Page 60 of Pick Yourself Up
She barely managed a laugh, with her system so revved and sated at the same time. “Good morning. I was dreaming about you. Then I woke up, and it was even better.”
His eyes sparkled in the soft light of the rising sun. “It was.”
Amber laughed and reached up to poke Gray’s shoulder. He followed the direction of her soft touch and rolled onto his back so she could climb on top. “Now let’s make your morning better, too.”
A couple of orgasms later, they were dressed and in the kitchen, making oatmeal.
Gray leaned his hips against the counter and studied her. “Did I overstep about today?”
A laugh burst out of her, even though she was sure he wasn’t talking about the way they’d spent their time upstairs.
He grinned. “Not that. About the picnic. Is it going to be hard having strangers here? I should have asked you before I suggested it.”
She smiled at him, ignoring the way her nerves bounced at the thought. Boomer lifted his head from his food bowl to check on her, and Gray’s frown deepened.
Amber forestalled his words as she grabbed some bowls. “It was a great idea. It’s important to meet everyone. The more people Boomer recognizes as friends, the easier it will be for him to recognize strangers.”
“And you?”
She shrugged. “I’m glad I’ve already met some of them, but I’ve been meeting strangers through my jobs for years. As well as you and Boomer, I’ll be surrounded by family and friends. I’ll be a little nervous, and probably a little awkward, but it’ll be fine.”
He snagged her hand and reeled her in. “I’m sorry that you’ll feel nervous doing something I suggested. That wasn’t my intention.”
She hugged him. “I know, and it’ll be fine, I promise. If there are too many people or I feel overwhelmed, I’ll take a break with Boomer.”
“And you’ll let me know.”
She studied his worried gaze. He was such a good man. “It’ll be fine. I promise.”
“You’ll let me know.” His repetition had warmth spreading.
She kissed him lightly. “I’ll let you know.”
Hours later, the first of the neighbors arrived. She’d pestered the others for information so that she would be prepared. Just like she’d always preferred having as much information in her job as possible. This was close enough to working the front desk at a hotel that her nerves weren’t singing. Just humming a little.
Boomer nuzzled her hand, and she grounded herself in his fur even as Gray walked toward her with a soft smile.
He didn’t think she was a mess because new people made her nervous. He accepted her for who she was. Didn’t try to change her. Instead, he ensured she felt safe.
Loved.
They hadn’t exchanged the words yet, but her heart knew. Did he feel the same?
Two men exited the car with broad smiles and a huge tray of fresh veggies.
They had to be Mort and Callum Welch who lived north on their vegetable farm.
Knox rushed forward and shook the hands of both men. “Mort. Callum. Welcome. You didn’t have to bring anything.”
They both laughed. “Can’t waste an opportunity to show off our veggies.”
Knox waved at the group. “You know the others, but I’d like to introduce my sister Amber and our friend Gray Santoro. Amber and Gray, Mort and Callum.”
The friendliness of the couple immediately put Amber at ease with them. Her brother took the tray into the kitchen to keep it cool until later.
Two more vehicles pulled into the driveway and another couple strolled down the drive. Amber tightened her stranger shields.
She needn’t have bothered.
