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It’s all I can do not to hug the woman. Since I’m sweaty and half-naked, I doubt she would appreciate it. Josh takes care of it for me, grabbing her hands and squeezing them in thanks before turning to the man I hope will be our father-in-law soon. “Please.”
James sighs. “It’s hard enough making a marriage between two people work, and Katie has been through a lot.”
“She told us. And we know a relationship like ours won’t be easy. We’ll raise brows and incite whispers everywhere we go, but we’ll always do our best to shield her from that and make up for it.”
Mariah recoils. “Please don’t elaborate on your sex life.”
I bark out a laugh. Kate’s sister isn’t wrong. We’ll never stop finding creative, filthy-dirty ways to make our wife scream and sigh in ecstatic bliss. But that’s not what her family wants to hear. “Josh means that your sister will have our whole hearts.”
“Exactly,” my pal assures her.
“Oh.” Mariah blushes. “Good.”
We all laugh, and the awkward tension finally leaves the room. James offers me his hand, then Josh. “If you can persuade her of that and she says yes, then…welcome to the family. But be warned. If either of you hurt her, I’ll hold you both responsible. The police will have to dig for your bodies with tweezers.”
James can’t actually follow through on his threat. We’re both bigger and younger, but he’s her protective father and he deserves our reassurance.
“Understood, sir.” I nod.
Josh follows suit. “Absolutely.”
Mariah turns back to the luggage rack. “Great. What about Kate’s suitcase?”
Before Josh or I can tell her to leave it, Kate pushes the door open and strides into the room, scanning us collectively with tight-lipped impatience. And hurt. She’s trying her best to hide it.
Josh and I need to repair the heart we bruised. We exchange a glance. I’m relieved we’re finally on the same page.
She turns to her sister. “What’s taking so long? Are we almost ready to go?”
I stalk over to Kate, who retreats with every step I close in—until her back hits the wall.
“Stop it,” she demands. “I’m not intimidated by this…whatever your behavior is.” She gestures toward me, but when she swallows and her nipples stiffen, it’s obvious she’s affected. “I came to get my suitcase and tell you and Josh that you’re wrong. I’m nothing like Taylor. Not that it matters anymore. We’re done. I’ll see you Monday morning at the airport.” She leans around me to make eye contact with her sister. “Let’s go. Do you need me to get that?”
Before Kate can breeze past me, I grab her arm, then turn to Mariah, leveling her a silent demand for help.
“I’ll get it in a minute, Katie. You three talk first.” She nods her father’s way. “Come on, Dad.”
James gives Kate a somber smile, pats her shoulder, then heads for the exit, ushering Mariah out in front of him.
Once they’re gone, the door closes. Silence falls in their wake.
“Why are you doing this? We don’t have anything to say.” Kate raises her chin, all but daring me to refute her.
Lifting her in my arms, I settle her back against the wall. She squeals and fights—until I dip my head and seize her lips, stamping my mouth onto hers before I nudge her open, slide inside, and sweep in deep. Her breath catches. Her body goes taut. I fist the hair at her nape and pull until she offers me more with a trembling groan. Then I surge in deeper.
She stops fighting. Her lips soften. Her fingers creep up to grip my shoulders.
When she melts against me, I ease back. “We havea lotto say, baby girl. But I’ll start with I’m sorry.”
Josh nudges me to her side, then cradles her face in his hands and brushes a lingering kiss over her lips. “We’resorry. Stay put, okay? Give us an hour. If you’re not happy after that and you still want to go, we won’t fight you.”
Kate presses her lips together, looking torn.
As he reaches for the key to the rental car, I grab yesterday’s T-shirt from my duffel nearby and slide it over my head, then pick up my wallet. “You’ll be here when we come back, right? If you’re not, we’ll hunt you down.”
“Fine,” she huffs. “One hour. And only because I want to hear you say you’re sorry a lot more.”
“You got it, sweetheart.” Josh lavishes another kiss on her pretty bow of a mouth before we hustle out the door, heading for the elevator.
