“Yes, ma’am,” he says, suppressing a smile.
I stand up. It’s time for me to leave, but it doesn’t feel right to leave, not like this. There’s something missing.
I bend over and kiss him on the lips. I intend for it to be a quick peck, but once I feel the sweet pressure of his lips against mine, I need more. I open for him, and he takes that as an invitation. One of his arms slides around my back, his hand slipping through my hair, and I moan against him.
I miss kissing.
It’s only a kiss—what can it hurt? I showed incredible restraint by not walking into the gym earlier, removing his sweaty T-shirt, and dropping to my knees. I deserve a reward.
“Have a good day,” I say, pulling back.
“You, too,” he murmurs.
I’ll be thinking about him all day.
Chapter 13
Julian
My phone beeps at tenin the morning, and I smile when I see it’s a text from Courtney.
What are you up to?she asks.
Baking lemon squares so I have something to feed my family when they come over,I reply.
Your family’s visiting today? You didn’t tell me.
They didn’t say anything, but I know they’re coming.
There’s a zero percent chance I won’t get a surprise visit from either Vince or my mother today, if not my entire family. I suppose it’s not really a surprise if I know it’s coming, but I don’t know when it’ll happen, and I intend to be ready. As soon as Courtney left for work, I looked up a bunch of recipes online then headed to the grocery store to buy ingredients.
By lunchtime, I’ve made lemon squares and lemon rosemary shortbread. When Courtney texts to check up on me again, I send her a picture of the baked goods.
Marry me, she says.
I stare at the text message, wondering how to reply.
