Page 88 of A Much Younger Man
“Yes.” I cupped his face and kissed him. “I see you.”
He smiled against my mouth. “Tug saw me, but he used what he knew to manipulate me. You just give and give and give. I don’t want to lose that, even if you think it’s for my own good. Please…don’t let me go, Lindy.”
Oh fuck.Oh fuck, fuck, fuck. What was this kind, beautiful, vulnerableboydoing to me?
“I won’t.” I wrapped my hand around the back of his neck and felt him go still. “I won’t let you go.”
I pressed kisses to his eyelids, his cheeks, his nose, and finally his lips, which parted on a gasp, and I took shameless advantage, slipping my tongue inside to deepen the kiss.
We pulled apart and pressed our foreheads together.
He bracketed my face between his hands. “Thank you.”
“You never need to thank me. Not ever.”
He nodded. “I should probably—”
“I’ll get Callie. You grab your guitar.”
We exited the slightly steamy SUV just as the porch light turned on. The door opened, and Cooper stepped out followed by Shawn, who had his arms crossed.
“Hey.” I waved.
They said nothing. I glanced at Shawn and then Cooper in turn. Was it my imagination or did Shawn seem more serious than usual?
“Night, Doc.” Beck stood on tiptoe to kiss me again before heading into the house between the two men. “Sorry if you waited up.”
“No problem.” Cooper gave his shoulder a pat. “Did you have fun?”
Beck shrugged. “Some.”
“Get some rest, kiddo,” Cooper said. “You’ve got dogs to walk tomorrow morning.”
“Night.” He slipped into the house and disappeared.
Once he left, the three of us stood there awkwardly staring at one another.
“What’s up?” I asked.
Coolly, Shawn said, “I think we need to talk.”
What the hell was this? I glanced at Cooper, who looked none too happy with me.
Was this about Beck? Had they seen us kiss? Was that it? Christ. Did they think I was taking advantage of Beck? How mortifying. I tried asking myself what I’d do if the situation was reversed and winced. This looked bad.Ilooked like some gross old goat.
Oh my God, what had I done? How could I do the right thing and still keep my word to Beck? I made Beck a promise. As long as he needed me, I would not let go.
Two in the morning was no time to have a conversation, though.
“Let’s meet for lunch tomorrow.”
Shawn nodded, then closed the door between us.
Wow. What would I do if I lost the friends that made St. Nacho’s home for me?
