“See that you don’t.” She harrumphed. Then took Oak’s face in her hands. They were about the same height and it was easy for her to look him over. Which she did. Thoroughly. When she spoke again, her voice was soft, “You’re happy?”
“Very,” he assured her.
Her demeanor shifted into one of joy. “That’s wonderful! I’m happy for you. And for me. Your gramps owes me twenty bucks!”
Oak’s gasp came out strangled. “You…bet on me? On us?”
Mary patted his cheek. “Of course we did. Sean thought it would at least be summer before the two of you got together. But I knew better.” She let out a cackle. “Who made the first move?”
“Grandmother!” Oak sounded scandalized, but I couldn’t help but laugh. I joined them and Oak shot me a disgruntled look, his face the barest hint red. He was so dang adorable when he blushed.
“I’m not asking for details.” She made her eyes wide, mimicking his reaction. But her eyes were twinkling with mischief, and in that moment I absolutely saw where Teague got it. Then she winked. “I just want to know if I’m getting any more money off my beloved husband.”
Oak didn’t even know what to say to that, apparently. He simply threw up his hands and turned into me. Since Mary didn’t seem to have a problem with us, I wrapped my arms around him and kissed his hair. He made a strangled sound as he buried his face against my chest.
“I suppose, technically, it was me.” I was suddenly thinking about that kiss, in this very dining room that seemed both a long time ago and, at the same time, like just the other day. That’s what kickstarted everything between us. Sure, we’d been dancing around each other, even though I’d been too dense to see it let alone admit it. But that moment, that kiss I thought I might have to apologize for, was the beginning.
“Well, damn. I thought for sure it would be Oak.” Mary poked him in the shoulder. “You owe me twenty bucks, young man.”
“I can’t even.” Oak’s words came out muffled, then he drew a deep breath. I didn’t miss the way he nuzzled me with his nose quickly before pulling back. “Grams, I love you, you know that? I gotta get to work.”
He pecked my cheek, then Mary’s, then hightailed it out of the dining room. I watched him go, probably looking like a besotted fool and not caring in the least. I loved to watch him walk. Now that I could openly ogle, I did it any chance I got. It wasn’t even that he tried to be particularly seductive. He just was.
“Law?”
“Yes?” I turned my attention back to Mary and at least her smile was fond. I cleared my throat and tried to look sheepish, even though I didn’t feel it. “Shovel talk time?”
Mary’s laugh was a melodious sound. “No. You don’t need it. Because you already know we own over a hundred acres of heavily wooded land and it wouldn’t look the slightest bit strange if my husband were to purchase a woodchipper.”
I laughed, deep and from my toes, and when Mary opened her arms, I was quick to take the hug she offered. Mom hugs were the best, and I’d been devoid of them for a long time. Now that we had Mary in our lives, with her freely given affection, my kids and I soaked it up. It was easy to see why Charlie had so quickly fallen in love with his boyfriend’s family.
Kissing Mary’s cheek, I pulled away. “I promise, I only have the best of intentions. Oak’s a wonderful man, and I’m seeing more and more of it every day.”
She nodded, but her eyes held caution. She was never one to hide her emotions. Nor did she refrain from saying what she thought needed to be said. I braced myself, knowing she was about to drop a bomb on me.
“Just…be careful with him, eh? He’s a bit battered and bruised. Not broken. Not my grandson. But he’s been thrown around a bit.”
I didn’t need the reminder. It was always there in my mind, just how much healing Oak had to do. There’d been a moment when I’d thought that I should step away to give him time and space to do just that. But I’d quickly dismissed it. He needed support and love in order to move through his hurt, and I’d love to be the person to give it to him.
“I know. He’s safe with me.”
Mary’s eyes sparkled with amusement even as she narrowed her gaze. She pointed two fingers to her own eyes, then flipped her hand so those fingers were pointing at me. The universal sign for “I’m watching you.” It was an unnecessary warning, but it was delivered with at least part playfulness.
She patted my chest as she sailed by, calling over her shoulder, “I’m here to speak with Dana. But be sure to let me know what the plans are for Tristan’s birthday, eh?”
“It’s still more than a month away,” I protested, but she waved that off. She didn’t care. Clearly she thought I should already be planning something. Maybe she was right, but that was a worry for a day that wasn’t today.
Since Mary was done with me, I went in search of Oak. Charlie cackled as I strode through the lobby, and I flipped him off, which only made him laugh harder. I’d be pissed at his amusement at my supposed discomfort, except it had been a long time since I’d ever seen Charlie that carefree. Honestly, now that I thought about it, I wasn’t sure I’deverseen him that happy. Sure, there had been moments while we’d been growing up. And he’d had more and more of them since meeting Teague. But the way he was now? Since we moved here and he’d really settled into his relationship with Teague? It was the happiest he’d ever been, and while part of me thought that was sad ithad taken this long, no one deserved happiness more than my brother.
I was privy to the roster, so I knew we had guests checking into both family suites today. Some sort of family reunion in town, apparently. A milestone birthday of an elderly relative, if I remembered correctly. Not that I cared who and why guests stayed here, but they often shared tidbits when making reservations and Charlie liked to pass that information on. But the info served me well, because I could guess where to find Oak.
I peeked in the window into the first room and saw Oak bent over as he made the bed. My thoughts instantly turned dirty and I had to give myself a stern talking to. I could not tumble him onto said bed and have my way with him. That would be beyond inappropriate.
Right?
I shook my head, knocked, and then pushed the door open. Oak didn’t look up from his task, which meant he must have his earbuds in, so I let myself stare for just a minute. Those yoga pants were really doing spectacular things for his ass. I wanted to bite it. No, I wanted to do a lot more than that, and my mouth watered, just picturing bending him over and eating him out.
He straightened, and that jerked my attention away from my lusty thoughts. I flicked the lights by the door to alert him that I was there, not wanting to scare him if he turned and saw me lurking. He jumped a little anyway, whipping around, but his face broke into a wide smile when he saw me and he took one of the earbuds out.
