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“Please call me Sarah,” Mom beams. “Ms. Tanner makes me feel so old.”
Relief washes over me as we continue our meal. The three of us share good food and laughter as Mom tells us about James' latest projects, and we spend time telling her about our weekend at the beach house. Although we leave out all the parts she doesn’t need to know about.
“I think that went well.” Ace presses his front up against me as I’m washing the dishes. We insisted Mom go relax and leave the clean-up to us.
“You won her over in the end.”
“I did, didn’t I?” He slides a hand to my throat, tilting my face to his. “Now do I get to take you upstairs and break that promise?”
My lips curve as Ace kisses me. Not that kissing ever does justice to the way his mouth brands mine.
Ace doesn’t just kiss me—he says a thousand things with every slide of his tongue against mine, every brush of his lips.
“On a scale of one to ten, how dead would I be if your mom found me eating you out right here on the counter?”
“Ace!” My stomach clenches as desire pulses deep inside me.
“You might have to hold that thought.”
His smile falls. “The fuck?”
“I think she’s hoping we’ll hang out with her and watch a movie.”
“You’re shitting me.”
“Sorry.” I dry my hands and duck around him.
Ace lets out a string of cuss words before advancing on me. “It’s a good thing I’m in no rush for my balls back.”
“Come on, lover boy. The sooner we watch the film, the sooner we can sneak upstairs and fool around.”
We didn’t end up going upstairs. After humoring my mom and watching a film, Ace got a call from Conner that he was needed back at the house.
“I’m sure everything is okay,” Mom says as I check my cell phone for the fifth time in less than an hour since Ace left.
“I hope so. I get the feeling Ace is trying to protect me from just how bad things are with Cole.”
“I know you want to help, sweetheart, but this is something the four of them need to figure out in their own time.”
“I know, Mom.” I offer her a smile. “Thank you for tonight. It means a lot to me.”
“Oh, sweetheart.” She wraps me into her arms. “I only want to see you happy, and if Ace is the boy for you then you have my blessing. Just never feel like you can’t come to me with anything.”
“Thanks, Mom.” I didn’t know how much I needed to hear that until now. “What will we tell Dad?”
She pulls away and shrugs. “Your father made his bed. He can rot in it, for all I care.”
My eyes bug, and she chuckles, but it’s strained and full of sadness. “I have spent far too long worrying about what your father thinks and far too long not paying attention to what is going on in your life. That all stops now, I promise.”
“I like this you,” I say, and Mom hugs me again.
“Come on, it's late. We should probably hit the hay.”
“Okay, you had me until ‘the hay,’ Mom. Never say that again.”
“What?” She gawks at me. “I could do country. You go on up, and I’ll lock up.”
“Goodnight.”
