Page 35 of Reckless

“I was hoping you’d share.”

“My brothers live here in Atlanta. I told you that earlier, remember?”

He nodded.

“I’m going to dinner at my oldest brother’s house. And he said I could invite someone.”

“Yes, I’d love to go,” he said quickly.

“I feel like you probably need to know more before you make that decision. There’s some tension between my mother’s side of the family and me. This dinner could be fine, but if my biological mother shows up, it could go left really quickly. It’s a lot for me and it’s my problem. I don’t want to dump it in your lap.”

If it was a lot for her, he definitely wanted to be there.

“I’d be there as your boyfriend?” he asked and then added, “Which I’d like, obviously. I just wanted to check.” Because he was her boyfriend. Or whatever word that conveyed the same basic thing. In the month since the tour had started, especially since she’d been in his bed every single night, he’d come to feel something pretty intense for her. And it felt like she returned that feeling.

“I’m not sure it’s a good idea for you to come. If it’s awful,” she shook her head, “it could really ruin your night.”

“Your not being with me ruins my night. Your going to this dinner without me so you have no one to have your back ruins my night. You brought it up so it would be super rude to rescind your invitation,” he teased.

Harlow wanted to tell him everything while simultaneously running away from the subject and never speaking of it again.

She had her very close circle and even then, it was only Nora who she really talked to about it. Overyears.

She wanted to be the Harlow who wasn’t so delighted by the idea of Miles being with her at this dinner. And she wanted to be the Harlow who hadn’t gotten all tingly and flushed when he asked if he was going as her boyfriend.

After catching her reflection in a window, Harlow called herself the liar she was. If she was the Harlow who didn’t get tingly over Miles, there wouldn’t be this lovely thing building between them.

And she liked it so much. Liked that she could look over at him no matter what he was doing, and he looked up too, like she’d called him in some secret magical way. Liked watching him sing his entire heart out. Liked the thing he did with his tongue and her clit. Liked that he wanted to be with her and didn’t try to hide it.

“Yes.” She opened the door and got out, heading to the shop, face burning.

He caught up with her inside, taking her hand and kissing it before letting it go. “Yes, I’m your boyfriend, and we’re telling your brothers about us when we go over there for dinner tonight?”

She rolled her eyes. “Yes.”

“Great. Now I need your help with an outfit. It’s not every day I meet my girlfriend’s family.”

She poked him in the ribs laughing. “You’ve met my dad more than once.”

“Still. Don’t ruin it, Harlow.” He sneaked close enough to kiss her right on the mouth, crushing the A line dress she’d just pulled off a rack between them.

A thrill zinged through her. That he’d make a claim like that at all was sort of unexpectedly wonderful.

An hour and a half later they were eating lunch at a secluded back table in a funky little place they found down an alley.

Her chile relleno was fantastic, as was the giant margarita, and Miles looked even hotter and slightly dangerous in the low light.

“Harlow,” he said, reaching toward her holding a little gift bag.

Inside, nestled in tissue paper were three resin bangles she’d looked at a few shops earlier that day. She’d put them back after considering the cost and the stuff she was already going to have to lug around or send back home.

Two tortoiseshell and one black. They’d go with the outfit she was planning to wear that night.

“These are wonderful. Thank you.”

He shrugged. “I just saw you looking at them. I hoped you hadn’t put them back because you hated them.”

“You pay attention.” Worry eased into his features, and she shook her head. “No. In a good way. It makes me feel nice.” Valued.

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