Page 97 of Promise

I tip up my shoulder and twist my hips, twirling the dress a little bit. “Thank you, darlin’.”

I step over to the coat rack, tug his hat off a hook, and settle it on my head.

I might have resented Velocity once upon a time. Been angry that the racing team took him away from me. But seeing him standing here, holding Mirabelle, waiting on me to go out with the girls, I can’t find that anger anymore.

He steps closer to me. “Then again.” He glances up at his cap on my head. “Go out looking sexy as that. Let everyone know you’re my girl.”

He tugs the bill of the cap downward, and I laugh.

“Dart Rivers, you are so ridiculous.”

“And you are so beautiful.” He leans even closer, then he glances at Mirabelle in his arms. “Don’t look, Mirabelle. I’m gonna kiss your momma.”

“Momma,” I whisper, still disbelieving it sometimes.

“Momma,” he quietly echoes, humming the word. “But how about that kiss, Forever?”

I cup his face and lean forward for a quick kiss, but Dart catches me around the waist, tugging me back to him.

His eyes light up. “Give me something to think about while you’re gone.”

I kiss him again. Taking his mouth and melting into it, while I hold his bristly jaw. The kiss lasts a little longer than it should and involves a little more tongue than I intended.

“Don’t let me interrupt,” Genie giggles. “But I’m on a time limit.”

Turning my head, I catch her pointing at her breasts.

“On it,” I laugh, before Dart softly pats my backside.

“Have fun,” he says.

I glance back at him, staring at his lips, still wet from our kiss. “Did I give you enough to think about?”

“Plenty,” he teases.

“Same,” I whisper, before turning for the door and heading out with the girls.

The second I enter Vale’s SUV, I’m bombarded with questions.

“So, I take it you and Dart are back together,” Genie says, twisting in the front seat to look at me in the back.

“How is that going?” Vale asks me through the rearview mirror before reversing out of the driveway.

I glance at the house. “It’s going.”

“Is that wistfulness or frustration?” Genie asks next.

“Maybe a little of both,” I admit, looking at them as the house disappears from view.

“What’s going on?” Vale asks.

“We’ve been talking a lot. And flirting a little.” I sigh.

“Have you had sex yet?” Genie asks, concern in her voice.

“Maybe.” I shrug, but stare toward the front seat like that’s the wrong answer.

Vale quickly glances at me over her shoulder. “How do you feel about that?”