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“Lainey?”

“What?”

“Do you want to go?”

She snuggled closer to Matt.

“Tell your young man that I’ve apologized to you and that you accept it, and we’re done with the matter and you’ll mingle like I’ve told you to.”

“Matt, I’ll even show you where they hide the beer in this place,” Lee said.

She looked up and Matt was staring down at her, his eyes warm and anxious.

“We can stay.”

He bent down and touched his lips to hers.

“And no more of that. That’s inappropriate.” Her mother just couldn’t help herself.

“Seriously, Lainey, you’ve gotta stop doing this to me. Your mother has put together such a hellish itinerary we’ve only been able to fuck twice today, and then you put that dress on. That’s not fair.”

Lainey turned around in front of the tall standing mirror in the corner of her room and smiled. The champagne foil knit-draped dress was ruched at the right side of her waist and hid the little bit of tummy she’d been forming since she’d been taste-testing so many fun recipes. But you wouldn’t know she was hiding anything, because it flowed over her body like it was made for her. Actually, it was, since she had a seamstress alter it so it would fit perfectly after she bought it.

She loved it!

She was halfway to biting her lip, then stopped.

“Ah, come on, do it. Bite your lip. I just want a little taste,” Matt begged.

“The dinner and dancing will eventually be over,” she promised.

He went over to her old bedroom closet and opened the shoebox she had brought with her.

“Come sit down, Cinderella, so I can help you into your shoes.”

If he thought the dress was something, the shoes were going to blow his mind. Lainey stifled a giggle. She sat down on the pink bench, lifted her gown, and Matt knelt at her feet. Then he pushed back the tissue paper and groaned. “Are you fucking kidding me?”

She threw back her head and laughed. He carefully pulled out the glittery champagne-colored shoes with the five-inch heel, peep toe, and two ankle straps. She’d had Matt in mind when she’d bought the shoes. She and Penny had agreed that every man would think these shoes were sexy.

“We can be twenty minutes late,” he cajoled as he guided the first shoe onto her foot.

“We were late to this morning's brunch, and we got the stink-eye.”

“No, we didn’t. Your mama loves me.” Matt kissed the bottom of her second foot before guiding on her shoe and taking his time to clasp on the ankle strap.

“My Mama is both scared and respects you. I don’t know the word for it, but that’s what she is, so she’s currently letting you get away with things,” Lainey corrected.

“You’re right about the scared and respect thing. It’s an animal thing. She recognizes me as her alpha. It’s as easy as that.”

“Whatever. I just know I have big plans for you after we leave my childhood bedroom. I adore making love with you, but I’ll like it even more when I’m not looking over your shoulder up into a pink canopy.”

This time, it was Matt’s turn to laugh.

“Tonight, I’ll work harder. Obviously, if you have an opportunity to concentrate on the canopy, then I’m not doing my job right.”

Lainey felt her core tingle. “I can’t even imagine how good it would be if you try harder.”

“Well, tonight, you’ll find out.”