Page 55 of The Wingman

My head lifts and for a moment there I forgot we weren’t the only two people in the universe.

“You can tell me what’s going on,” he says with a chuckle.

Her face flushes and she looks so adorable all I want to do is lean in and kiss her.

“Dad I’m sorry. This is Rider, he’s a friend of mine.”

Her father shakes his head. “A friend? All this time you’ve been friends with The Wingman, and never thought to tell your old man, who’s a big fan by the way.”

“Sorry,” Jules says with a sheepish grin. “Rider this is my dad, Jack.”

I hold my hand out for a shake. “Nice to meet you, Jack.”

Jack winks at Jules. “So when you say friend—”

“I mean friend,” she says, her voice holding a measure of warning. “Don’t get any ideas.”

“Well it’s nice to have friends who brings such thoughtful gifts.”

“No, I’m going to pay for that,” Jules says, and I stop her from turning.

“It’s okay. I should go. You’re busy with your family.”

Before I know what’s happening, Jack takes the table from me, sets it inside, and comes back to put his arm around my shoulders. He leads me down the hall, and into the kitchen where Jules’ family are milling about, sipping wine, and chatting. All conversations come to a fast standstill when they see me.

“I shouldn’t be intruding,” I say and begin to back up, but come to a halt when I smack into Jules. Her hands go to my sides, and the warmth of her fingers seeps under my shirt and flows through my veins. Fuck, I love the way she touches me. I spin, and put my hands on her delicate shoulders. “I’m sorry. Are you okay?”

“I’m good,” she says, her lips parted, her voice breathless, and it takes me back to our night in bed. Goddammit, I hated leaving her this morning. It took every ounce of strength I possessed not to wake her again and put my mouth all over her.

“I’ll grab another plate,” someone says from behind me, and Jules smiles.

“You’re not getting out of this one, Wingman,” she says.

I lower my voice for her ears only. “I didn’t mean to interrupt.”

“I know, but there are plenty of people here who are glad you did.”

“Why?”

“Fishing for compliments?” she teases.

Yeah, maybe I am. Maybe I want to ask if she’s happy I’m here.

The question sits on my tongue, but I don’t vocalize it. I don’t want her to get the wrong idea, or the right idea, or…oh hell, I don’t even know what is right or wrong anymore.

“Let’s do this,” she says.

“Mom, Dad, Misty, Jan, Lauren, Stacey, and Bella. This is Rider.” She smiles at me, but there is a teasing warning in her eyes—that I’m about to be bombarded. “Rider, meet my family.”

12

Jules

I just finish filling Peaches’ food bowl when the text comes in.

Rider: Miss me?

I laugh and pick up my phone.

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