accomplished far more than I ever could have imagined possible. She finalized the signage and even created a logo as well. After contacting the sign company, she contacted the printers Mark used for our menus to find out when they needed to have our new final menus, so they’d be ready in time for our relaunch.

All in all, things are looking up. But I still can’t discount that Jonas won’t show up and try to ruin things. And while I don’t wholly believe that she would go back to him, I fully believe that he is capable of trying to force her into it. Something that I want to avoid at all costs, especially after what happened to her here last Saturday.

Once a server has everyone seated, Lana and I go about introductions. Sure, Willow Point is a small town, but it’s still large enough for people not to know one another. Especially since Lana and I are five years apart, which means we weren’t in high school at the same time. Conversation quickly turns to my ideas for rebranding. But I’m quick to point out that the ideas are Lana’s. She blushes at the recognition.

“Why don’t you show them what you’ve come up with for the sign?” I ask.

“Are you sure?”

“Yeah,” I say softly. “I think it would be a good idea for them to see it now.”

What I’m not saying is that I don’t want my family taken by surprise when they see Mark’s handwriting on the building. Not that I think they’d be angry, I just want them emotionally prepared for it. After a sweet kiss, she heads into the office. Then, my own father dimes me out.

“You’ve fallen for her.”

It’s not a question. It’s a statement. And a true one, at that. So, I smile at him, then at Lana’s family.

“I have,” I nod. “But I haven’t told her yet.”

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