“What if people at the house are listening?” I asked.
“Don’t care,” he said, still nuzzling my neck.
At the end of Patti’s neighborhood were three lots of new houses under construction. It was early on a weekend evening, so nobody was there. I parked out of sight in the cul-de-sac.
“How’s this?” I asked.
His response was to lift me as if I were weightless onto his lap to straddle him. We kissed hard, yanking down clothes and leaning back his seat with a jolt.
“God, you’re so beautiful, Anna. I can’t even think.”
“Then don’t,” I said, bringing my mouth down on his again.
Afterward I lay on his chest, our touches more gentle. Kaidan’s eyes seemed to clear, and he sat up on his elbows, frowning down on me.
“I’m a right prick.”
“Kai . . .”
“A complete bastard.” He sat us both up all the way and took my face earnestly in his hands, pressing his creased forehead to mine. “I’m sorry, luv.”
“It’s okay.”
“We’re in the bleedin’ car, out in the open in your mum’s neighborhood! You can’t possibly have been comfortable with that.”
“Nobody saw. It was kind of . . . nice.” Hot. I dropped my eyes, feeling shy for saying it. “I wouldn’t have done it if I didn’t want to.”
His forehead smoothed. His cheeks were a little flushed, and he looked so cute that I wanted to kiss him again.
Better not.
“Seriously, though,” I said, leaning down to grab my bottoms from the floor of the car, “you have to get a grip in front of the others.” I kissed his cheek and pulled my clothes back on, which was hard to do in his lap, but I managed.
He wrapped his arms around me, setting his chin on my head.
“I know. I’m sorry. I’ve been a disaster since the Grand Canyon, and cold showers aren’t cutting it. You’re all I think about—and not just the sex. I thought it was bad before, but now . . . I feel you with me all the time. I’m like one of those obsessed lads.”
Giving his handsome cheek a pat, I slid into the driver’s seat.
“Well, I’ve felt like that about you since, like, forever.” He smirked as if he thought I was exaggerating. “Let’s go to the store and hurry back.”
“You know,” Kaidan said as I drove, “if it makes you feel any better about my behavior, Blake and Ginger are going at it in the upstairs bathroom right now.”
“Agh!” I cringed. “Please tell me you’re not listening!”
He laughed and crinkled his nose. “No, I stopped when I realized . . . Gin’s like my sister.” He shuddered. Then I shuddered, and we both laughed.
We were quick at the store, rushing home afterward, where thankfully Blake and Ginger were back with the others. Kaidan and Blake gave each other nods.
In the kitchen it was time to put the toppings on Patti’s myriad of casseroles. Ginger was crushing crackers while Marna grated cheese. Kaidan leaned in the doorway with his arms crossed, watching with a look of contentment. Patti basted the turkey and checked its temperature. I was whipping lumps from the mashed potatoes when Kaidan came up behind me and slipped his hands around my waist, laying his chin on my shoulder.
“No boys allowed,” Patti teased. She reached up to ruffle his hair. “Unless you want to cook.”
He made a pouty face, which made everyone except Ginger giggle. But when they went back to working, he shot me a serious glance from the doorway, looking me up and down with a pained expression before disappearing into the other room with the guys and Zania.
I sighed. My man really needed to stay out of the kitchen.
“I think we should play games tonight,” Patti said. “What do you girls think?”
Ginger smiled. “That sounds lovely!”
It did? Had she been possessed by an angel or something?
Patti bumped her hip to Ginger’s and they both looked happy. Marna smiled from her opposite end of the counter.
“How are you feeling, Marna?” Patti asked her. Ginger stiffened.
“I’m . . . all right. Bit hungrier than usual is all.”
Patti watched her carefully. “And how are you holding up?”
Marna swallowed, and for one second her happy face slipped to reveal the turmoil underneath. “I’m okay,” she whispered. “I don’t want anyone to worry about me.”
“I know you don’t, dear. But everyone loves you. And it’s okay to lean on others when you need.”
“Thank you,” Marna whispered, and with a single sniffle she would say no more. Ginger never looked up. The beaters trembled in my hand. Marna didn’t want us to make a big deal about her circumstances, and I respected that, but we surely all felt the ache inside about what was to come.
Patti leaned in next to me when I finished the potatoes. “Those look great, honey. Time to set the table.” She smacked a kiss on my cheek.
I opened the cabinet and looked at the full set of dishes.
“Did you buy all this?” I asked. They looked fancier than something she would have chosen.