Page 52 of Anchored Love
“Breakfast sounds good.” I kissed her shoulder, not wanting to release her from my hold so she could get out of bed. However, the yapping and grunting coming from down the hall told me Mooch was growing impatient, and I couldn’t blame him. Everly’s attention was the best gift ever.
A gurgling noise erupted from my stomach, and Everly laughed. “I guess that’s my cue that I need to feed both my guys.”
I pulled her in tight to my body one last time. “I like the sound of being one of your guys. What’s that entail exactly?”
“If I told you, I’d have to kill you.”
“Just don’t poison my breakfast.”
“Ha. Ha.” She rolled off the bed wearing absolutely nothing. I was one lucky man. As I watched her strut to the other side of the room to grab a robe off the back of a chair, it hit me straight in the chest like an arrow to the heart from Cupid himself. This right here was what I wanted every morning—waking up to Everly. I’d do anything to make it my reality.
Her voice drifted down the hall as she cooed and awed at her dog. One day she’d make a great mother. I couldn’t believe the thoughts of forever that were dominating my brain, but there they were, flashing like neon signs and shouting I needed to lock her down because she was wifey material. The idea didn’t scare me at all. The more I thought about sliding a ring on her finger, the wider my smile grew. Rolling out of bed, I tagged my boxer briefs from the floor and made use of the bathroom.
Whistling my way to the kitchen and following the scent of coffee, I found Everly at the sink refilling the dog’s water bowl. “Bacon and eggs okay?”
“Sounds good unless you aren’t up to cooking and want me to take you out somewhere for brunch.”
“No way. I enjoy spending as much time in on Sunday as I can, relaxing before I have to deal with the family.” She put the water bowl down, and I moved in to hug her from behind, placing a kiss behind her ear and peppering down her neck, loving the feel of having her in my arms. “Keep that up, and you’ll never get your eggs.”
“I can wait to eat.” I grinned, giving the shell of her ear a tug with my teeth. Another growl erupted from my stomach said otherwise.
“Right.” She laughed, strutting to the back door to let Mooch inside as he pressed his nose to the glass. He came running in and sliding across the linoleum with wet paws. “How do you want your eggs?”
“Over easy.” I bent down and grabbed the squeaky rubber chicken Mooch dropped at my feet. “Wanna play? Who’s a good boy?” I scratched behind his ears, and he made this half grunt sound like a freaking pig snorting. I tossed the chicken into the living room, and he scampered after it.
“I think Mooch likes you.”
“He better. I plan on being around a long time.”
“That so?”
“I’m all in with you, babe.”
Her cheeks flushed a pale pink. “Me too.”
“Good.” I slapped her ass, and she yelped with a startled jump. The dog came running to her defense, prancing and growling at my ankles. “I thought you were on my side?” I chuckled, and the coffee pot dinged. I made myself useful while Everly cooked, pouring us both a mug.
We ate our breakfast at the nook in the corner. I won Mooch over by sharing my bacon with him. Everly loaded the dishwasher, and I went in search of my clothes.
Everly took a shower, and I flipped through the channels on the TV while cuddling with Mooch in the recliner, getting extremely comfortable in her home and making fast friends with the pooch.
Everly returned and sank down on my lap, replacing Mooch. “Hi.” Her fresh mint washed over my lips.
“Hey yourself. What do you say we swing by my place so I can clean up, and we take your little rascal to the park.”
“Sounds good.” Her lips met mine, soft and sweet, but quickly the kiss deepened, and I found myself undressing her instead. There couldn’t be a better way to spend the day than Everly naked and writhing beneath me.
We made it to the park eventually.
* * *
I pulledup outside Jane Lynn and Herbert’s house, remembering the last time we saw each other.
Everly glanced at the house then back to me. I saw a body shift behind the curtain that covered the big picture window that took up most of the living room. “You know its not too late to back out of this.”
Gaze narrowed on my woman, I reminded her, “I meant what I said—get used to me being around, babe. I experienced the time of my life with you on that cruise, and I felt the emptiness you left me with the week after. I’m not going to let go of the best thing to ever happen to me because she comes with a kooky family.”
“True, you’ve already witnessed our crazy hanging out full frontal.”
