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“You know that means spending time with my friends, right? And my brother? And probably my family, too.”
He shrugged a shoulder. “I don’t have family here. Not a lot of friends, and I happen to get along with your brother. Turns out we’re the same age and support the same football team.”
“You support the Panthers?”
“Yes…”
“Why?”
He smirked, tilting my head up. “Because I want to.”
That was as good an answer as any, I suppose. “All right. So what are we doing, then?”
“With us?”
“No, for dinner,” I said dryly. “Yes, with us. If we both agree it’s too early for us to be in a relationship, but we both have feelings for each other… Now what?”
“Pretty simple, isn’t it? We date. We don’t see anyone else.”
“Do you think I look like the kind of people who dates more than one person at a time?”
Noah narrowed his eyes. “That sounds like a question I shouldn’t answer.”
“Ah, he learns fast.”
“You’re insane.” He slipped his hands down to my neck and over my shoulders where his thumbs brushed my collarbones. “Reagan, I don’t want to even think about seeing anyone else. And if you do, I’ll lock you in my room with me until you change your mind.”
I rested my hands on his side and peered up into his eyes. My heart was skipping inside my chest, beating just a little faster than before. “I don’t want to date anyone else either.”
“Good.”
Then, he kissed me.
Full-on, firmly, perfectly, in a kiss that was so much more than a promise of what was to come.
CHAPTER SEVENTEEN – REAGAN
Family Is Forever… Apparently
“Do you think this is a good idea?” Preston flattened his hands on the counter.
I sighed and put a rose in the bouquet I was making. I’d taken Noah’s advice and gotten a full check from my doctor. I was a-okay, so my mom had finally handed me back the keys to The Wright Bouquet and I was officially back to work full-time.
“I don’t know,” I replied, securing the bouquet together with an elastic band. “All I know is that it’s the next logical step while we figure this out.”
“Reagan. You do know Aunt Bethel will be there, don’t you?”
“Yes. It’s just a good thing that Margaret won’t be.”
“Do you want me to invite Halley?”
“No. I mean, I don’t mean to be rude,” I said. “She’s my best friend, I love her, but if we’re going to do this, it has to be just us.”
Preston sighed and shook his head. “Noah has no fucking idea what he’s letting himself in for.”
“Ugh.” I dropped my head back after I secured the wrapping on the bouquet. “It’s taken us five days to reach this point where he doesn’t have to work overtime. We’re going through with this family dinner, and you’re going to be there to give me moral support.”
My brother took the bouquet. “Of course I’m going to be there. Noah’s a great guy, and if you’re going to date someone, I’m glad it’s him and not one of the assholes around here.”
“I also want you to spend time with him,” I admitted. “He told me he only really knows the guys he works with, and I hate that. He’s been here for six months. He should know more people.”
Preston chuckled. “We exchanged numbers when we were babysitting you three. We’ve talked some over the last few days. Mostly about football. He’s coming over to watch the game this weekend.”
Oh.
“Oh.”
“Don’t look so surprised, Reagan. I’m a nice person.”
“Yeah, if you say so.” I wiped down the counter then squeezed the cloth in the sink. “I know tonight is going to be insane, but we agreed to take things slow.”
“Didn’t you stay at his place again last night? Isn’t that the third time in a week or so?”
“You can shove that tone where the sun doesn’t shine. I’m a grown woman. If I want to sleep out, I will.”
“It doesn’t really count as taking things slow.”
“I said we were taking it slow emotionally. Physical compatibility counts.”
“I don’t want to know about your physical compatibility with anything except a treadmill, and even then I’m not sure I care.”
I smiled. “Oh, so you don’t want to know that he’s so good in bed he quite literally blows my mind every single time?”
“I can’t think of anything I want to know less,” Preston said dryly. “And now I don’t think I’ll ever be able to look him in the eye again.”
“You’re welcome.” I blew him a kiss. “So what’s this about Leo coming home?”
“Why do you care about Leo?”
“Is he bringing Ethan?”
“And it all makes sense.”
I held up my hands. “Sue me. I’m a nosy bitch.”
“You won’t get an argument from me.” Preston pulled a stool beneath him and sat down. “Him and Ethan are on temp contracts in the garage they’re in, and apparently it’s already getting fucking cold in Chicago. They’re coming back just before Halloween in a few weeks.”
