Total pages in book: 87
Estimated words: 81994 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 410(@200wpm)___ 328(@250wpm)___ 273(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 81994 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 410(@200wpm)___ 328(@250wpm)___ 273(@300wpm)
I want to grab him and have him take me with him. His eyes come to me and light up, and something about the look has me taking a step back.
“I’ll be outside, baby,” he conveys sweetly, taking a step towards me, and before I can step back again or duck, his hand slides around my waist and his mouth lands on mine in a kiss that forces all the oxygen out of my lungs. When his mouth leaves mine, my fingers go to my lips. “Okay, ladies. Take care of my girl,” he says, pulling his eyes from me. His hands give my waist a slight squeeze, and then he turns around and walks towards the kitchen before I can ask him what the hell that was.
“So, it’s a small world, huh?” Viv snarks, looking over at Nancy then back at me. “I didn’t know your ass was my nephew.”
“He’s not my ass. I mean…sorry. Your son’s not an ass or anything like that,” I say, looking at Nancy, feeling my pulse race, and wishing I could teleport out of the room.
“Honey, I know my son, and I know he can be a little rough around the edges, so please don’t feel bad for calling him an ass.” She smiles with a twinkle in her eyes. “So, how long have you been seeing each other?”
“Oh, no, we’re not.” I shake my head frantically, looking between the two of them.
“Really?” She tilts her head to the side, studying me.
“No, we’re not together,” I insist and then glance at Viv, who is wearing a very large smile.
“That’s interesting. Don’t you think that’s interesting, Nancy?”
“Very,” Nancy says with a smile.
I look at the two women and can tell that they are both up to something. Between them and Kenton, I don’t know what I’m going to do.
“So, Viv said you used to be a dancer. Is that right?” Nancy asks while we’re sitting at the dinner table a short time later.
I start to choke on my sip of tea. Kenton pats my back, and I wipe my eyes with my napkin, trying to figure a way out of this.
“She was, and in Vegas no less,” Viv confirms. “Maybe we could have her teach us some moves.”
“Oh, God,” I breathe into my napkin, feeling my face heat up.
“There is nothing to be embarrassed about, child. Hell, if I looked like you, I would never wear clothes,” Nancy says, and I hear a few chuckles.
“This is not really happening,” I chant to myself, looking over at Kenton, whose whole body is shaking with the force of his silent laugher. “This is not funny,” I hiss.
“It’s pretty damn funny.” He pulls me to him by the back of my neck, putting his lips to my forehead.
“Stop,” I tell him quietly, pushing at his chest, not wanting to cause a scene in front of his family.
He smiles again and shakes his head. I pull away and look around the table at everyone watching us. My eyes land on Kenton’s dad’s. When his go soft and he smiles, my anxiety eases somewhat.
I found out earlier that not only is Viv sweet, but Kenton’s mom is really funny and his dad is like a giant teddy bear who often shakes his head when his wife says something a little crazy, pulls his daughter Toni into his side to kiss her hair when she’s close, and pats his son on the back when he approves of something he says. I smile back at him before lowering my eyes to my plate.
The rest of dinner is a blur, and before I know it, I’m saying goodbye to everyone and getting into Kenton’s car.
“Did you have a good time?” Kenton asks.
I roll my head in his direction and glare. “Did I have a good time? Really?”
He starts to chuckle as he starts the car. I roll my eyes, laying my head back against the head rest.
“My aunt loves you, and my mom already adores you,” he says softly as I feel his hand on the bare skin of my thigh.
I pick up his hand, putting it back on his side of the console as he pulls out of the driveway. “Your whole family is very sweet,” I tell him, watching as the corner of his mouth lifts up.
“I thought for sure we were making progress,” he says, taking his eyes off the road to look at me with his lips twitching.
“You thought wrong.” I turn my head away from him, watching out the car window as the scenery quickly flies by.
“You work tonight?”
“Yep,” I answer shortly.
“What time?”
“I gotta be there by eleven.” I roll my head on the headrest in his direction.
“You gonna take a nap?” he asks, his long fingers tapping on the steering wheel.
“Probably.” I shrug. “I haven’t really been able to get used to this schedule.”