Page 62 of All I Desire

My brows lift. “Well, I hope Matthew feels the same way. I’m a bit nervous, with him meeting Remy and Ma today, and then my dad later in the week.”

“Ooh, you didn’t tell me that he’s meeting Angus.”

“We decided last night that I’d bring him to Ma and Dad’s for dinner soon. After I picked Chunky up from you, I dropped him at my place. Don’t tell Ma, but I left Chunky with Sin and went to Matthew’s to hang out while Chloe was sleeping. It was really sweet. We sat on his porch and talked.”

I don’t add that I’d hoped to crawl into Matthew’s lap and have sex right there on that swing. Or that I was disappointed that he didn’t bring me into his bed. I mean, I fully understand why — his daughter was in the other room, and it was only her second night in the house —but a twinge of disappointment stayed with me all night. And horniness. That, too.

“His sister’s coming later today so she’ll take care of Chloe one night, and Matthew and I will have dinner with Ma and Dad.” Although in my horny state, I might need to cut that dinner short so I can have more alone time with him.

“That is so sweet,” Kate says. She still seems a little distant today.

“You feeling okay? Have you talked with Damien?”

“Yes and… no.” She swallows hard.

“Hm,” I hum. After this party, I’m calling him. That’s it.

My gaze sweeps around the bar. I have to say, Leilani did an amazing job. There are aqua and purple balloons everywhere, and the giant cupcake station has matching frosting. There are also jellyfish lanterns, a photo booth with a clam shell, goldfish crackers, shells, goody bags, blue liquid in a punch bowl with red gummy goldfish…

“Maybe Leilani needs to be a kids’ party coordinator, because this looks incredible. Look at that punch.”

“Ocean water, not punch.”

Taking the ladle, I scoop a bit of the punch into a cup and sniff. “Berry flavor, maybe? Yeah, it doesn’t even seem like we’re in a bar.”

“I know, right? I like how she took down the bottles of booze and put up decorations,” Kate says, looking up. “Are you going to swim in the tank?”

I press my hand to my chest. “Me? Hell no. Why. Is Lauren? Isabella? Ma?”

“I think so. They’re all in the back getting fitted for fins. And your brother, of course.”

I snicker. “Make sure you take lots of photos of my brother as a merman and send them to Damien.”

Kate and I lock eyes, and a sad expression crosses her face. “I wish he were here for this.”

“Me too. He’ll be back soon. So, let’s just have a great day, okay? C’mon.”

Someone turns on the sound system and the Beatles’ “Yellow Submarine” plays softly in the background. I’m folding Kate into a hug when the door flies open.

“Whoa,” cries a little, dark-haired girl.

Matthew enters behind her and glances around. “Whoa is right.”

Adrenaline kicks through my body at the sight of my handsome…boyfriend? Is that what he is? Yes. Yes, he’s my boyfriend, even though we’re not going to formally say that in front of his daughter yet. She has his eyes, and the sight of him grinning down at her makes my heart melt.

“You must be Chloe,” I say.

She stops and eyes me warily. “I know you,” she responds.

“You do?” I’m grinning like a fool.

“You were at our house last night. I saw you kissing my dad on the porch swing. I saw your tongue touching his tongue. It was gross.”

I blink. By now, Lauren, Leilani, Isabella, and Ma have emerged from the back, in a variety of sparkly mermaid outfits. I blink again. Well, at least my brother’s not here, flashing Matthew’s daughter in his Speedo. I guess it could be worse.

Right?

“Well, ah…” I say, looking to Matthew for help.

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