Sitting in the car with Michael had my heart pounding. George was driving us to the McKenzie ranch and to say I was nervous was an understatement. I was terrified, because I would soon be meeting Michael’s parents. As I watched the world go by through the window, I could see Michael’s reflection. So far he hadn’t taken his eyes from me, which had me all hot and bothered.
All I could think about when I’d arrived home from the club with David, was Michael. While David went on and on about his boss’s daughter being a pain in his ass, it was Michael who’d held my full attention. I just sat lost in my own thoughts for over an hour and David didn’t have a clue that he’d lost me seconds after opening his mouth.
I turned to look at Michael and brushed against the hand resting against the back of my seat. I couldn’t take my eyes from him. He was sprawled out in the seat beside me, wearing faded jeans and a long sleeved t-shirt. He looked good enough to eat. My heart pounded and I licked my lips. His eyes darkened as he followed the movement of my tongue.
I took a steadying breath and met his eyes again. “Michael,” I said, which came out huskily.
“Lily,” he replied, just as huskily with a smile.
“Will you tell me about your family? Who will I be meeting today?” I turned in my seat so that I faced him.
He reached down and took hold of my hand, then slid his fingers through mine. I held on tight. “You’ll meet my mother Pippa and my father, Elias, and maybe my brother, Ramon. Of course you’ve already met Ruben. Sebastian is with our other brother, Lucien, in Denver, so you won’t meet them until the picnic.”
We still held hands and Michael started to caress my thumb. “Is your father Spanish? There are a few Spanish names in the family, although McKenzie isn’t a Spanish name.” I turned to sit more comfortably in the seat and moved closer to Michael, placing our joined hands in my lap.
“My grandmother was Spanish, and my grandfather was American, hence the name McKenzie. My mother is Spanish, even though her name is Pippa. Both her parents were from Barcelona.”
“So you’re a large Spanish family? I bet you five boys drove your poor mother up the wall when you were younger.”
“You could say that.” He laughed. “We still do.” Michael lifted my hand and placed a kiss on my knuckles, moving our joined hands on to his lap. “Tell me about Lily.”
I smiled. “What do you want to know?”
“Everything.”
I rested my head against the back of the seat, as I became sleepy. I turned my head to look at Michael and I was sure my heart stuttered. He was looking at me with so much yearning.
I offered him a wry smile. “I’m twenty four years old, and spent most of my life living in Vermont until I left for college. I met David in my last year of high school, and we’ve been together ever since. My parents died during my second year of college, and David was right there to hold me together.” I looked at our joined hands. “Before I lost my job, I was looking for another one, but I hadn’t told David because a part of me was nervous to tell him. Losing my job gave me the courage I needed to find myself that new job.” I turned to look back at Michael. “It brought me to you,” I whispered.
He sucked in a breath and released my hand, only to put his arm around me and pull me to his chest. My arm slipped to his side and his hand rested on my hip. “We only have about forty minutes before we reach the ranch, let me pretend you’re mine.”
I couldn’t stop the shudder that went through me at his words and closeness. What I wanted to do was climb astride him and feel his hardness between my legs, but instead I bent my head and kissed his chest, causing him to shiver. I snuggled closer to him and placed my other hand on his chest. He reached up and covered my hand with his. I wanted to stay like that forever. For the first time in as long as I could remember, I felt safe, cherished – and so aroused. He sighed and pulled me closer.
Chapter 18
MICHAEL
Lily was asleep. Sitting back in the car, I held her real close, which had me hard as hell. She belonged in my arms and in my life. She was mine. All I wanted was for her to realize that. George in the front seat kept passing quick glances at us through the mirror. He was curious and I couldn’t blame him. It was the first time in six years that he’d seen me with a woman.
I was falling into something with Lily, I just wasn’t sure what. I felt too damn protective of her, which was why I was dreading Ruben and Ramon being at the ranch today. More so Ruben, who would flirt with her just to annoy me. He knew it would get my back up. In fact, he may end up with a black eye before the day was over. I couldn’t quite figure out what was going on with Ramon, for some reason I knew I wouldn’t have to worry about him flirting with her. He would be friendly, but he didn’t flirt or actually date, from what I’d seen and been told by my brothers. Something was odd, and when I had more time, I was going to find out just what.