I groaned into her mouth before pulling back. “Are you seriously going to make me walk into my parents’ house with a hard-on?”
Taylor’s eyes widened and then danced with laughter. It wasn’t the blue heat, but I knew it was what she needed to go into the house with a light heart. “Sorry about that,” she said with a laugh.
“Let’s just hope I can get it under control in the three minutes it takes to get there. Do me a favor and be less gorgeous, would you?”
She chuckled. I squeezed her knee and tried to think about baseball stats, all the paperwork I had to catch up on, anything.
We pulled up to the ranch house, the windows lit up against the evening sky. I threw the truck in park and went around to open Taylor’s door. I helped her out and then pulled her to me for a fierce hug.
I loved that she fit so perfectly against me. Her head ended up tucked right under my chin, like the adorable short-stack she was. Her curves seemed to hug my planes of muscle just right. I inhaled her scent, it was a combination of honeysuckle and the underlying notes that were uniquely Taylor. I could never get enough.
I kissed the top of her head. “Everything’s going to be fine. Just remember, they already love you.”
Taylor let out a sigh and then tilted her face up so that her chin rested on my sternum. “Thanks for putting up with my crazy.”
I grinned down at her. “Anytime. Plus, you being crazy just means you’ll fit in with the rest of my family.”
A smile spread across her face, and I closed the distance to brush my lips against hers.
The sound of a shouted, “Tay Tay!” broke the trance as Noah bounded down the front steps. He launched himself at Taylor’s middle, and she caught him easily. “Tay Tay, I read the book about the boxer all by myself! Mom didn’t have to help me once!”
Jensen appeared behind him. “It’s true. He didn’t even need a single hint.”
Taylor squeezed Noah’s shoulders. “That’s amazing. Does that mean it’s time for a library and bookstore visit for some new books?”
Noah bobbed his head up and down enthusiastically. My jaw fell open. Was this the same nephew who had dragged his feet, making up any excuse in the world to avoid reading?
Jensen elbowed me in the side. “Shut your mouth, you’ll catch flies.” I snapped my jaw shut, and she chuckled. “Taylor’s worked miracles with him, I swear. She has a gift.”
I studied Taylor in the throes of conversation with Noah. She was great with him. I wondered what it would take to get her to consider teaching at one of the local schools. As I turned that over in my mind, my mom appeared in the doorway. “Get in here, dinner’s almost ready, and I need my gossip time with Taylor.”
A soft smile, one I knew was reserved for my mom, appeared on Taylor’s face. I reached out and took her hand in mine, linking our fingers. “We’re coming.”
It only took about sixty seconds for Taylor to relax. As soon as Taylor saw she had my mother’s approval, we lapsed into easy conversation and laughter at Noah’s antics.
“So,” my gran began as we dug into the feast my mom had prepared. “When are you going to give me some more great-grandchildren? I’m not getting any younger here.”
Taylor turned red as a tomato, and I choked on my beer. Jensen started cackling with laughter. Noah just looked between Taylor and me, little-boy brows pulled together in confusion. My father cleared his throat. “Now, Mom.”
“Don’t you, now Mom me, Andrew. You know I have a gift for knowing when something’s right. When two souls are meant for each other. And these two are it for one another. What’s the point in pussyfooting around?”
“Irma!” my mom scolded.
“I speak the truth,” Gran huffed.
I thought I could see the panic rising in Taylor. Her fists were clenched around a napkin, her breathing shallow. Fuck. She was going to run on me. Then Taylor did something that shocked the shit out of me. She burst out laughing. Deep belly laughs that shook her whole body. Soon, the entire table joined in, even Noah, who had no idea what we were laughing about.
Taylor dried a tear from the corner of her eye. “You certainly don’t mince words, Miss Irma.”
“What would be the point? I only got so much time left.” Gran reached across the table to pat Taylor’s hand. “You’re good for my boy here. And he’s good for you. Just remember that when the time comes and things get hard or scary. It’s always worth the fight.”
Taylor sucked in a breath. I ran a comforting hand across her back and squeezed her shoulder. “All right, Gran, you’ve had your say. Can we get back to eating?”
“Yeah, hurry up and eat everyone,” Noah chimed in. “There’s chocolate cream pie for dessert, and that’s my favorite.”
Jensen rolled her eyes. “Every dessert is your favorite.”
Noah’s expression took on a pondering quality, then he nodded. “Yeah, that’s pretty much true. Everything but stuff with coconut. That’s just gross.”
Taylor let out a light laugh, and I was relieved to see her eyes bright and untroubled. “I don’t like coconut either.”
“That’s ‘cause you’re smart.”
The entire table broke into laughter. Taylor leaned into my side. This was Heaven, right here. My girl pressed up close. My family all around. Laughter tinging the air. Good food filling my belly. I hoped with everything I had that I could hold on tightly enough to make it last.
34
Taylor
I smoothed my hands over my black pencil skirt as I got out of Walker’s truck. I didn’t want to be here. Really, really did not want to be here. I wanted nothing to do with anything close to death or loss. And a funeral was right smack in the middle of that mess.