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“Well, pleased. Thanks for sticking up for me, even though I didn’t need it.” She licked her lips, her gaze dropping to focus on his chest. “Will you stay and help clean up after the party?”
He frowned. “I thought that was the plan.”
“And after”—she licked her lips again and a flush rose on her throat— “after that’s done, will you take me back to your place?”
He froze, anchored to the earth as if fused by a bolt of lightning. “Come again?”
“I want to be with you, Cash. Tonight.”
Chapter Seventeen
After that cock-stiffening statement, the evening couldn’t go fast enough. Cash avoided Mark entirely and behaved with formal politeness to everyone else. While Penta seemed to enjoy how he’d tossed Mark’s rude words back in his face, he wouldn’t give her a reason to change her mind.
Mark and Jacinta left shortly after dinner, but the rest of the guests ignored Cash’s subtle glares and seemed determined to stay forever. When—finally!—only he and the family were left, the back yard and kitchen were soon put to rights. Cash gripped his hands behind his back, arousal and need drumming through his veins, and waited with grim patience.
“I’ll be off then.” Jeremy ruffled Cyril’s hair, patted Felix on the shoulder, and gave his daughter and granddaughters hugs. Approaching Cash, he studied him for a moment, and then held out his hand. “It was good to meet you. I hope to see you again soon.”
Stunned by this public show of support, Cash shook the other man’s hand with gentle firmness. After a final wave, Jeremy said goodbye and disappeared out the door.
The kids scattered, but Penta called them back. “Wait.” Cash’s nerves snapped like a too tight clutch cable and his breath grew short.
With expressions ranging from curious to bored to annoyed to sleepy, they turned back.
“I’m going to Cash’s for a bit.” She reached out and took his hand. Her fingers trembled and he realized anew what a huge step this was. Not just for her. For himself as well. “I’ll be back by midnight.”
He hadn’t expected her to stay until morning, yet he was disappointed. The thought of waking up with Penta beside him was intensely alluring.
Four sets of eyes swung toward him. Even Abra was old enough to understand there was something different going on. He braced in defense.
After a quiet moment, Cyril simply shrugged and trekked down to the basement. Abra hugged her mother and headed in the opposite direction.
Delilah and Felix ranged themselves opposite Penta and Cash.
“Are you going to have sex?” Delilah blurted.
The tips of his ears flamed with heat.
“That’s none of your business.” Penta’s voice was calm, but her fingers clenched his tightly. “If we do, you can be sure we’ll be responsible, just like I taught you.”
Of course Penta had talked with her children about sex. For all her protectiveness, she wasn’t the type of mom to bury her head in the sand. She would want them to be safe.
“I’ve told you where I’ll be and when I’m expected home. That’s all you need to know.” With a little squeeze, she released him. “I’ll go get my purse and coat.”
Delilah followed her mother out of the room. Felix stepped forward, toe to toe with Cash. Caught on the cusp of manhood, he was slim and lithe, with only the promise of bulk in his broad shoulders.
“I Googled you.” His tone was low and threatening, though his eyes darted nervously. “I know you went to jail.”
“So does your mother.” Cash didn’t expect the young man to like him, but he hoped Penta’s protector would understand he’d never put her in danger. That he hadn’t tricked or coerced her. “It was her decision not to tell you kids.”
“Oh.” Some of the belligerence evaporated from Felix’s expression. “Well, that’s good. I just wanted you to know I know.”
“Appreciate you looking out for her. And I promise not to hurt her.”
“Good.” It appeared the conversation hadn’t gone quite the way Felix had expected, but he wasn’t done yet. “Make sure you don’t. Or I’ll be coming for you.”
It should have been funny. Instead, Cash felt a sharp sweet burn at the back of his throat. For most of his life, he and his mother had been at odds, never seeing eye to eye, enjoying only tiny fragments of peaceful coexistence. She had died while he was in prison. In this moment, he had the desperate wish to see her once more, to have a chance to get to know her as a person, not a parent.
“I promise,” he repeated. “I promise not to hurt your mother.”
