Page 94 of Parentmoon

“But you’re the mother of the groom,” another person clarifies.

“I am.”

Dallas tugs me to his side.

“And you’re not married?” a question from someone different.

“Not yet,” Dallas teases, giving me a wink.

People exchange glances with each other, shrug, and one of them says, “Cool.”

However, I can’t take my eyes off Dallas. Surely, he’s joking, playing into the awkwardness of this situation. He can’t possibly mean what he says, but his eyes haven’t left mine either. He’s watching me, reading me. What does he see? Can he tell how much I might like more commitment with him? Or does he see that I don’t like this joke at my expense?

I’m trying to be cool but feel like I’m failing to contain my emotions.

Eventually, we take a seat on the edge of the trampoline, the term for the netting over the water. The boat launches for our trip and people settle in their groups with drinks and sunscreen.

Beside me, Dallas slips off his shirt.

“Hello, Daddy,” a female voice off to my right whistles and I turn in her direction, narrowing my eyes behind my sunglasses. My gaze shifts to Dallas without turning my head, and out of the corner of my eye I see him give her an annoyed look. Glancing back at her myself, I observe her tipping back her head to get her long blonde hair out of her face and then leaning her head forward to check herself out, making certain she’s fully covered by her barely-there bikini. A lot of skin is exposed, leaving not much to the imagination.

For a moment, I wonder—what does she have that I don’t? Besides youth, a tight body, and gorgeous hair, what is it about her sitting here that would attract a man like Dallas? Because I’m going to stereotype her and say her youth suggests she hasn’t lived long enough to be worldly and wise, and unless she has a trust fund, she probably also hasn’t worked long enough to be financially successful or prominent in a career. So, what is it about younger women exactly that makes them a magnet for an older man?

If the answer is sex, not so much sex appeal, I’m going to argue I’ve held my own with the man beside me. Sex is off the charts, and I’ve let him do what he wants, where he wants to me, minus the Secret Beach pier.

I straighten my head, facing forward instead of looking at her, and feel Dallas watching me.

“You might want to put your shirt back on,” I mutter under my breath. Before that young thing drowns from drooling over you. She hasn’t taken her eyes off Dallas since adjusting her skimpy suit.

“Gettin’ a good look?” he drawls. I turn my head and lower my glasses down the bridge of my nose. Scanning his body, I scoff.

“Of you? Yes.”

“I meant of her.” He tips his head and I right my glasses to peer back in the young woman’s direction.

“She’s pretty,” I mumble. She tosses her hair once again and looks directly at us.

“She only wants to call me daddy,” he huffs.

“Ew.” Wrinkling my nose, I remain transfixed on her, feeling self-conscious once again about my age and size, especially next to a gorgeous specimen like Dallas.

“Darlin’.” His tone is so sharp, I turn back to him. “Who am I sitting next to?”

He waits on an answer, but I don’t reply, he scowls. “Say it.”

“Me,” I whisper.

“Louder.” His eyes hold mine despite the barrier of sunglasses on my face.

“Me,” I say louder than necessary but not loud enough the other woman can hear me.

Placing two fingers under my chin, he keeps my head pinned so I only look at him. He pulls up my sunglasses, setting them on top of my head, so he can focus on my eyes.

“There she is,” he says softly, holding my gaze. “The only woman I want to see and the woman I want looking back at me.”

I lower my lids, shielding my eyes from the intensity of his gaze but he presses gently at my chin forcing my eyes up and on him.

“Jo, I promised you I’d never cheat. Gave you my word and you know how I feel about that bond being questioned. My eyes won’t stray. My heart won’t either. You’re the woman I want. Only you.”