Zach didn’t drop the news about Evie’s pregnancy, but he laid the groundwork, explaining that they’d wanted to start trying, and soon. That made Miss Leona very happy. They decided to wait for Evie and Sam to get back before they discussed what to do with Evie’s restaurant, Thyme. They said their good-nights to their grandmother even though it was still early, and headed back to their respective houses.
“I’m glad you spoke up. And I’m glad you’re sticking with therapy. Anytime you want to talk to me, I’m here,” Zach said when he and Jesse went back outside. Poppy had stayed behind, but Euca seemed intent on following Zach back to his place.
“Thank you.”
“Bring it in, man.” Zach threw his arms around Jesse’s shoulder with a playfully dramatic sob. Jesse patted his head, his eyes rolling until his goofy-ass brother stepped back.
“I have to go call Lily-Grace.”
“It’s weird she might be your step-cousin or some shit if Mr. LeRoux ever pops the question.”
“Jesus, I might have to beat him to it.”
“Oh, it’s like that.”
“No comment. You coming to the office tomorrow?”
“Yeah I’ll be there. I’m gonna take Steve out in the morning.”
“I’m sure he misses you.”
“You could have gone to visit him, ya know.”
“Don’t worry. Lilah looked in on your horse-son. Which reminds me, I’m gonna bring Lily-Grace by the stables on Saturday.”
“Are you going to come inside the stables with her?”
“Haven’t decided. Night.” Jesse turned back to his house at the sound of Zach’s laughter and receding steps. He pulled out his phone as Clementine fell into step beside him. He was feeling raw as hell, and all he wanted at the moment was to hear Lily-Grace’s voice. A text wouldn’t do. She answered right away.
“Oooh hey, sexy daddy,” she giggled into the phone.
“Hey. Sorry I took so long to get back to you. It’s been a long day.”
“Maybe you cosmically balanced out the fact that I did absolutely nothing. I’m afraid I’m starting to soul bond with my dad’s couch.”
“I don’t think I can swing another late night, but can I see you?” Jesse asked as he stopped on his front steps.
“Do you want to come over for a little bit? We can talk and make out in my driveway.”
“I think that’ll do the trick. I’ll be right over.”
“I’ll put on real pants.”
Jesse tried not to trip himself up with thoughts of what she was actually wearing at the moment, and went inside to change.
Twenty minutes later he pulled up to the LeRouxs’ house on Wildwood Canyon Road. A smile bloomed across his face when he spotted Lily-Grace waiting by her SUV Her mass of curls was piled on her head and she was wrapped in a large sweater. She had, in fact, put on real pants—skintight jeans that made his fingers all the more eager to explore her body again. He parked his truck behind her dad’s Buick and adjusted his half-engorged erection.
Hopping out, he let Clementine out of the back of the cab.
“Oh, you brought my favorite girl.” Lily-Grace ruffled Clem’s fur before she stepped close to Jesse and greeted him with a warm kiss on the lips. Jesse pulled her closer with a firm grasp on her ass. The way she moaned into his mouth did nothing to calm his arousal.
Lily-Grace pulled back just enough for him to look into her dark brown eyes. “So you’re saying you missed me?” She pressed her hips tighter against his, and her breath hitched when his erection twitched against the crotch of his jeans.
“You could say so.”
“Well, why don’t you step into my office and tell me all about it,” Lily-Grace proposed. She pulled her keys from her pocket and pressed the button to open the rear door of her shiny new car. It lifted up, revealing quite the setup in the rear bed of the SUV Jesse stepped closer to inspect the blanket she’d laid down and the little hurricane lantern she’d used to light the space. There was a large bowl with two bottles of sparkling water on ice.
“This is pretty damn romantic.”
