She dried the last dish and said, “Where are our phones?”
“In the jeans I wore last night.” He wasn’t looking forward to fielding a million messages after Jillian’s couple-alert text she’d probably sent to everyone in her contact list.
“Be right back.” She left the kitchen and returned a few minutes later with both phones, holding his out for him. “Are you ready for this?”
“Do I have a choice?” He took his phone.
“We could turn them on later, but if Jilly really sent everyone the picture of us, I’m sure they want to know what’s going on.”
He drew her into his arms. “And what is going on, Trix?”
“Well, I guess we’re two friends who have taken things further.” She wound her arms around his waist and slipped her hands up the back of his shirt, as she’d done last night.
That light touch woke his body up again. He knew she was being careful not to put a label on them, but label or not, she fucking owned him. As nerve-racking as that was, her hold over him worked like truth serum. “I don’t want people wondering what we are.”
“Oh. Do you want to play off the picture Jilly took as nothing more than two friends having a moment?”
The disappointment in her voice made his gut clench. “No, darlin’. I want them to know we’re a couple.”
“You do?” Her smile lit up her eyes.
“What do you think?” He pressed his lips to hers. “By now the whole damn town knows we made out on the dance floor, which means Morgyn and Graham know. If Morgyn knows, Brindle knows, and—”
“Trace knows.”
“Exactly. The last thing I want is for your family to think I’m disrespecting you.”
“So…you want them thinking we’re a couple?”
He swallowed hard at the label. “Yeah.”
“Like, Nick and Trixie sitting in a tree K-I-S-S-I-N-G?”
He laughed and lifted her onto the counter, wedging himself between her legs. “More like Nick and Trixie fucking in the hay, but sure.”
She whispered, “I don’t think I should sing that to them.”
“You’re right. I can make much better use of your mouth.” He lowered his lips to hers, devouring her sweetness. She came away dreamy eyed, and he liked that look a hell of a lot.
“Well, now I can’t sing anything.”
He chuckled and gave her a quick kiss. “Let’s get this message crap over with so we can take care of the animals.”
As they turned them on, their phones chimed like bells on a holiday parade. “Christ, darlin’, I don’t even want to look.”
“Then I’ll look for both of us. Yours or mine first?”
He handed her his phone.
She poked at the screen, grinning. “Beau and Graham said it’s about damn time.”
Nick scoffed.
“Zev sent a picture of him and Carly and said they’ll race us to the altar.” She giggled.
“Don’t go riding off into the sunset just yet, darlin’. One day at a time.”
“I know. I’m perfectly happy as we are.” She kissed his chin, then read the next message. Her brow wrinkled. “Your dad said he’s glad he wasn’t losing his mind. What does that mean?”
“It means he’s a smart-ass. Are we done?”
“No, there’s one from your mom, too. She said she couldn’t be happier for us, and that she has to thank Marilynn for the bodywash.” Her eyes flicked up to his. “Marilynn Montgomery? Brindle’s mom? What does that mean?”
“Hell if I know. She gave me a case of bodywash from Marilynn’s sister for Christmas.”
“Ohmygod, Nick! Brindle’s aunt Roxie makes bodywashes, shampoos, and lotions. She swears they’re infused with love potions.”
“Has everyone gone crazy? That’s horseshit.”
Trixie giggled. “Or is it? Maybe the bodywash and the magic of the inn were just enough to push us over the edge and bring us together.”
“Or maybe you just figured out how to get under my skin like no one else ever has.”
“I like that reason.” She grabbed his shirt and tugged him into a kiss.
“Mm. That mouth of yours needs no extra magic.” He kissed her again, slower and deeper, and just like that, his body caught fire. He touched his cheek to hers, breathing her in. “How did I resist you for so long?”
“I’ve asked myself that for the past several years.”
He laughed. “Is that all my messages?”
“No. Jeb and Shane texted.”
“I figured as much. What’d they say?”
“Jeb said to call him. Shane said if you hurt me, you’ll have him to deal with.”
“That’s hardly a threat, but don’t worry, darlin’. I don’t have any intention of hurting you.”
“Most people don’t. It just happens.” She slipped his phone into his back pocket and started going through her own messages. “Uh-oh. Shane’s called a few times.” She navigated through her messages and giggled.
“What’s funny?”
“Morgyn said nobody can resist an Oak Falls girl, and Lindsay, Amber, and Brindle are just being goofy and dirty. I love them so much.” Her phone rang. “It’s Shane and he’s FaceTiming.” As she answered the call, Nick stepped away to get his hat.
“Hey. Good to see you’re alive,” Shane said dryly. “We’ve been trying to reach you.”
Nick knew he should probably leave the kitchen and give her privacy, but he wanted to make sure her brother didn’t give her shit about him. He leaned against the island across from her and folded his arms over his chest.
“Sorry. We turned our phones off after Jilly sent that picture. We knew we’d be barraged with messages. Oh, hey, Trace.”
“Hi. You two were the talk of the jam session last night.” Nick recognized Trace’s voice. Every few weeks the Jerichos opened one of their barns for a community jam session, where anyone who played an instrument could get onstage and play. People of all ages came to enjoy the music, dance, and play various games like potato sack races, ring toss, and touch football.
“Great,” she said sarcastically.
“You’ll be glad to know that you and Nick now have a Team Nixie hashtag on our community social pages,” Trace said.
“What the hell is a Team Nixie?” Nick walked over so her brothers could see him. “Hi, Shane. Trace.”
“When Trace and Brindle got together, Lindsay started a Team Trindle hashtag,” Trixie explained. “She even had T-shirts made for the Thanksgiving Turkey Trot 5K race. Nixie is our names put together, Trixie and Nick. Nixie.”
Nick shook his head. “Fucking small towns.”
“I guess you didn’t realize that dating someone from Oak Falls is like dating the whole community,” Trace said.
“Is that why you’re calling?” Trixie asked. “To tell me we have a hashtag?”
“I wanted to say if you’re happy, I’m happy for you,” Trace said.
“Thanks, Trace.”
“Now I get why Nick’s been coming to town more often,” Shane said. “Hey, Braden, you’ve got a sister, so you’ll understand where I’m coming from with this. Tell me you’re not just dicking around with Trixie.”