Page 76 of Easy Reunion
Kelsey’s laughter, even as she shakes her head at my antics, makes me want to show off a little. I spin her out to the hoots and hollers of our audience, before yanking her back into my arms. Pulling her close, I begin to sing the refrain in her ear. “You make me a better person since the day we met. Every single day.”
Kelsey’s body molds to mine as she tugs my head toward her. Obliging her by leaning down, I accept her kiss, but when I taste her words against my lips, it’s then I know I’ll never be the same.
“I’ve been alone and still had you with me. I’m strong enough to survive that. It’s being with you and worrying you want this to head in the same direction I do that scares the hell out of me.” Pulling back slightly, her full lips quirk in a smile before she brushes a kiss against mine, then returns to the dinner table.
I’m shell-shocked standing there. Because in such a short time, she’s becoming everything.
We’ve known each other forever and in all the worst ways. Now, we’re getting to know each other in the best ones. Before, Kelsey was twisted and broken; now, she’s strong. The sadness that used to envelop her has been replaced with determination, will, and strength. She’s quick to anger when someone she cares for has been wronged. Better yet, she’s faster to apologize if she’s mistaken. She’s brilliant. She’s beautiful. And she cares about the hearts of everyone around her. I’m utterly besotted, captivated. Time isn’t going to change what I feel.
It isn’t going to take me much more before I’m ready to accept the fact I’ve fallen in love with her.
Rubbing a hand over my chest, I try to alleviate the ache settling there. I don’t even realize Darin’s come to stand next to me until a fresh beer’s placed in my hand. “So, based on the look on your face, I’m assuming I should stall on finding Kelsey a new house?”
My head jerks up a little to meet the dark black eyes of the six-foot-six former college ballplayer. “You’re her Realtor?”
He shrugs. “She’s the best and worst client ever. She has an unlimited budget but no idea what she wants other than to live close to us. Oh, and a shoe closet.”
I think about the two unused closets in my master suite, and a satisfied “Hmm” comes out of my mouth.
Darin shakes his head. “Any idea on how long it’s going to take before I can scratch her off my client list?”
Without thinking, I blurt out, “I’m going to have to get her on a plane back to Savannah.”
“The hell you are,” he rumbles. He takes a step forward to get into my space.
I hold up both hands. “I want to take her outside of the city to meet my parents.” And to get my grandmother’s engagement ring, but I keep that last part to myself.
“Oh.” The lean giant steps back. “Well, shit, man. She was swearing even before that reunion she was never heading back to that damn city.”
“Might be kind of tough for her to accept. If I can’t talk her into it, I don’t know what I’m going to do. Maybe fly my parents out?” I mutter to myself more than Darin.
He claps a hand down on my shoulder. “Let’s see how dinner with Angel’s family goes. If you survive that, then I’m certain you’ll be able to get her to do anything.”
“What are you talking about?”
“Since Kels only has grandparents, Angel’s family pretty much adopted her. If you think she”—he nods toward his wife, who’s holding on to her stomach as she laughs at something Kelsey says—“is bad, wait till you get them all together.Madre Dios.” He makes the sign of the cross. “They’re all crazy as shit and have ears like a bat.” The last he says softly, but from the sudden stillness of the two women, they can hear him.
Fuck. “Do you think they heard what I said to you?”
“Nah, Angel woulda been screechin’… Hey, baby.” He offers her a winsome smile as his very pregnant wife waddles up.
“What are you two plottin’ over here?” she demands.
“Nothing,” we both answer.
Kelsey sidles up next to me and snags my beer out of my hands. She takes a pull and gives it back to me. “You know she’s honing in on her Mama Bear skills,” she warns us both.
I shudder in fear. “You’re going to make an excellent mother, Angel.” I try to charm my way out of disclosing what Darin and I were discussing.
“Uh-huh. You”—Angel points her finger in my direction—“have to deal with her. He…” The finger moves toward her husband, who pales slightly beneath his caramel-colored skin as Angel starts chastising him in Spanish.
I lean down and whisper in Kelsey’s ear, which is hard to do since her shoulders are shaking so hard. “What’s she saying,” I whisper.
“Do you want the edited version?”
It takes me half a second to decide. “Yes.”
“That she hopes he enjoyed having her this morning because if he’s helping to sell me out, it would be the last time he got any until the doctor gave her the all clear after the baby,” Kelsey starts laughing harder. She says something in Spanish back to Angel, who glares at her before giving her the middle finger.
