Page 44 of Needing You

Other than a few stolen kisses and a heap of longing, we’d only had time to talk. I was plenty thankful for that because I did feel like we were heading in the same direction, both interested in figuring this out between us. But I also really hoped we could spend some time figuring each other out between the sheets. If she signed off on sharing the room? Go time.

In the meantime, I had to get us away from the subject of Kate and me sharing a bed—for both our sakes. “Well, maybe you’ll find a cute bridesmaid to dance with. I hear there are a few pop stars and other famous music people who’ll be there.”

His eyes widened, but then he shrugged like he was too cool. “I’m not into pop or country, but whatever.”

I stifled my laughter as he settled into his seat, pulled on headphones, and searched the built-in screen on the headrest in front of him for something to watch. I glanced over at Kate again and found she was looking back.

My heart kicked at her attention. Damn, she was beautiful. She wore jeans and a T-shirt with a slouchy cardigan sweater over it. The soft smile on her lips gave me a tumbling feeling—though maybe that was the plane.

With a wink at her, I sat back, unwilling to keep making eye contact for fear I’d suggest we sneak into one of the bathrooms and see how quickly I could get her off with my fingers. Airplane bathrooms were not sexy. Making your woman come a few feet from your child, also not sexy.

But fuck if there was anything that could make me stop wanting her. Every minute that passed only made me want her more. It didn’t help that she’d sent me a text before we had to turn our phones off after we were seated, and I couldn’t help remembering those few minutes before we took off.

Her message came out of nowhere since she had already settled into her seat and slipped on her headphones. But there it was on my screen.

Kate: Your ass looks so good in those jeans.

And though I didn’t relish Jackson getting an eyeful of us flirting via text, I wasn’t about to let her message go unanswered.

Me: Your ass would look fantastic out of those jeans.

I’d watched as she read the text and then physically jolted. A little flush crawled up her neck and into her cheeks, making my cock twitch. Her fingers flew over the screen, and then my phone buzzed.

Kate: Your hands on my ass out of these jeans would look even better.

Oh, shit.This woman was out to get me arrested for indecent pants-tenting, and I’d had to hunch over and pretend to be looking for something in my bag so Jackson wouldn’t see.

Even so, I’d responded.

Me: You straddling my face and riding my tongue while I make you come would look great too, if you’re taking requests.

I’d sent that, smug as shit, then had an immediate panic response, so I’d shot off another text.

Me: Fuck. Took that too far. Sorry. Ignore.

I hadn’t dared look over, but hunched toward the window and waited for the little dots to materialize into words. Would she be pissed?

Kate: Don’t you dare apologize. I’m definitely adding that to my list of things to do this weekend.

I’m pretty sure I gasped and needed more than a minute of sifting through my bag before I could right myself and function. Thankfully Jackson had been glued to his own phone, and then the drinks had arrived.

All that to look forward to and I could hardly think straight. But the most terrifying thing? Sitting here next to my son, across the aisle from the woman who’d always had a hold on me, I couldn’t pretend it was just physical. It wasn’t only sex I wanted. I wantedthis.The three of us together on adventures. A part of the larger Walker family, but also a little Walker family of our own.

21

KATE

“I’m sure you’re all capable of doing your own hair and makeup,” Brenna said as she nodded to the door of the swanky bridal suite we were all gathered in, “but it’s my day, and I want to use it as an excuse to pamper you.”

Three women wearing all black waltzed in with their arms loaded with black bags and boxes and rolling carts. Ellie and I gasped right along with two of Brenna’s friends whose names I’d already forgotten. Which was probably a crime against humanity since I suspected they were famous, judging by the way they’d been introduced in that tone ofas you already know, this is so-and-so.But I didn’t know.

As a single mom who worked as much as she could to make ends meet, I didn’t know enough to fill a note card about actresses or singers or models. Keeping up with such things wasn't high on my to-do list. Apart from Brenna, of course. I’d been a fan of her music from the beginning, even if it was in some kind of masochistic way to stay connected to the Walker family.

To think that I was sitting in a famous country singer’s bridal suite on her wedding day with her friends and champagne and now—apparently—professional hair and makeup artists… well, it was a dream come true. A dream I’d never had, but somebody’s dream, no doubt. And all because I was the mother of her brother’s secret baby? Wild.

The two models—or whatever they were—jumped into the director’s chairs the stylists had just brought in without a second thought. They were probably used to such luxuries, whereas Ellie and I eyed each other like we couldn’t believe we were about to be primped and styled by anyone other than ourselves. She was an ER nurse, for crying out loud. If I saw her hair out of its signature messy bun, I knew she’d gone out of her way to put some effort in. And I wasn’t much better as a waitress.

“They can go first,” Brenna said as she handed Ellie and me a glass of champagne and sat down with us in the cream-and-white sitting area of the suite. The couches were so plush and comfortable that I found myself scooting back with my champagne and tucking my legs up, my body relaxing almost without my permission.

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