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That makes her laugh. “Sure it is.” She exhales. “Do you know what? I do want to try. I don’t know if it’s being here in this room or everything that’s led up to it, but I’d love to paint again. I’ve missed it.”
Turning her in my arms, I interlock my fingers behind her lower back and hold her close. “It’s time to rediscover you, Kate. Don’t do it for your mom or because you think that’s what you should do. Or even me. Do it for you. Do it because you have no other option but to paint.”
Her eyes kinda glass over a bit, and I wonder if she’s going to cry. “Can I ask you something?”
“Anything.”
She hesitates for just a second before asking her question, and even though I knew this particular one would come up again soon, I wasn’t it expecting tonight. “What’s going on with us?”
It’s amazing how right it feels to have her in my arms again, and for once, I’m not going to hold back when it comes to telling her how I feel. “Well, I’m enjoying the hell out of spending time with you, and I’d like to keep doing so. If that means you’re my girlfriend again, then so be it, but life’s too short not to just go after what you want, and Kate?” I ask, my hand moving up to cup her jaw, “I want you. I’ve always wanted you.”
Then my lips are on hers. I have no idea how she feels about my blunt statement, but I don’t give her the chance to reply. Instead, I slide my tongue along the seam of her lips, my body craving a taste, and she opens up for me. My tongue slides easily against hers as her hands reach around my back and grip my shirt. This kiss could very easily go from nice to holy-fuck in less than a second, but I won’t let it. Not with Max in the other room.
The doorbell sounds, interrupting us. “That’s probably the pizza,” she says, resting her cheek against my chest and inhaling deeply.
“Probably. I’ll go grab it,” I tell her, kissing her forehead before letting her go. I miss having her near me already.
“Hey, Jensen?” she asks, stopping me as I reach the doorway. When I turn back to face her, she adds, “I want you too.”
The ache in my chest that I’ve carried for the last dozen years suddenly starts to lift and a big smile breaks out on my face. “Good, because you’re not getting rid of me this time,” I tell her. The doorbell sounds a second time, which is why I find myself heading to the foyer, the biggest fucking smile ever on my face.
Pulling out my wallet, I reach the door and pull it open. I grab a few twenties to pay for dinner, but my hands stumble as I come face-to-face with who’s on the other side of the door. Definitely not the pizza guy.
“Surprise!” my aunt Emma bellows from the doorway.
“Jesus,” I say before I can stop it.
“No, just Aunt Emma, darling.” She glances over to Uncle Orval, who’s standing beside her. “I’ve been called God more times than I can count, but never Jesus, right, Orvie?”
“You got that right, Emmie,” he coos, and I’m pretty sure he goosed her ass.
“Oh, stop it, you ol’ goat. If you’re a good boy, I’ll let you call me God later tonight,” she says in a sugary sweet voice that makes me want to vomit. “Well, don’t just stand there, Jensen. The car is loaded with my things. Be a dear and bring them in for me?” Aunt Emma asks before pushing past me and just walking right into Kate’s house. “Wow, what a magnificent home,” she says, looking up at the chandelier.
“Thank you,” Kate says, slowly entering the foyer. “I take it you’re not the pizza delivery driver,” she quips, going over to where my aunt stands.
“No, dear, I’m Aunt Emma, and the sexy older man at the doorway is my Orval. You must be Kathryn,” she says, taking a few steps toward Kate.
“I am,” she says, extending her hand.
Emma ignores it, instead pulling her into a fierce hug. When she finally releases her, Emma takes another look around the house. “This place is beautiful. I bet there were lots of rooms to christen, weren’t there?” she asks, catching Kate completely off guard.
In my defense, we did try to warn her at the cookout.
“Kathryn, this feisty old woman and her husband are going to be your houseguests for the next three nights,” I say, holding the door open so my uncle can come in too.
“Four.”
“Four?” Kate asks, glancing between the old woman and me.
“Yes, dear, four. We decided to head back home on Monday. I hope it’s okay we are here that long. We could always head over a few towns to find one of those cheap hotels with bedbugs and hookers in and out all night long.”
“Oh, no no no, that’s not necessary. You’re more than welcome to stay here with me,” Kate says politely, but I can’t help but shake my head. I feel like we were just played, or at least Kate was. I also have a feeling our quiet evening in on Saturday night will be anything but. Not with these two on the premises.
Let’s just hope we can find a piece of privacy in this big house. I mean, it’s eight thousand square feet.
Shouldn’t be too hard, right?
