“No. It’s fine. Because you’re right.” I was quick to reassure him.
Oak seemed frozen for a few seconds, but then he took a couple of steps closer. He was staring at me, but when I nodded encouragingly, he smiled slightly and dropped his gaze to Marlie. “Love is the most important thing about family. And everyone in my family loves everyone in your family. And that makes us one big family. No matter what bratty little kids say.”
My jaw dropped open, but Marlie giggled, clearly feeling more like herself. She sat up, pushing away from me. “Brynlyisa brat. She thinks she’s so special, but she’s just mean.”
Oak nodded sagely. “So don’t worry about what Bratly says to you.”
Marlie lost it then, bright peals of laughter echoing through the dining room. Internally, I thought that was a very fitting nickname. Externally, I had to be the better parent. “Marlie, don’t call Brynly that. Even if she is.” Okay, so maybe I was only a good parent.
“I won’t.” She hopped off the chair. “I’m not mean like her.”
The case was closed, apparently, because she headed into the kitchen to get her snack. I stared after her for a second before I turned to Oak. He was smirking at his own humor, but when he caught sight of me, he blanched.
“I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have said anything.”
Making sure my kids were occupied and looked after, I took hold of Oak’s arm. “I need to talk to you.”
Oak kept pace with me as I led him to the back corner of the room, well out of earshot of little ears that heard things I didn’t want them to. Oak’s eyes were wide, like he was a little scared, which I didn’t want him to be. Once we made it to the corner, I pulled him into my arms. He remained stiff in my hold for just a moment, and then he sank in, clutching me back.
“I’m sorry,” he whispered.
I titled my head down so I could speak directly into his ear. “There’s no need for sorry. I wanted to thank you. What you said was absolutely right. Love is the most important thing in a family.”
Oak nodded, and my lips were so close to his ear they brushed against his skin. He shivered, and my entire body reacted. Having him this close, smelling his fresh linen and lemon scent—which was probably from his work—and the way he held on tight, was enough to do me in.
I pulled back just enough so I could see his face. Make sure I had all his attention. “You are loved here. You are surrounded byfamily, both blood and not. We are so glad you’re safe and happy here. You know that right?”
We were so close, barely a breath separating us. I’d wanted to make sure he understood that I got where his head was at. But the air charged between us, changing things in an instant. Oak’s pupils dilated, and his lips parted.
“Law.” My name was hardly more than a breath.
In that moment, I lost my mind. It was the only explanation for what I did next. But I wanted him to know how very glad I was that he was here. And his mouth was right there, plump and perfect. And he was staring at me with wide, beautiful eyes. My mind took a vacation.
Which is why I kissed him.
Chapter 14
Oak
Iwas in trouble. I just didn’t know how much until Law was suddenly kissing me.
For about three seconds, I froze, then the part of me that was pining realized what was going on, and I kissed him back. My hands found his hip and his jaw, and I felt a head rush like I’d never had before from just kissing. Everything in me wanted to crawl inside this man. It was as if my skin was too tight and only being closer to him, being skin to skin with him, would help me feel better.
Of course, that was when there was a banging sound in the kitchen and Dana laughed louder than I’d heard in ages.
I jerked back, the back of my head banging against the wall behind me. Law looked shocked, his lips wet and red, just like mine would be, too.
“I… uh….” The shock was quickly replaced with something wilder, and I didn’t have time to figure out what kind of wild it was before Tristan hollered at him from the kitchen. “I gotta go—”
“Go, go,” I said quickly, wanting more, but needing space suddenly.
I watched him go, my head spinning with conflicting emotions and thoughts.
Did that just happen? Does he actually want me? He can’t want me. There’s no way. This was a moment of temporary insanity on his part. He’s straight. But he just kissed me?
All the while, I was half hard in my jeans just from one really good kiss. So I was twenty-one, but I hadn’t thought myselfthateasy.
I tried to remember what I’d been doing when I’d heard Law and Marlie’s conversation. Right. I’d been going to grab the office trash.
