His touch is a dangerous distraction, but I manage to shake my head. “Luc, what makes you think I’m a virgin?”
He keeps up the gentle caress, but his eyes narrow. “Well, you didn’t have to come out and say it,” he says, smiling easily. “Everything you said. About your mother and your grandmother and your great-grandmother all going to the altarembarazada.And you’re not—”
Luc’s thumb stills. His gaze sharpens.
My heart trips over its own beat and kicks into a gallop. Yet I know the blood must drain from my face.
“Millie.” His eyes go darker than I’ve ever seen. “What happened?”
My lungs fold in on themselves like an accordion. I glance back at the kids, still playing and then at the house, still full of Luc’s family.
“Not here,” I rasp, my throat conspiring against me even worse than it did when I was in the throes of strep.
With eyes as dark as midnight, Luc gives one sharp nod. “Time to go.”
I don’t argue. Ican’targue.
He springs up and takes my hand, steadying me as we leave the trampoline. As we descend, Emmett and Harry streak past us, arms raised, clearly triumphant. Alex and Mattie, obviously not the victors, brace hands on knees to catch their breath. All four of them are beaming.
Luc claps for their attention. “Schedule your rematch because it’s time to go.”
“Awww!”Emmett’s voice wavers with protest.
“But… we—” Alex tries, breathless.
“Do we… really have… to go?” Mattie pants, looking crushed.
I can’t bring myself to answer, so I merely nod.
“Your sister has been sick,” Luc says before pointing to Emmett. “And so have you. We should probably call it a day.”
“But I feel fine,” Emmett argues, moping.
“And we’re not sick,” Harry says, gesturing between himself and his twin.
Luc turns up his hands, smiling. “And thank goodness for that.” Then he hooks his thumb toward the house, ignoring their protests. “Let’s get going.”
The kids are poised to grumble, but unlike when they disagree with me, they hold back. Even Alex, who looks resigned. I don’t really know how Luc did it, but I might need him to teach me.
Inside, it takes a good ten minutes to say our goodbyes. Nezzie refuses to let us leave until each of us is carrying some kind of leftover. I shamelessly accept everything she offers. The kids loved the food, and the haul will save us from takeout for at least two nights.
When we approach Luc’s truck, no one tries to call shotgun, which surprises me, but what happens when we pull into our driveway surprises me even more.
“Who wants to earn fifty bucks?” Luc asks, throwing the truck in park but not killing the engine.
The kids nearly shed their skins in their haste to respond, all shouting“Me!”
I narrow my eyes at Luc. He stays my hand before I can push the release button on my seatbelt.
“Good, because I have jobs for all of you.” He has been addressing them in the rearview mirror, but now he turns around to face them, claiming their full attention. “All three of you are going to put this food in the refrigerator. Emmett, you’re going to let Clarence out, and then at five-thirty, you’re going to feed him dinner.”
I glance at the clock on the display. It’s a little after four now. When did it get so late?
“Harry, you’re going to lock the doors now and after anytime Clarence goes out. Mattie, you are going to find something—inside—for the three of you to do. A game. A movie. You decide, but all three of you have to enjoy it together. No one gets to hide in their rooms—”
“But—” Harry starts, and Luc raises a hand to silence him.
“Fifty bucks. I’m not paying good money for nothing.” He looks at each of them in turn. All three of their mouths stay shut. “Emmett, you need to take your medicine before dinner, and each one of you needs to eat a real dinner before you can have any of the leftover desserts.”
