I place a soft kiss on her lips and pull back.
“I’ll be out after you. I kind of need to clean up,” she says while I wash my hands and dress.
“I’ll wait for you right outside,” I say and leave her, closing the door behind me.
Chapter Thirty-Four
Mikayla
I honestly thought I had done a good job of keeping my emotions in check. Talk about a rude awakening when you find out your boyfriend can see right through you.
But, unlike what he was thinking, I wasn’t planning an escape. I just needed a moment alone. For fuck’s sake, my brother is here! Did Caine really think I’d bolt and leave my brother to fend for himselfwith a bunch of strangers on Thanksgiving?
But after all I thought in my head—Caine loves me. He loves me. He said it. And the craziest part of all of it, I really did need to hear it.
His touch, his kisses, his words, I had needed all of it. Feeling his body connect with mine, being inside me, filling me—I didn’t even realize how much I’d needed—him.
I close my eyes, my hands resting on the vanity. The granite feels cool against my palms, grounding me. I take a deep breath, clean myself up and wash my hands before exiting the bathroom.
I find Caine leaning against the wall, one socked foot bent. And my breath catches. The man is beautiful. He turns his gaze toward me and smiles, and all I want to do is rush to him and hold him. So—that’s exactly what I do.
“Let’s get some food,” Caine says, giving me a goofy grin, his arms resting loosely around my back.
I notice the music playing over the sound system in the kitchen. My face flushes with embarrassment. That wasn’t on when we first entered the house.
“Well, you two look like you had fun,” says Kyle as he takes a sip from his beer.
The smile on Caine’s face falls. “You’re seriously pissing me the fuck off.”
“Hey!” Franklin says, walking over. “Don’t you go ruining Thanksgiving,” he says, pointing his finger at Caine. “And don’tdisrespect Micky, or I’ll be taking you outside, I don’t care how old you are.”
My eyes widen when all color drains from Kyle’s face.
“I’m Melanie,” says an older woman with light brown hair and dark brown eyes. “I’m Kyle’s mama.”
“Nice to meet you,” I say, extending my hand. But I’m taken off guard when the lady pulls me in for a hug.
“I’ve never seen Caine so happy. I’m thrilled you’re staying and working for Kyle,” she adds quietly before releasing me.
Introductions are made to the rest of the family before everyone ventures into the dining room. The room is so lovely. The large wooden table has little pumpkins as centerpieces and cute turkey cutouts.
“I made that one,” says Millie, the youngest of Caine’s nieces.
She points to one of the turkeys on the table, but to be honest I’m not sure which one.
“I made that one,” says Jax. “Gama also let me help set the table.” The boy beams with pride.
“I helped too!” says Conner.
“You all did a fantastic job.”
Caine takes my hand, and we sit down for dinner. Whitney cooked two turkeys, mashed potatoes, gravy and green beans. There are also little muffinsof cornbread in bread baskets on the table.
“This is the best,” Jack says, leaning into me. “Thanks for including me.”
“I don’t want you to ever leave,” I tell him, giving him a side hug.
“With the studio Caine put me in, I may stay,” Jack says. “I do work from home.”
