Page 129 of Vow

“Awe,” she cooed, reaching up to pat his cheek. His facial hair tickled her fingertips. He was due for a shave, but she loved the feeling of it between her thighs first thing in the morning. He knew it, too, so he’d been holding off. “Poor you.”

“Stop that,” he murmured.

“But it’s cute.”

“Keep doing that, Haven, and I will tan your ass later.”

She winked. “Promise?”

Andino groaned, and stared up at the sky. “Stop it, woman. I don’t need a fucking hard on when—”

“Are you two just going to eye fuck each other out on the porch, or come inside?”

Haven laughed at the way the color drained from Andino’s face at the male voice filtering out from the opened window. Apparently, her parents had been listening the whole time if the laughter coming from inside the house was any indication.

“Jesus Christ,” Andino mumbled under his breath.

A wild, anxious gleam lit up his gaze as it turned on her. She could tell he was silently asking her what the fuck to do, but she didn’t know what to do for him. Her parents were pretty laid back, all things considered.

And still, even after all their years, very much in love.

Haven often stayed in hotels when she visited simply because of how in love her parents still were. She’d gotten woken up by their antics one too many times over the years, and as an adult, she just didn’t need to be hearing it anymore.

“Well?” her father called again. “I hear we have something to talk about. I did just hear marriage, didn’t I?”

“Neil! Stop it,” Mae hissed. “I would like to talk to them before you run them off.”

“I’m not gonna run them off, woman.”

“Keep thinking that.”

Andino was still looking at her in that way.

Haven only laughed, and shrugged. “Don’t worry. It’s going to be great.”

How could it not be?

After all, she loved him. And so, they would love him, too.

The front door swung open, and Haven’s father loomed in the doorway. Loomed was an appropriate word considering her Irish and German father stood at eye level with Andino, and in size, filled up the whole doorway. Much like Andino did standing on the other side.

“Andino, is it?” Neil asked, cocking a brow.

Behind her father, Mae lingered close. Her mother beamed—all tiny and sprite-like with her painting smock on, and her wild curls pulled high into a messy bun. At least this time around, the chemo wasn’t taking huge chunks of her mother’s beautiful strawberry blonde hair. Medical advancements were miracles, really.

“Oh, move, Neil,” Mae muttered, pushing her much larger husband out of the way. Her mother bounced out the doorway, and gave her daughter a hug first before doing the exact same thing to a still quiet Andino. Mae pulled back, and gave him a look. “You are handsome.”

Haven grinned.

Andino blushed, and cleared his throat. “Thank you.”

“He is, isn’t he?” Her mother glanced back at her husband. “Isn’t he?”

“Mae,” Neil started to say, “I am not going to—”

“What, he is!” Mae smiled widely again. “I hope you like steak.”

“Love it,” Andino said.