Page 109 of Always Yours

Something doesn’t feel right. Anger bubbles in my throat. “What are you doing, Peepaw?”

He shrugs once more. “I just told you.”

“And I told you, I will not stand for you interfering with Dimitri’s career.”

He holds up his hands. “That isn’t what my being here is about.”

I don’t trust a word that is coming out of his mouth. “I’ll walk away,” I promise, and I’m surprised by how easy it is for me to say that. “I won’t cut off contact and I’ll love you for the rest of my life, but I will walk away.”

“Austen, relax—”

Shelli pops her head in and then grimaces. “Oh, I’m sorry.”

I look at her from the desk, crossing my arms over my chest. “No apology needed.”

She looks between my peepaw and me. Then she says hesitantly, “We’re about to start. We’re in the conference room.”

“On my way,” I answer, and she looks between us again before turning and leaving. I look up at my peepaw, and the anxiety of his being here has me on high alert. I reach for my rubber band and then remember I don’t have them. I bite my lip and will my heart to slow down. I swallow hard and ignore that he is watching me. I take out my phone to find that I have missed a text from Dimitri.

Dimitri: I check out your ass a lot. It’s a thing for me. I happen to like your ass a lot, but if your ass keeps eating that dress when you walk, I will not be able to fully function. Ever.

Oh, my stomach. I press my hand to my belly, grinning from ear to ear, but then my grin falls when I remember that Peepaw is here. I press my lips together and text him back.

Me: My peepaw is here.

Dimitri: Okay?

Me: I don’t know what he is doing, and it makes me nervous.

Dimitri: Don’t worry. We’re good. Now pull that dress out of your ass, because if anyone watches you walk and I catch them, I’ll be in jail. Which won’t be good, because a conjugal visit with you will not be enough, and orange isn’t my color.

I close my eyes as my butterflies go crazy in my gut. I can’t with him.

Dimitri: But for real, Janie, we’re good. Don’t worry.

I blow out a breath and write him back.

Me: I want to go home, just us.

Dimitri: It’s my favorite place to be, for sure. You on me, underneath me, in front of me, hovering over my mouth, on the island like a meal.

When he sends the purple-horned smiley face, I cover my face so my peepaw doesn’t see the flush on my cheeks.

Me: Are you done?

Dimitri: Absofuckinglutely not. Bent over something, touching your toes, on the wall, but my very, very favorite spot for you is lying on me, reading a book in those fuzzy socks.

My heart does a few flips and then swells. He drives me totally insane.

Me: There is something to be said for how you can make me dripping wet, clutching my phone, and swooning.

Dimitri: There is a word for it, but can we discuss the dripping wet part? That sounds exciting.

Me: Ignoring until later since my peepaw is staring at me, probably assuming I’m texting you. But what is this word for how you make me feel?

Dimitri: I have to be honest, I feel we should discuss all dripping-wet situations, because Janie, it can be dangerous when you’re wet.

I close my eyes, shaking my head.

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