“We’re good, Mom. I’m just going to rinse this out and then head back upstairs. I’ll see you guys in the morning.”
In the kitchen, I wash the bottle and place it in the strainer. I hear my parents as they head to their room. There are two bedrooms upstairs and two downstairs. Dad’s weak all the time, so they occupy the second “in-laws” suite, as it’s called. I wait until I hear their bedroom door close and take the stairs two at a time.
I enter my room and release the breath I didn’t even realize I was holding. Kinley’s standing in the middle of the room in nothing but a pair of panties. She’s digging through my luggage with nothing but the light from her cell phone, I assume for something to sleep in. Closing the door and turning the lock, I reach back, grab the neck of my shirt, and pull it over my head, all the while walking toward her.
The room is dark, but I can hear her with each rapid breath she pulls in. Reaching out, I snake my arms around her waist, her bare back now flush with my chest. Resting my chin on top of her head, I hold her. Her head rests against my heart and I know she can feel it as it thunders inside my chest. It’s all different with her. Every touch is…more.
“Arms up,” I say, releasing her. She complies and I slide the shirt I just removed over her head. As soon as she drops her arms back to her sides, I’m hauling her back against me. Everything is different with her, it’s…more.
“Let’s get some sleep.” I pull back the covers and wait for her to climb in, following right behind her. As soon as I drag the covers up over us, she backs into me and I wrap her in my arms, just like I have each night we’ve shared a bed.
“Night, Evan.”
I hold her a little closer. “Goodnight, baby.”
Chapter 38
McKinley
The week has flown by. Evan and Lexi have gotten to spend a lot of time with his parents and grandparents. Lexi warmed up to them by the end of day two. Now it’s like she’s been around them since birth. Tonight, is our last night with them before my family and Jeff’s parents arrive. Day after tomorrow, we’re getting married.
“Mom, yes, I’m sure he hasn’t seen it. It’s not like this is going to be a real marriage. Why are you so worried?”
I’m currently up in our room, or Evan’s room, talking to my mom. “Honey, it’s a real wedding and your first, so, of course, I want this to be perfect.”
I fight the urge to roll my eyes. “Carol showed it to me the day it was delivered. Evan was outside with his dad and grandfather. She has it in her room.”
“Good. I just talked to her too, and the flowers will be delivered early Saturday.” She rambles on about the wedding.
It’s hard not to get caught up in the excitement of it all, especially when I fall asleep with his arms around me each night. He always finds little ways to touch me—hand on the small of my back or on my knee, arm around the back of my chair. It’s endless.
He calls me babe in front of everyone and doesn’t care who hears him. He even slipped up and called me baby last night when he asked me if I was ready for bed. His mom heard him; I could tell by the smirk on her face. Evan didn’t seem to notice or care. He just said his goodnights, picked Lexi up, and guided me up the steps.
This sweet, caring, charming, sexy-as-hell man is going to be my husband day after tomorrow. Yeah, it’s hard as hell not to get caught up in that. He makes it all feel real.
“So, either Evan or I will be at the airport to pick you up. I don’t know that both of us will come, so there will be enough room in the Durango for your luggage.”
“Great. Our flight lands at three,” she tells me.
“Sounds good. I’ll see you all tomorrow then.”
“Love you,” Mom says as we end the call. I drop my phone on the bed and fall back against the pillows. Staring up at the ceiling, I think about living with him every day, taking care of Lexi together. It’s what we do now, but I don’t live there. I’ve spent the night a handful of times, but this is different.
“Hey, babe,” Evan says from the doorway.
Turning my head to face him, I smile. I can’t prevent it; he does that to me. “Hey, Lex with your mom?”
“Yeah, I actually asked her to watch her for a few hours. I thought maybe you and I could get out of here for a little bit.”
“Really?” I don’t even try to mask my excitement. We’ve pretty much stuck to the house all week, and not that I don’t love his family, but getting out for a few hours sounds great.
“Yeah, it’s nothing fancy. Just thought we could take a ride, maybe grab some dinner,” he suggests.
“Perfect. When do we leave?” I grin.
This causes him to laugh. “We can go now, baby. You ready?”
I look down at my skinny jeans and sweater. “Am I dressed okay for what you have in mind?”
“You’re perfect.” He leans in and kisses the corner of my mouth. “Let’s go say bye to Lexi and get out of here,” he says, grabbing my hands and pulling me from the bed.
Once I’m standing, he laces his fingers through mine and we walk down the stairs side by side. We find his parents in the living room on the couch, Lexi eating up their attention. “We’re headed out,” Evan says, stopping in front of them. I try to drop his hand, but he holds tight. Bending over, he gets eye level with Lexi. “You be a good girl. Daddy and Kinley will be back in a little while.” He kisses her cheek and she shrieks.
With my hand that’s not occupied by Evan’s, I reach out and tap her nose. “See you soon, sweet girl.”
Evan pulls me from the room and out the door. “Where are we going?”
“Well, there’s a diner not far from here that my grandparents would always take me to when I would come to visit. They have great home-cooked food---comfort food.” He grins.
It’s right on the tip of my tongue to tell him I’ve had so many meals this week I don’t think I will fit in my wedding dress, but then I remember he doesn’t know about the wedding dress. “Sounds good.”
He opens my door for me like the gentleman he is, only this time, he leans in and kisses me before pulling away and closing the door.
As we drive to the restaurant, Evan reaches over and laces his fingers through mine. My heart flutters in my chest. I never had a chance in hell to not fall for him.
The restaurant is not busy for a Thursday night, so the waitress tells us to seat ourselves. Evan leads us to a booth in the back and I slide into one side as he goes into the other. “It’s all good here,” he tells me, handing me a menu.
“Chicken and Dumplings,” I say with way more excitement than I should have for a simple meal. “It’s been forever since I’ve had that.” Decision made, I close my menu and place it on the table.
“That sounds good, but so does the homemade chicken pot pie.”
“That does sound good,” I agree. It really does, but I’m still sold on the dumplings.
“Are you nervous about the wedding?” he asks after we place our orders.
“No. Are you?”
“Surprisingly, no.” He reaches over and takes my hand in his. “You’re my best friend, McKinley. You’re putting your life on hold in order for me to keep my daughter. The only thing I’m feeling is admiration. You’re an amazing person and I will never be able to repay you for what you’ve done for me and Lexi.”