Page 90 of Becoming Family

“C’mon, now.” Auntie El slipped her arm around Hobbs’s shoulders. “Don’t just stand there in the doorway. Get in here out of the cold and we’ll fix you up a plate.” Auntie El guided him to the dining room table and motioned for him to sit. Once he’d settled, she rubbed his shoulder approvingly.

Tabitha was watching them, growing a little tearful, when she caught a glimpse of herself in the mirror on the wall at the far end of the room. Her first thought wasWhat a mess,but that initial reaction slowly changed. Tabitha eyed the ridiculous cobble of sexy black pants, trainers and the scrubs top from the car she’d changed into before heading out here, and it dawned on her that she looked...just right.

“Hey,” Hobbs said. “What’re you grinning at?”

“Oh. Nothing much.” Auntie El had gone into the kitchen to fix plates, so Tabitha settled at the table. “Listen. I know you don’t do the whole ‘happy family’ thing with moms and aunties and home-cooked meals, but—”

“She’s great,” Hobbs interrupted. He smiled, but it was soft and tentative, a complete one-eighty of his usual big grin. “This is great, Tabby. Thank you.”

Just then, Gracie came trotting in, Trinity at her heels. They both found the humans they were seeking and plopped down in their respective places. Gracie settled her head between her paws, closed her eyes and sighed. Hobbs laughed. “She’s hopeless,” he said.

“You’re going to keep her, aren’t you?” Tabitha suggested gently.

Hobbs reached down and ruffled Gracie’s head. “I hate to say this,” he mumbled. “But I kinda like her.”

“You more than kinda like her,” Tabitha teased. “You like her a lot. A whole lot.”

“Yeah.” Hobbs looked up, no humor in his face, and held Tabitha’s gaze. “I really do.”

After a silent moment, Tabitha’s whole body got as warm as Auntie El’s kitchen. “Well.” Her voice was soft. “She really likes you, too.”

After another round of silence, Hobbs’s face broke into that charming grin of his. “Well, she better,” he said. “Because she still owes me a motorcycle ride.”

“Does she, now?”

“She does. Because this one is going to be so much better than her last one. The one she took with that big, hulking oaf.” Hobbs waved a hand in the direction of the outdoors, to whatever direction might indicate Victor. “This ride will be off the charts.”

“Long as he doesn’t change his mind. Get stupid,” Tabitha said.

“Well, he can’t promise he’ll never get stupid,” Hobbs said. “But he’s definitely not going to change his mind.” The grin fell away. He set his elbow on the table and stuck out his pinkie. “Promise.”

Tabitha set her elbow on the table, too. She hooked Hobbs’s pinkie in her own. A soft tug followed, and then Hobbs leaned in. Tabitha’s eyes closed and his lips touched hers. The kiss was gentle and sweet, but even after last night, Tabitha could feel a fire starting to prickle under her skin. Hobbs drew away slowly.

“Was it what you were expecting?” Tabitha whispered.

Hobbs shook his head. “No. You surprise me every time.”

Then he leaned in and kissed her again.

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