‘What are you trying to butter me up about?’ she asked, allowing herself to float in the water.
‘You wound me with your suspicion.’
‘Mmm. I’m a sharp cookie. Isn’t that what your mother said? I like your mother. She’s not nearly as crazy as mine. Plus she doesn’t like Pickles, another point in her favour. She told me, your mother, not Pickles, that you were a wily one and to keep an eye on you. Said you got it from your father.’
‘I see I was wise to limit the amount of time the two of you had alone.’ The water rose as he stepped in and she automatically leant forwards so he could sit behind her. She relaxed again, leaning against the hard wall of his chest.
‘Your mom is awesome. Dare I even say, spunky? Yes, spunky. Kendall is a lot like her. A girl could do a lot worse than to have a grandma like her. She calls me, you know. Your mother.’
‘She does? It doesn’t surprise me, she does like you and she’s always been the sort to go her own way. Should I ask what you two discuss or remain blissfully ignorant?’
‘Well, she called after I met her the first time at that barbecue at your house this summer. She said it was to thank me because she was so very polite and all.’ Kate laughed. ‘But then she just came out and got nosy because we both knew why she was really calling. She wanted to get the low down on me. You can learn a lot about a man by meeting his mother. Thank God you can get past my insane mother to love me anyway. But your mom, she’s sharp. And not just because she likes me. Although that in and of itself is a very powerful indicator.’
‘I notice you didn’t really answer my question.’ His voice held amusement, not anger.
‘We talk about all sorts of things. She tells me about the stuff the women in her neighbourhood get up to. She likes to chat. I like to listen to her. She makes me laugh. I took her shopping a few weeks back so she could get her holiday presents taken care of. She gave me these baby pictures of you.’ The gesture had been as warm as it had been an unmistakable stamp of approval.
‘How come you didn’t tell me any of this before now?’ He began to massage her shoulders with the fragrant soap.
‘It was weird to say. I didn’t want to come off like I was bragging. It’s not like it was a secret. I’ve told you stuff about it. Like she gave me her recipe for that cinnamon bread you love so much. How’d you think I got it? And your dad stares at my boobs when I go over there, albeit he can be as sneaky as you. You must get that from him.’
His laughter jiggled her a bit. ‘He told me it took a while but I’d finally grown into some very fine taste in women. Said I should kidnap you and bring you here to Vegas to marry me.’
She leant back a moment and then turned around. ‘You know I love you, right?’
His smile softened even as his hands automatically headed to her breasts. ‘Yes. Of course. Don’t sound so dire, you’re going to freak me out.’
‘Am I as totally lame and passive-aggressive as your ex? No. I’m a big girl and quite capable of saying what I mean. Don’t be an idiot. Do you think I’d be here with you if I was going to break up with you?’
He used the shower attachment to rinse her off and she soaped him up, taking extra care to make sure his cock was squeaky clean.
‘I’m wary. My cock and my heart are in your hands. I’ve been asking you to marry me and to move in and you keep saying no.’
‘You know why I’m saying no.’
He took a deep breath and stood, the sight of him looming over her so magnificently male and pissed off dried her mouth.
‘Get out of there.’ He handed her a towel after she’d pulled the plug and gotten out. She dried off and reached for her lotion until he made a frustrated sound and pulled her into the bedroom.
The curtains glided open, revealing the glory of the morning.
‘Here’s how it’s going to be.’ He turned and her eyes went to his cock. ‘You’re not going to sway me with that fuck-my-mouth face. Not right now.’
She couldn’t help it, she laughed and fell back onto the mattress. ‘You make me so happy. Even when you boss me around. I shouldn’t tell you that, it’ll only go to your head. But you do. Now, what is it you’re going to attempt to dictate to me?’
He harrumphed and got into bed beside her. ‘You will move in with me. I just made arrangements with a realtor yesterday to find us a house in Lancaster. It’s halfway between your job and mine. I told him we needed plenty of bedrooms so we can have an office to work from home and also so the girls can have a bedroom there. You can take the train in or drive.’
One of her brows rose and he met it with a rise of his own. He wasn’t going to give up on this.
‘You thought you’d just go ahead and do it without even consulting me?’
‘Shut up about that. You knew I was near the end of my patience with this. You know what kind of man I am and you stuck around, so guess what, pffft.’
Her eyes widened and then she laughed, kissing him in the hollow of his throat. ‘You’re lucky I’m so tolerant of your pushy ways.’
That was a good sign, he thought. She wasn’t trying to argue with him yet. But he knew how he handled this next bit would sink
