Page 45 of The True-Blue Romance

It’s warm and minty, and my stomach instantly settles. We sit quietly together and watch as the sunrise breaks over the tree line. The birds sing good morning as the sky continues to lighten, and I’m overwhelmed by the urge to kiss Joey again just to reaffirm I really am awake. This is my life now. I set the mug of tea down and lean over to kiss his cheek. When I pull away, I stay close enough so that he can turn his head to slide his mouth over mine. We share a good morning, hello, I’ve missed you, I love you sort of kiss that says more than any letter or declaration ever can.

I’m sweaty and rumpled by the time I’m done with my morning tasks at the farm. The sun is high in the sky, air thick with humidity for the end of May. It’s going to be a hot summer. Tonight, Joey and Savannah are coming over for dinner for the millionth time. It feels like nothing, but also everything has changed all at once. I’m simultaneously excited and nervous as hell. Mostly because Joey and I being together is literally Savannah’s greatest dream. She wishes on dandelions nonstop for it to happen, or so she’s told me. Maybe those wishes held weight with the universe. Who knows.

The front office is blessedly cool when I step inside after knocking my boots off by the front door.

“Hey!” Amber Lynn greets from the front desk. “Hot as hell out, huh?”

I grunt but offer her a smile. “Gonna be a hot summer. Any news from Hector?”

Amber’s smile grows. “He called and said he got released for light duty.”

“Thank god. Can you send his family another grocery order? Get with his wife about it.”

“Will do,” Amber says quickly. She then leans forward and whispers, “There’s someone in your office for you.”

“Huh?”

Amber wiggles her eyebrows. “Go on.”

It must be Beau.

I trudge down the hallway toward my small office that they gave me when I was promoted. I push the door open, expecting Beau, but I grin at the sight of Joey sitting at my desk, his feet propped up on the windowsill. He tilts his head to look over his shoulder and grins back, all dimples and five-o’clock shadow. Fuck me, I’m so in love.

I close the door behind me and lean against it. “What’re you doing here?”

“I brought you lunch,” Joey says without missing a beat. He spins around in the chair to open a to-go container, revealing kettle-cooked chips and the brie-and-blueberry grilled cheese that’s nicknamed the Harper’s Special. My mouth waters at the sight.

“Come eat,” he says.

I go to take a seat in the chair across from my desk, but Joey shakes his head. “No, come sit on the desk right here and eat.”

In front of him? Okay. I do as he says and park my butt against the edge of the desk. Joey pushes my legs apart a little so that he can tuck himself between them, wrapping his arms around my back and resting his chin against my thigh. His eyes are otherworldly brown in the warm summer sunlight that fills my office. I reach over and grab one half of the sandwich and carefully take a bite. Joey’s grin blooms wider. He rubs my back gently as I chew.

“Good boy,” Joey whispers.

I pause in chewing and stare down at him, warring between telling him to fuck off and begging him to say it again. Joey just winks up at me, presses a kiss to the top of my thigh, then continues that maddening up and down with his hand on my back. I finish the sandwich in record time, then look down at him as if to ask what’s next?

“I’m gonna cook Savannah’s favorite pasta tonight. I grabbed a watermelon from Beau to cut up for dessert.”

“She loves to spit the seeds,” I say fondly.

Joey grins happily up at me. “She does. We’ll be over around six… Maybe we can stay the night? She’ll sleep in her room. She’ll want to bring Buster in.”

“She can bring Buster in. It’s okay.”

“Pushover,” Joey says as he stands between my legs, his hands moving to cup my neck. “I’ve got to go back to the truck. I’ve got Benji there today. But I wanted to see you, make sure you ate.”

“I’ll eat tonight.”

Joey presses a firm kiss to my mouth. “Three square meals a day. You’re my big boy.”

“Joseph!” I know when Joey says it he means I’m strong, that I’m big and he loves it, and that he wants me to be well nourished.

Joey winks. “This weekend we’re going to go out on a date. I’m already planning it.”

“You don’t have to do all this, you know. I’m a sure thing.”

Joey pinches my cheek, then gently pats it before backing up. “I want you to get used to this sort of treatment, expect it, because you deserve it. Now, I love you. Be good.”