“What?”
“Babe, what the fuck do you think is going on between the two of us?” He shakes his head, putting his fingers under my chin, titling my head farther back. His mouth touches mine, his teeth tugging on my bottom lip. “You make me crazy.” He kisses me. Then his eyes search my face. “We’ll talk tonight.”
“We don’t need to talk,” I say immediately.
“You don’t need to talk. You just need to listen.”
“Joy.” I sigh, trying to think of a way to get out of this.
“When I get home, we’ll talk.”
“I can’t wait,” I say sarcastically and yell, “Ow!” when he smacks my ass hard. “Your mom’s here,” I remind him when he gets the look in his eyes that tells me I’m about to get bent over.
“Keep up the smart mouth and I’ll fill it with something that will keep you quiet,” he whispers in my ear, causing goose bumps to break out over my skin.
“I thought you needed to go into the office,” I breathe, closing my eyes.
The image of me on my knees in front of him flashes behind my closed lids. Every time I have tried to take him in my mouth, he’s stopped me, saying that he needed to be inside me badly.
My hands slide around his waist and my head goes to his chest, where I listen to the rhythm of his heart. “I’ll see you when you get home.” I squeeze his waist and feel his lips at the top of my head.
“See you when I get home,” he says quietly.
“Okay,” I reply, and he kisses me once more before jogging up the stairs.
“You got it bad,” Nancy says, making me jump.
I turn around and look at her. Standing in the doorway, she looks me over before looking up the stairs at where Kenton just disappeared.
“I would send you up to get dressed, but he’s up there now, and if you go up there with him, I have a feeling neither of you will be back down for a while.”
I feel my face heat up and I look at the ground.
“Come have some coffee.” She laughs, turning and heading back into the kitchen.
I follow behind, wondering if she gets off on making me squirm.
Once we’ve had coffee and Kenton comes back downstairs to kiss me goodbye, he tells me that I can message him any time and he’ll send someone to rescue me. I would normally laugh about that, but I have a feeling that he’s being completely serious.
The minute the door closes behind him, Nancy pushes me up the stairs to get dressed. She lets me know what we’re going to be doing, not that she gives me a choice in any of it. I have a feeling that the only way I could disagree is if I pop out a kid or start planning a wedding, and neither of those things is going to happen for a while, so I’m stuck picking out appliances—or at least agreeing with what she picks out.
*
I sigh as I sit down in the booth across from Nancy. I think we’ve gone to every home improvement store in the state. If I never look at another oven or fridge again, it will be too soon. I feel my phone vibrate in my bag, so I pull it out and slide my finger across the screen when I see that Kenton is calling.
“Hey,” I answer.
“Hey, babe. I just wanted to call you really quick and let you know I’m gonna be late.”
I feel a frown touch my lips at his words and the anxiety in his voice. “Is everything okay?” I ask softly.
“Sophie’s place was broken into when she was home. I’m with Nico and the cops now.”
“Oh my God, is she okay?”
“She’s fine. A little shook up, but she’s all right.”
“Who broke in?” I ask in shock.
Nancy grabs my free hand, giving it a squeeze.
“We’re not sure, baby. As soon as Nico gets Sophie home, I should be on my way.”
“Okay, I’ll talk to you then.”
“Later, baby.”
“Later,” I say softly.
My mind goes to Sophie and Nico. I haven’t met Sophie yet, but I have met Nico. He looks scary but is very sweet. The two times we’ve talked, he told me all about Sophie, and I can tell just by the tone of his voice when he speaks about her that he is in love. I can only imagine how worried he is right now.
“Kenton said Sophie’s was broken into,” I tell Nancy, setting the phone down on the table.
“Oh my,” she mumbles. “I’m going to call Susan.” She picks up her phone.
I watch as she makes the call, and I know that, by the time the phone is hung up, the Maysons will be on a mission. I’m just not sure if it’s going to be what Nico wants. He doesn’t seem like the kind of guy who’d want everyone over after something like that.
“Susan’s going to call Nico’s dad and tell him what’s going on. He’s a cop and may be able to get some stuff sorted before my son or nephew end up in jail.”
I feel my eyes get big. “Why would he go to jail?”
“Honey, Kenton works with cops but isn’t a cop.” She shakes her head, grabbing my hand again. “He can still be arrested if he does something the police find to be criminal.”
“Holy shit.” I stand, grabbing my bag, ready to go save Kenton before he gets into trouble.
“Where do you think you’re going?” She grabs my hand and tugs me back down into the booth next to her. “Let me tell you something. Kenton will always do whatever he wants. There is nothing his father or I—or now you—can say to change his mind.”
“I don’t want him to get into trouble,” I breathe in distress.
“I don’t really believe he will get into trouble, but a mom’s job is never done. I will always protect my family.”
Her words bring tears to my eyes. She’s a great mom who loves her kids. Even with as old as Kenton and Toni are, they are still able to lean on her when they need something.
“You’re family now too, honey,” she says quietly, “and I will protect you as I would protect my own children. That includes looking out for my son so he can continue to look out for you.”
I feel a tear falls down my cheek.