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“Lovey, you aren’t giving him up. He’s just going to build a life somewhere else. Just like everyone of our kids have.”
“All except for Cyan. He’s never going to grow up,” Mary yells.
“Hey! I resemble that remark,” Cyan wisecracks.
I take a deep breath and it shudders through my body as Jan walks toward me.
“Lovey, it’s just not feasible carting Hamburger and Gladys back and forth as much as we do. There’s also the fact that he’s happier there, sweetheart. Let him be there until he and Gladys break up,” he says, his face tender.
God, I love this man.
Still, he needs to pay for that remark. I slap my hand against his chest. “You know better than that. Hamburger won’t break up with Gladys. He’s a Lucas and we have staying power. When we fall in love, it sticks, you old coot.”
He grins. “I know, baby. Hell, I wake up every day thanking my maker that you fell in love with me.”
“Jan, I’m going to need to visit him every weekend. And also, when the team isn’t playing—”
“It’s called the off season, Mom.”
“When they’re on their off season, would it be too much to ask you to transport them both here to visit with me for at least a couple of weeks. I’ve already talked to Rooster about that. He’s agreed to a three-week visitation.”
“Jan—”
“We’ll make the trip together and after we drop them off there, you and I will have some private time in the city.”
I close my eyes, relief and love washing through me and merging. It helps my heart start beating again. I relax my body and fall into his arms. “I really do love you, Jan.”
He holds me close, and I breathe in his cologne, letting it calm me. “I love you too, Lovey. I always will.”
His lips come to mine. My Jan is a man of many—many—talents. His kisses are like pure magic. They are sole gifts that are mostly reserved for private. That’s just the man he is, the man he was raised to be. So, the fact that he is kissing me right here in front of everyone, moves me like nothing else could. When we pull apart the tears in my eyes this time are happy ones. He knows that, so he gives that sexy little growl that he always gives me and claims my mouth again.
“God you two, please stop. I don’t need to see my parents making out,” Marigold hollers out.
“Me either,” Cyan whines. “I keep having to see this shit and my dick may stop working altogether.”
Our kiss ends, but Jansen doesn’t pull away. I feel his grin, however, against my lips.
“At least take it to the damn playhouse,” Blue yells.
“For the love of God, please do that,” Black joins in.
Jan and I pull apart, but he keeps holding my hand. “I’m feeling like giving thanks on our kitchen table you made me,” I whisper.
“Lead the way, baby. Lead the way.”
We walk into the house hand in hand. I chance a look over my shoulder and Mary is staring at me with a big smile on her lips. She mouths out the words I love you and I do the same.
When we get inside, Jansen locks the door and gives me a look that makes me warm all over.My man should be marked lethal, and I swear he just gets better with age.
As we walk into the kitchen, I squeeze his hand tighter. I swear, I will love and want this man until I am one hundred and three and ready to pass into the next life. Even after that, I won’t stop until I find him so I can love him all over again, because I wasn’t kidding.
Members of the Lucas clan have staying power.
Tillie
One Week Later
My trip went way too fast. I almost didn't get on the plane. Being back in Pine Ridge without Ryder feels wrong.I feel empty.I was able to survive because Ryder was going to come home for the weekend. That was the plan, but today those plans changed. The team is playing some makeup games and he couldn’t get away.
