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“She’s the only one I’ve ever brought home, too, Sir,” I counter, shaking his hand, firm like I was taught by my father. “Luciano De Santos, nice to meet you, Mr. Atkins.”
“Bryan, please. And should I call you Luciano? It seems so formal.”
I’ve heard this my whole life. “You’re not wrong. Luca is fine, and thanks for having us.”
His eyes swing over to his family as all three women speak simultaneously. “I’ll apologize in advance for my wife. And, I get it, you don’t want to sleep in different beds, believe me, I wasn’t always a preacher.” He lets out a laugh, and I’m not sure if I should join him. “Elaina will try to twist your arm, already has clean sheets on Ani’s bed and in the guest room. She wants her girls under the same roof together, that’s all.”
I watch the happiness in Heaven’s eyes at this reunion. They could make it easy and just let us sleep together but—his house, his rules.
“And believe me, I’m sure all it would take is me saying you could sleep in the same bed, but I also won’t change my rules and morals. So, fair warning, my wife will be relentless.”
“Luc?” She waves me over, her mouth running a mile a minute with all the introductions. Her mother’s eyes are the same color green as Anisten’s. She’s so happy. How can I deny her more time with her family? I can’t.
* * *
“And,” Bristol continues, “everyone kept singing. Ani puked as they escorted her off the stage. Most of her class had parts of Ani’s dinner on their clothes, but they just kept going. You know the old adage,the show must go on? It was true for her third-grade class.”
Bristol tells an embarrassing story of Anisten as Isabel had told one about me.
“That’s enough out of you, Bristol. No more wine.”
But before Ani can take away her sister’s glass, her father is up with another bottle.
“You know, even Jesus drank wine,” Bryan explains, pouring us more wine and setting a glass out for him and Elaina. He must understand what I think as he settles next to his wife after supper.
I don’t immediately take to newcomers, but the Atkins family makes it effortless. They’re friendly, welcoming, and loving. Everything I’m used to with my own folks.
“You know, sweetheart,” Elaina begins, “I bought all the ingredients for your favorite breakfast, corned beef hash, biscuits and gravy, and cream cheese French toast.”
“Lord, Ma, all at one sitting?” Bristol asks as we sip on our wine. “I can’t even think of food right now, not after chicken-fried steak and that huge slice of rhubarb pie.”
I don’t understand the love this family has for rhubarb pie but Heaven ate it like she attacks my cock.
“No, Bristol, just for the three days you both will be here, but I can’t imagine Anisten will be here early enough to have breakfast every morning.”
I thought Anisten was the say-it-as-it-is kind of woman, but Bristol brings it to a whole new level. “Oh, here we go again,” she teases, elbowing her mom on one side and Anisten on the other. “You act as if you get up at six a.m. to cook breakfast, Ma.”
Elaina ignores her oldest, as I cover Anisten’s hand with mine. “I was thinking, Ms. Atkins, if the offer still stands, it may be best to stay over tonight. I don’t want to drive after I’ve had a couple drinks, and you can cook breakfast at your leisure.”
Anisten snaps her attention to me. “You sure?”
“Yeah, Heaven. I’m positive.”
Bristol spits out her wine. “Heaven? Really? Can this guy be more perfect? Well, holy hell, he’s a keeper.”
Her dad sends a warning the way of Bristol. “Oh, for crying out loud! Hell and Holy, Dad, both words are in the bible. I’m not swearing, I promise.”
Anisten drops her head on my shoulder. “Thank you.”
“You’re welcome. And you know, right?”
“As long as you do?” she asks.
I lift her head to drop a kiss on her cheek. As much as she loves me, I love her more. “I do, I certainly do.”
* * *
“Do I have to marry you for your parents to let us sleep together?” I ask the following morning as I find her cuddled up in a large blanket under the covered porch, drinking tea.
