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"Hey, kitten," he whispers and I want to fling myself in his arms.
Instead, I worry my fingers together in front of me. "Hi," I manage to say.
He grabs plates and forks and nods for me to follow him into the dining room.
This is a bad idea. I know it. But I want to be with him.
He sets the pie on the table then closes the door between the kitchen and the dining room. "This way no one will see us sneaking the last of the pie."
"Won't Midge notice in the morning?"
He grins. "Of course she will. But we'll have plausible deniability. Everyone knows Deacon is the one who polishes off the desserts. In fact, I'm surprised we got here before him."
I chuckle. "Deacon is a character. So is Caleb." We sit at the table and he plates up the pie and hands me a piece with a fork.
"Yes, they are," he says and takes a bite of pie.
I do the same. Man, is it good. I've eaten at some of the best restaurants in the country, but Midge's strawberry freezer pie can stand up against any of the fancy chefs, if you ask me.
"As a matter of fact," he says, "both of them have approached me and wondered if Boone was serious about enforcing the family rule."
I gasp. "Wh-what did you tell them?"
"I told them I thought the rule was important and we should abide by it."
"Oh," I reply. I'm not sure what I expected him to say, but disappointment wells up in me. "I guess it is a good rule."
He puts his fork down and takes hold of my hand. "But mostly, it's because I want you for myself."
Now I'm having trouble breathing. He grips my hand and stares into my eyes. "Bu-but I've hardly seen you since... well... you know. I-I thought you were avoiding me."
"I have been." He raises my hand to his mouth. "But not because I don't want to be near you, but because I can't trust myself not to toss you over my shoulder and carry you away every time I do see you."
Happiness replaces disappointment. "Really?" I’m sure I’m grinning like a fool.
He kisses the top of my hand then puts it back on the table. "Yes, really."
We eat in silence for a minute or two.
"Boone wants me to stay. Move here and help her run the party business." I look down at the table, not daring to see what the expression on his face says. It's a statement but it's really loaded with about a million questions.
"What do you want to do, kitten?" There's a hint of nervousness in his voice which makes me love him all that much more.
Holy shit. Love?
I manage to keep the revelation to myself.
"I-I think I'd like to stay. To help Boone. "
"Any other reasons?" he presses.
I look up and our eyes meet. "Yes. You."
He brushes the hair back from my face, his palm is warm and gentle. Then he cups my cheek. "I think that sounds wonderful."
His gaze holds mine and then I break away. "But what about Boone? She'll hate us both if she finds out. And," I take a deep breath. "I don't think I can stay here and not want... well, more… With you."
I can't believe how much I'm exposing myself here, but I have to.
