Page 81 of 6 Clues Your Nemesis Loves You

“The bland face.” I shudder. “How did you survive?”

“By not going down without a fight. I’ve already found a new venue. Stallard Winery offered to move around an event and fit us in, but I’ve basically promised them my first child.”

I balk at her. “Without asking my permission first?”

She snorts out a laugh, then drops her gaze. More eye-contact avoidance, all because I couldn’t resist a joke about our future children. Except I’m not really joking. I’m planning any and all of my kids to be shared with Maggie Edelstein, but joking without thinking is my kryptonite. Pushing us toward future talk, when Maggie’s happy living in the moment.

“I jest,” I tell her. “If your firstborn is with Hagrid—”

“Harrison.”

“Whatever. Giving the kid away might not be so bad.”

She leans forward and punches my shoulder. “Be nice.”

“I’m always nice.” And horny when I’m with Maggie. “Have I told you how hot you look today?”

“Me?” She chews another piece of cookie and licks her luscious lips. “All I’m thinking about is how to get my mouth on your thick cock without getting covered in tofu tacos.”

“Jesus, woman.” I rub my hand over said cock as I clench and hold.

Her heavy-lidded eyes zero in on my straining fly, killing me. “Unfortunately, my boss could walk by here at any moment, and I can’t return to work covered in guacamole and secret sauce. The blow job will have to wait. And I believe it’s your turn to share. What’s the latest on your father’s tell-all? Family meeting still set for Tuesday?”

My body instantly cools. I grunt the affirmative.

Discussing anything related to my father makes me feel like I’m still lying about his latest text, which isn’t a lie because that’s not what she asked. As usual, the Life Wrecker does an excellent job infecting my life without even being here.

The new topic my father is intent on discussing is likely also about his book. Mom probably knows the dirt already. She didn’t organize our family meeting as quickly as I expected. The delay could be linked to whatever new bomb his tell-all dropped, beyond the affair that led to his criminal activities. Or it’s the affair that has her upset, and she needed time to digest that information. Or this new topic is totally unrelated, and we’re about to be thrown for a whole new loop. Regardless of the outcome, I’m dreading our Bower family chat.

“I wish you could come,” I say, even though our meeting is the same day as her important seniors event.

“Oh, Lennon. I’ll be—”

“I know you can’t,” I cut in quickly. “Totally get it. Just want you to know I want you there.”

She reaches over and takes my hand. “We’ll hang out after, okay?”

I kiss her knuckles. “Absolutely. For now, we have more delicious food to eat while you tell me about the blow job you wish you had time to give me.”

She laughs and tosses a piece of cookie at my face. We eat and talk, cozy in our tent of two, the outside world banished for a spell. Like we’re at her pond, our secret place where nothing and no one can touch us.

Until I hear hushed whispers coming from outside the tent, way too close for comfort.

“Are they in there?”

“They’re definitely in there.”

“Are you sure?”

“I helped her set up the tent, and Sandra said she saw them go in.”

E’s and Delilah’s voices are easy to recognize, and I tense. The only reason those two are staking out our tent picnic is if they’re up to no good. Even worse, it appears as though Sandra ratted me out to my obnoxious brother.

Maggie freezes, eyeing the zipped exit. “This is not going to end well.”

“I’ll take care of the heathens,” I tell her, then give the shadowed side of the tent a slap. “Get the fuck away from our private luncheon.”

“No can do,” E says, sounding way too amused. “Delilah dared me to fart inside there, then zip it up and lock you in.”