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“Yeah… right… gallant. Anyway, you were so grateful to me for rescuing you from that douche, that you gave me the best blow job I’ve ever had in my life.”
“I remember,” I tell him breathlessly. “It was really good, wasn’t it?”
“So good,” he says as he quirks those sexy lips at me. “I was thinking of returning the favor.”
“Yes please,” I say as I wiggle my hips under him.
He cuts me a sinful grin and starts sliding down my stomach. When he makes it only halfway down, I bring my hands up to his head and slide my fingers into his hair on either side. I grip it and tug, stopping his progression.
Te
“You’ve been in relationships before,” I murmur. He doesn’t nod or say a word, just waits for me to continue. “Is this what relationships are all about? I mean… is this what I’ve been missing? Is it always this good?”
His eyes soften and he dips his face to press a kiss on my stomach before peeking up at me again. He’s so beautiful, with his dark hair sticking up all over the place, his broad shoulders and tattooed arms, and just behind, the swell of his rounded and tight ass. I sigh deliciously.
“No, Goldie,” he says seriously. “It’s not always like this. But sometimes it is.”
That makes me sad. “Does it just get old?”
He shakes his head and stares at me with warm intensity. “No, it has nothing to do with the length of time you’re together. It has everything to do with the person you’re with.”
“Oh,” I say, not really understanding, then I completely understand and say in an enlightened voice, “Oh.”
“Yeah, oh,” he teases. “It’s like this for me because it’s you, and it’s like this for you because it’s me. Get it?”
“I get it,” I tell him, and then give him a push on his head. He grins at me and starts moving back down my body again.
I pull my Jeep into the parking lot of the Sand Shark, and Te
“Oh, my God,” I mutter. “I’m so nervous.”
Te
My sweaty palms on the steering wheel beg to differ. I pull into the spot behind the pickup and watch as the passenger door opens and a tiny, dark-haired girl comes flying out. Te
A man gets out of the driver’s side, wearing a navy baseball cap, t-shirt, and shorts, and then a woman, who I presume to be Zoey’s mom, Bria
She intimidates me… no doubt. Not only was she married to Te
I take a deep breath and pry my sweaty fingers from the steering wheel, give them a quick wipe on my shorts, and get out of my Jeep. Because I happen to be on the same side as Kip, he shoots me a friendly smile and sticks his hand out to me. “Hey, I’m Kip.”
“Casey,” I say and hope my hands are still dry.
He motions for me to precede him and we walk between the two vehicles to where Te
Te
And to my utter surprise, she squeals and launches herself at me, wrapping me up in a hug that is surprisingly powerful for such a tiny thing. “Oh my God,” she gushes through straight and even teeth that I can tell were the product of braces. “I’ve been dying to meet you. My dad has told me so much about you when we talk on the phone.”
“Um… okay,” I say as I squeeze her back, looking at Te
Zoey releases me and then bounds for the truck. “I’ll get my bags.”
“I’ll help you, squirt,” Kip says, and it’s clear they have a nice relationship.
I turn my attention to Bria
She stares at my hand for a second before turning to Te
“Not up for debate,” Te
“I most certainly do,” she sneers, shooting me an evil look. “I won’t have you shacking up with your summer floozy with my daughter around.”
“Now wait a minute—” I start to say, but then Zoey is bounding back up to us, a backpack over her shoulder with Kip right behind carrying a suitcase. My mouth snaps firmly shut.
“I’m ready,” she says with a big smile, her light blue eyes exact replicas of Te
“I mean it, Te
Zoey’s eyes get wary, and Te
Kip nods, sets her suitcase down, and holds his arm out to her. “Come on, Zoey.”
She rolls her eyes and mutters, “Leave it to Mom to totally mess things up.”
I duck my head down and turn toward the restaurant. “I think I’ll join them.”
Te
Bria
“But not anymore,” he says quietly. “Now, I’m only going to say this once… you do not open your mouth with any form of disrespect to Casey. If I see you treat her with anything less than abject politeness, I am going to rain so much misery down on you that you will not be a happy camper. And I’ll start by getting sole custody of Zoey and making sure your bitter, crazy ass can’t influence her anymore.”
Bri’s eyes widen and she opens her mouth, but Te
The woman wisely holds her tongue but refuses to give him any acknowledgment.
“You need to know that Casey is in my life. I’m looking at permanently relocating to this area and I expect you will be seeing Casey over and over again as you and I attempt to parent our daughter. This is non-negotiable, Bri. I mean it… do not fuck with me on this.”
I can actually hear the woman gritting her teeth in anger, but again, wisely, she keeps her mouth shut. She gives a jerk of her head at Te
When she walks through the door, I let out a huge, pent-up breath of relief. “Wow. She’s just… um… wow.”
“But Zoey’s great, right?” Te
“She’s fantastic. She’s a miniature you,” I say reverently. “And you’ve obviously raised her right… to be open and kind to people. I’m kind of guessing that comes solely from you.”
“You’re nice to say that,” Te