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Lily stood also, looking pleased with his mother’s announcement.
Taking her hand, he stated, “I’m sure they can use the extra help, but William will say you already have a full calendar with your charities and socials. Just reminding you.”
She waved an airy hand, unconcerned. “I can spare a few hours now and then. Lily will let me know when they’re shorthanded.” She patted Lily’s shoulder.
“Burgers up!” Jordon announced loudly from the grill. “Come on, birthday boy. You and Lily grab yours first.”
Reed chuckled when Keith and Jeff stopped in their tracks on their way to the grill. “Come on, Lily. You, too, Mom.”
****
In the eighteen yearssince Lily’s parents had passed away, she’d never imagined another person filling their role or the void in her life their deaths caused. It should bother her that she found Reed’s mother, Andrea, so appealing as a mother figure, but it didn’t. Lily liked Andrea’s openness, her obvious love for her sons, the way she sacrificed after splitting from their father to ensure the three boys maintained as much normalcy between the two homes as possible. Andrea had made it easy for Lily to speak candidly about her own marriage and pain in dealing with infidelity.
“That’s one thing you would never have to worry about, dear,”Andrea had said, patting her arm as they rocked on the porch.“None of my boys would cheat, not after suffering through their father’s sordid reputation and because I raised them to respect women.”
Of course, Reed’s mother had the smarts to walk out early instead of hanging on, like Lily had done for way too long. Her ignorance in hoping John’s love for her would eventually take precedence over his need for other women had become easier to admit and then put away ever since she’d laid eyes on Reed again.
He gave a short tug on her hand, tightening his grip enough for the callouses on his palm to scrape hers and send tingles up her arm, her nipples puckering in reaction. She almost tripped behind him, her gaze sliding from his broad shoulders, down his rock-hard waist to linger on his taut buttocks shifting in the snug-fitting denim. With her heart thumping double time and her sheath fluttering with a damp need that had been building for weeks, Lily decided she wasn’t waiting for tonight. She was done second-guessing whether this relationship could go the long haul, or if she was even up to the challenge of another commitment. Now, today was all that mattered, and that’s how she intended to go forward each day with Reed.
Her mouth watered when they reached the massive grill covered with sizzling burgers, most with melted cheese on top. Slade nodded at her as he scooped one on a bun and slid it onto Reed’s plate before asking, “Cheese or no cheese, Lily?”
“Cheese please.” She held out her plate, wondering if she would have room for sides dishes.
Reed winked at her from under his lowered Stetson. “That’s my girl. I like your appetite.”
Lily turned warm at his use of the word appetite and tried to read his expression and tone for a double meaning behind it but couldn’t. Sometime soon, she would ask Allie if she knew the secret to the way the men could do that with such ease.
“I figure someday it will catch up to me, and I’ll have to watch it more closely, but not today.” Smiling at Slade, she said, “Thank you. They look great, and filling!”
“Save half for later tonight,” Andrea said, holding her plate out for a burger. “Thank you, dear.”
“Good idea,” she returned, wondering if Reed’s mother called everyone dear. Bianca joined them just then, her engagement ring winking in the sunlight as she laid her hand on the back of Jordon’s shoulder, reminding Lily that Jordon had just proposed. “Congratulations, Bianca. May I see your ring?”
“Oh me, too,” Andrea chimed in.
Jordon rolled his eyes. “Whenever Bianca sees someone she knows, we have to flash the ring.” He released a dramatic sigh, but the twinkle in his eyes gave away his good humor. “Good thing I splurged on the larger diamond.”
Bianca beamed, holding out her hand. “You’ve never held back on spending, just on taking this step.” She kissed his cheek.
“You wanted to wait, also, so don’t give me that.”
“It doesn’t matter how long it takes to be sure,” Reed stated, releasing Lily’s hand to rub up and down her arm in a light caress, the simple touch eliciting distracting tingles of pleasure. “When it’s right, it’s right.”
That was my thought when I jumped to accept John’s proposal.
Lily shivered from the heated glance Reed gave her, realizing the night-and-day differences between him and John. Reed consistently put her needs and wants first, whereas her husband’s desires had always been his top priority. It was a heady experience being the main focus of a man’s attention, one she longed to take to the next level now that she was comfortable in the relationship. She wasn’t a flirt and possessed little experience in initiating sex, the only obstacles keeping her from dragging him away from the party and jumping his bones.
Lily put that thought aside, giving Bianca her attention. “Your ring is beautiful.” The happiness on both Bianca’s and Jordon’s faces made her wish Vickie wouldn’t keep Levi waiting. It saddened her that Vickie let herself become influenced by Lily’s marriage struggles and failure, admitting she’d done the same since leaving John.
“Gorgeous. When?” Andrea asked without mincing words.
Slade shook his head. “Give them time, Mom.”
Brett and Allie joined them, and Reed moved his hand to her lower back as talk turned to wedding dates and plans. Halfway to the food table, he caused her to stumble and go hot from head to toe when he leaned down to whisper, “Keep looking at me that way and I’ll put you over my knee.”
An image of lying over his lap, his hand raised above her bare pink butt, popped into her head. Lily’s gaze flew up to his face to see if he was serious. Given the way her pussy dampened with a tight clutch, she half hoped so. Those sexy lips curled at the corners, but the gleam in his eyes she could barely detect with his hat lowered left her guessing.
Before Lily could form a reply, they were in line at the food table, and he changed the subject. “Save room for cake,” he reminded her as she switched her attention to the array of side dishes.
