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He still doesn’t have his answer, which has made him even crazier.
“That sounds more than terrific. You bonded with the children and showed them normalcy like they’ve never had before. Their father has never had a woman in his life, and the masquerade Connie plays is unhealthy. I’ve been a nervous wreck since you drove there. When I heard you were staying, there was concern he pushed too hard, but obviously not.” Jill resembles a woman who’s been given the best news in her life.
“Yes, I guess you’re right if you put it that way. But this wasn’t all Pierce. He graduated from his typical coaxing and dragged the whole Kendrick Clan in. Miller, Maya, Cole… they were the plotters.”
“You are kidding!” She howls. “Pierce hasn’t been very forthcoming, except for…” She trails off.
Shards of ice prickle my flesh, and I throw back the rest of my drink, jumping up to make another. Screw the mix. Maybe I should drink straight from the bottle. Then, I’m going to call Evin to save me from theses wolves.
“Except for what?” Mom presses.
“Well, Pierce… he is… his vision… Umm…” Jill’s so tongue-tied I take pity on her.
“What she’s trying to say is that Pierce was pleased with the outcome of our weekend and has set his sights on the future.”
“Are we talking in politically correct jargon again? What does this mean?” Mom loses her patience.
“I think Pierce wants to marry me.”
She stares at me blankly. “Everyone’s known that forever. This is not news to anyone who’s been watching. Did he finally ask?”
“In his own way.”
“Hot damn!” She slaps her hand down with a loud clap and shoots the rest of her martini back. “It’s about time.”
“I haven’t answered him.”
Her eyes twinkle, and her lips curl into a playful grin. “That’s okay. It took the boy long enough to do it; you can keep him on the hook for a while. Just don’t make it another sixteen years.”
“Mom, it’s been a matter of weeks since we rekindled a relationship. This is too soon. A few great days with his children doesn’t mean we need to rush anything.”
“Pierce disagrees. When I spoke to him this morning, he was crawling out of his skin. I’m here to warn you; he says he’s done waiting,” Jill informs me with a hint of humor.
“I think it’s safe to say we’re all done waiting. Let’s not drag it out too long, Darby.” Lynda slides her empty glass toward me. “Now, let’s have a drink of celebration.”
“I’m on it. My girl can’t make them right.” Mom jumps up. “Gotta have the right portions to make that extra special pop.”
“Yes, I can make them right,” I defend. “And what do we have to celebrate?”
“Your ‘in-his-own-way’ proposal and eventual acceptance,” Lynda answers.
“Not to mention, Darby’s fantastic weekend with my family,” Jill adds.
“And we never got to celebrate the record-breaking day at the bizarre a few weeks ago,” Mom chimes in.
“You ladies need to get a life,” I grumble, even though, secretly, I’m ecstatic with all these things, too.
“No, you, young lady, need to get an attitude adjustment. When you hit our age, you find the time to appreciate and celebrate everything good in this life,” Mom snaps back.
I glance around at three of the women I love most in this world. It wasn’t thirty minutes ago that I wanted to throttle each one of them, but that’s the way it is. The nagging, nosiness, and inappropriate methods of butting into my life aren’t going to change.
Reality explodes in my mind. Twelve years ago, they stood by and kept their mouths shut, letting me sort through things the way I thought best. And I lost so much.
This time around, they aren’t going to let that happen. They’re taking matters in hand. All the irritation I’ve been holding on to evaporates into thin air, and I swallow the sting at the base of my throat.
“Maybe we could celebrate my non-proposal from Pierce.” I give in with a shy grin.
“That’s a given, Darby. What I want to know is when can I expect grandchildren?”
This time, I can’t stop myself, losing the last ounce of self-control. I slam back the drink my mom hands me and groan into the room.
•—•—•—•—•
“More,” Pierce demands, squeezing my breasts so hard I whine.
“I can’t,” I reply breathlessly, my arms shaking as I balance on his chest.
“Ride me, baby. Give me another one.” His hips slam up, and I cry out at the sensation.
“It’s too much.” I try to rock gently.
“Then say yes.”
My eyes snap open, and I glare down, tempted to slap the cocky grin off his face. My exhaustion is gone, having been replaced with a new motivation. I press hard on his chest, strengthen my thighs on his, slip upward, and then slam down.
His grin falls, and his eyes blaze before rolling back in his head. “Fuck,” he growls when I continue the movement over and over.
