Page 60 of Feel It in the Air

I smirk, ready to hold her to that. I didn’t even have to open the door for her to walk through it. She threw it open herself.

“Will you now?”

“Yup.”

“Margeaux’s family owns a Cajun restaurant in New Orleans,” Dolly says in the background. “Papa Duck’s. They were on⁠—”

“That the place Hux was stupid enough to drive you to?”

Margeaux looks to me, eyes wide, silently asking the unspoken question I’ve wondered for years. What does Dolly see in him? Usually Jeff is a nice enough guy, but that’s about where it ends. Nice enough. Not that I’ve spent a lot of time with him, but from the little I know, there doesn’t seem to be a whole lot of depth. Granted, if you ask Hux, there are exactly zero redeeming qualities to the man. With the exception of him making Dolly happy.

Behind Margeaux I see Hux bristle, and I know that he’s ready to leap over the table and pummel Jeff. But I keep my focus on my own ragin’ Cajun in front of me. She’s a lot more fun.

“My place, tomorrow night.”

“Don’t you have roommates?”

“That can be rectified.”

A breeze cuts through the air, bringing a chill with it. Instinctively I wrap an arm around Margeaux, pulling her close. She leans in, my heart soaring. I should probably let go, probably stop and think about who could see us, but right now I don’t care. Her pressed against me like this feels too good to worry about anything.

“Oh, that breeze is cold!” Dolly says.

“Should have worn something warmer,” Jeff says. “It’s November.”

“Here,” Hux declares, whipping off the flannel shirt he’s wearing and passing it over the table, leaving him in just a long-sleeved Henley.

“No, then you’ll be cold,” Dolly states.

“I’ll be fine,” he grunts, crossing his arms.

Mouthing thank you, she takes the shirt and puts it on. It’s way too big for her and hangs off her like she’s a small child wearing her father’s shirt, but it’s endearing. It’s also something her fiancé should have done.

“I gotta take this,” Jeff says, holding up his phone. One that none of us heard ring.

“Did that even…” Margeaux whispers to me.

“I don’t think so.”

It’s silent for a moment, at least between the four of us. The din of conversation around us fills the background, highlighting the awkwardness of the moment.

“Hey Doll, whatcha makin’ for Friendsgiving?” Hux asks, cutting through the silence. He always knows the right thing to say to her, and this moment is no different.

Dolly perks up, as if the mere thought of cooking heals all ailments. “I’m not sure. I’m still torn between—oh my gosh! Margeaux! You should make one of Papa Duck’s recipes!”

“What?” Margeaux goes still next to me. Her head whips between the three of us, and suddenly it occurs to me that I haven’t filled her in on this tradition yet. Oooops.

Tightening my arm around her, I press my lips to the top of her head again, lingering long enough to inhale her sweet scent. “The Hayeses do Thanksgiving a little bit different. We do Friendsgiving.”

“And how exactly does it all work?”

There’s mischief in her tone and a glint in her eye that tells me she’s all in. It also tells me that I can up the ante. So I’m going to.

Twisting, I pull one leg out from under the table so I’m once more straddling the bench seat. I wrap both arms around her waist and yank her into me until her side is flush with my front. The giggle that escapes is music to my ears and sends a jolt of lust so powerful through me it’s a good thing I’m a grown man and can control myself. Because I damn near come right here just from that.

Fuck, the things I would do to her if she made that sound while we were naked.

“How about this, you come over tomorrow night for dinner, and I’ll explain it.”

“Am I doing the cooking?

“If you want.”

Margeaux purses her lips, narrowing her eyes at me. “You get rid of your brothers. I’ll bring the ingredients. We can have a spicy night in.”

A spicy night in? Well, that sends my mind straight for the gutter. Based on the smirk taking over my girl’s face, that’s exactly what she intended too.

“Deal.”